Ezekiel 46 Study Notes

46:1 While the east gate of the outer court was permanently closed (44:2), the east gate of the inner court could be opened during special days like the Sabbath and the New Moon festival.

46:2 On the Sabbath and the New Moon festival, the prince was to enter from the outside through the portico of the temple, and the priests were to sacrifice his burnt offerings and his fellowship offerings. In the preexilic period, a king sometimes performed priestly functions (1Kg 8:63; 2Kg 16:12-13).

46:3 People of the land in this part of Ezekiel (vv. 3,9; 45:16,22) refers to the whole community that worshiped Yahweh in this manner.

46:4-8 These are the burnt offerings and grain offerings required of the prince on the Sabbath and New Moon.

46:4 The Mosaic law called for two lambs and no ram for the offering on the Sabbath (Nm 28:9).

46:9-11 These are regulations for the worship offered by the people of the land.

46:12-15 These are regulations for the freewill offerings of the prince and the regular daily offerings.

46:16 The fact that the prince had sons argues against identifying him with the Messiah.

46:17 Unlike the time when Israel was ruled by a king, the land that belonged to the prince was to be carefully regulated. The sons of the prince could inherit lands from him, but if the prince made a gift from his inheritance to one of his servants, the servant was to return the property in the Year of Jubilee, or year of freedom (see Lv 25:8-15).

46:18 Because the prince’s land will remain in his family, he was prohibited from seizing the property of his fellow Israelites. Adherence to this law would prevent some of the abuses of previous times (34:3-4; 1Kg 21:1-16; Mc 2:1-2).

46:19-24 This section describes the holy chambers and the four kitchens used by the priests to cook the sacrifices that have been brought in by the people.