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Ezekiel 46

24 verses

TL;DR

Ezekiel 46 details temple gate regulations and the specific offerings to be made by the prince and the people during Sabbaths, new moons, and feasts, while also addressing inheritance laws and daily burnt offerings.

Summary

The chapter opens with a decree that the inner east gate of the temple be closed six days a week but opened on Sabbaths and new moons, where the prince and the people are to offer specified burnt and peace offerings. It then lays out the exact numbers and types of animals and measures of grain and oil for each occasion, emphasizing that the offerings be without blemish. Daily offerings of a lamb are prescribed, with a continuous ordinance of a burnt offering and a portion of grain and oil each morning. The text also governs the prince's movements during feasts, requiring him to enter and exit through opposite gates, and details inheritance rules that protect the sons' rights while limiting the prince's ability to seize the people's property. Finally, it describes the arrangement of the temple courts and the designated spots for boiling sacrifices.

Outline
  1. Gate regulations and offerings for Sabbaths, new moons, and feasts
  2. Daily burnt offerings and the prince's role in temple worship
  3. Inheritance laws and court layout instructions
Themes
Order and sanctity of temple worshipThe relationship between royal authority and priesthoodJustice and protection of familial inheritance
Keywords
gatesabbathnew moonburnt offeringpeace offeringinheritanceprincepriestsephahhin
People
the princepriestsservantssons
Places
inner east gatenorth gatesouth gateholy chambers of the priestsutter courttemple courts
Things
burnt offeringspeace offeringslambsramsbullocksephahhin of oilgatecourtinheritance
Key Verses
  • Ezekiel 46:1: Introduces the central gate regulation for Sabbaths and new moons
  • Ezekiel 46:4: Specifies the exact animal offerings the prince must bring on a Sabbath
  • Ezekiel 46:13: Sets the daily burnt offering ordinance for the prince
  • Ezekiel 46:16: Addresses inheritance law protecting the prince's sons
  • Ezekiel 46:20: Describes the layout of the temple courts and where sacrifices are handled
Questions
  • Why does the temple gate open specifically on Sabbaths and new moons, and what does this say about the rhythm of worship?
  • What is the significance of the prince offering only blemish-free animals in this context?
  • How do the inheritance rules in verses 16-18 aim to balance royal authority with the rights of the people?
  • In what ways does the arrangement of the temple courts (verses 20-24) reflect the intended order of sacrifice and sanctity?
Sentiment

neutral
