Ezekiel 46 The Fall of Pharaoh and Egypt

1 “‘This is what the Sovereign Lord says: The gate of the inner court facing east is to be shut on the six working days, but on the Sabbath day and on the day of the New Moon it is to be opened.

2 The prince is to enter from the outside through the portico of the gateway and stand by the gatepost. The priests are to sacrifice his burnt offering and his fellowship offerings. He is to worship at the threshold of the gateway and then go out, but the gate will not be shut until evening.

3 On the Sabbaths and New Moons the people of the land are to worship in the presence of the Lord at the entrance to that gateway.

4 The burnt offering the prince brings to the Lord on the Sabbath day is to be six male lambs and a ram, all without defect.

5 The grain offering given with the ram is to be an ephah, and the grain offering with the lambs is to be as much as he pleases, along with a hin of oil for each ephah.

6 On the day of the New Moon he is to offer a young bull, six lambs and a ram, all without defect.

7 He is to provide as a grain offering one ephah with the bull, one ephah with the ram, and with the lambs as much as he wants to give, along with a hin of oil with each ephah.

8 When the prince enters, he is to go in through the portico of the gateway, and he is to come out the same way.

9 “‘When the people of the land come before the Lord at the appointed feasts, whoever enters by the north gate to worship is to go out the south gate; and whoever enters by the south gate is to go out the north gate. No one is to return through the gate by which he entered, but each is to go out the opposite gate.

10 The prince is to be among them, going in when they go in and going out when they go out.

11 “‘At the festivals and the appointed feasts, the grain offering is to be an ephah with a bull, an ephah with a ram, and with the lambs as much as one pleases, along with a hin of oil for each ephah.

12 When the prince provides a freewill offering to the Lord—whether a burnt offering or fellowship offerings—the gate facing east is to be opened for him. He shall offer his burnt offering or his fellowship offerings as he does on the Sabbath day. Then he shall go out, and after he has gone out, the gate will be shut.

13 “‘Every day you are to provide a year-old lamb without defect for a burnt offering to the Lord; morning by morning you shall provide it.

14 You are also to provide with it morning by morning a grain offering, consisting of a sixth of an ephah with a third of a hin of oil to moisten the flour. The presenting of this grain offering to the Lord is a lasting ordinance.

15 So the lamb and the grain offering and the oil shall be provided morning by morning for a regular burnt offering.

16 “‘This is what the Sovereign Lord says: If the prince makes a gift from his inheritance to one of his sons, it will also belong to his descendants; it is to be their property by inheritance.

17 If, however, he makes a gift from his inheritance to one of his servants, the servant may keep it until the year of freedom; then it will revert to the prince. His inheritance belongs to his sons only; it is theirs.

18 The prince must not take any of the inheritance of the people, driving them off their property. He is to give his sons their inheritance out of his own property, so that none of my people will be separated from his property.’”

19 Then the man brought me through the entrance at the side of the gate to the sacred rooms facing north, which belonged to the priests, and showed me a place at the western end.

20 He said to me, “This is the place where the priests will cook the guilt offering and the sin offering and bake the grain offering, to avoid bringing them into the outer court and consecrating the people.”

21 He then brought me to the outer court and led me around to its four corners, and I saw in each corner another court.

22 In the four corners of the outer court were enclosed courts, forty cubits long and thirty cubits wide; each of the courts in the four corners was the same size.

23 Around the inside of each of the four courts was a ledge of stone, with places for fire built all around under the ledge.

24 He said to me, “These are the kitchens where those who minister at the temple will cook the sacrifices of the people.”

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Analysis of Ezekiel Chapter 46

Ezekiel Chapter 46 is part of the greater vision that the prophet Ezekiel receives concerning the new Temple and the practices that should take place within it. This chapter specifically deals with regulations and ordinances about worship, sacrificial rituals, and special observances to be followed by the prince and the people. It contains practical instructions about how priests and worshipers should conduct themselves within the newly envisioned Temple.

The Role of the Prince

The role of the prince in Ezekiel 46 is a focal point. Verses 1-8 provide detailed instructions on when and how the prince should enter and exit the Temple, particularly during the Sabbaths and the new moon festivals.

“Thus says the Lord God: The gate of the inner court that faces east shall be shut on the six working days, but on the Sabbath day it shall be opened, and on the day of the new moon it shall be opened.” (Ezekiel 46:1)

One of the first instructions deals with the eastern gate being opened only on the Sabbath and on the new moon. This suggests special holy days reserved for worship and reflection. It emphasizes the sanctity of these days set apart from the mundane regularity of the workweek.

Symbolism of the Gate

The eastern gate historically holds significance in biblical literature, often associated with divine encounters. In Ezekiel, it could signify the special access humanity has to the divine on these holy days.

Further on, the verses focus on the prince’s duty and his method of entrance:

“But the prince, because he is the prince, may sit in it to eat bread before the Lord; he shall enter by way of the vestibule of the gate, and shall go out the same way.” (Ezekiel 46:2)

Here, the prince has a unique place in worship practices, entering through the vestibule and consuming bread before the Lord. This act can be interpreted as an intimate fellowship with God, signifying how leaders should have a close, personal relationship with the divine.

Regulations for the People

The chapter transitions into addressing the common people and their participation in worship.

“When the people of the land come before the Lord at the appointed feasts, he who enters by the north gate to worship shall go out by the south gate, and he who enters by the south gate shall go out by the north gate; no one shall return by way of the gate by which he entered, but each shall go out straight ahead.” (Ezekiel 46:9)

This movement signifies a transformation through worship; once a person has experienced communion with God, they must leave changed, not returning to their previous state. The directive to exit through a different gate emphasizes continual progression in the spiritual journey.

Offerings and Sacrifices

Verses 11-15 outline the specific offerings, sacrifices, and regulations that should be observed during the Sabbath, the new moons, and other feast days. These ordinances emphasize the central role that sacrificial rituals play in the worship and the community’s life.

The text provides minute details:

“And the grain offering with the ram shall be an ephah, and the grain offering with the lambs shall be as much as one is able to give, together with a hin of oil to each ephah.” (Ezekiel 46:7)

By providing specific quantities for offerings, the chapter reinforces that worship practices must be approached with reverence and precision, reflecting the importance of obedience to divine commandments.

Personal Devotion

While communal worship is highlighted, individual devotion is also stressed. Each person’s ability to give according to their means indicates that God values the hearts of the worshipers and their willingness to offer their best.

Inheritance and Land

The latter part of the chapter (verses 16-18) discusses the inheritance rights of the prince and the distribution of land among his sons and servants.

Ezekiel 46:16-17 states:

“Thus says the Lord God: If the prince makes a gift to any of his sons, it shall belong to his sons; it is their inheritance by inheritance. But if he makes a gift out of his inheritance to one of his servants, it shall be his to the year of liberty. Then it shall revert to the prince; surely it is his inheritance—it shall belong to his sons.” (Ezekiel 46:16-17)

The inheritance laws ensure that family wealth and resources remain within the lineage, promoting stability and longevity of the tribe’s legacy. The ‘year of liberty’ refers to the year of Jubilee, a time when servants and lands are returned, reflecting divine justice and economic equity in the community.

A Testament to Divine Order

The inheritance regulations indicate not only continuity and family unity but also uphold social justice. The rules prevent the abuse of power and ensure that wealth is fairly redistributed, emphasizing that leadership must be exercised with fairness and justice.

Practical and Symbolic Aspects

The closing verses of the chapter (19-24) describe the practicality of sacrificial preparation and consumption of offerings:

“Then he brought me through the entrance, which was at the side of the gate, to the Holy chambers of the priests, which faced north; and behold, there was a place at the extreme western end of them. And he said to me, ‘This is the place where the priests shall boil the guilt offering and the sin offering, and where they shall bake the grain offering, in order not to bring them out into the outer court and so transmit holiness to the people.’” (Ezekiel 46:19-20)

The separation of spaces where priests prepare offerings from public areas safeguards the sanctity and holiness of these rituals, preventing the unnecessary spread of sacredness in an uncontrolled manner. It acknowledges both the sanctity of worship and the need for organized and reverent handling of sacred duties.

Ezekiel sees four tables of hewn stone in the Temple’s kitchen area, where the sacrificial animals will be slaughtered and prepared. This structured preparation space again underscores the importance of meticulousness and sanctity in handling offerings to God.

Conclusion

Ezekiel Chapter 46 provides specific regulations intended to guide worship and help maintain the sanctity and proper functioning of the Temple services and community life. From the special status and actions of the prince to the precise instructions regarding offerings and the fair distribution of inheritance, every directive seeks to reflect divine order and convey a deeper spiritual significance.

In highlighting the import of order, reverence, personal and communal responsibility, and the maintenance of justice and equity, the chapter presents a holistic vision of how worship and daily living intertwine in the pursuit of a sanctified life in communion with the divine.

This chapter, while deeply rooted in its historical and cultural context, offers enduring lessons on the significance of approach in worship, leadership, justice, and the interconnectedness of ritual and community welfare. It embodies a blueprint for a society that reveres God and thrives on justice, holiness, and structured worship.

Understanding the Key Messages in Ezekiel 46: Insights and Explanation

Ezekiel prophesies the fall of Egypt and its Pharaoh, who had oppressed Israel. God would deliver Egypt into the hands of Nebuchadnezzar, and the kingdom would be desolate for forty years. The Egyptians would be dispersed among the nations, humbled, and never a strong nation again.

Notes

This chapter emphasizes God's judgment on Egypt and His promise to restore Israel in contrast to Egypt's downfall.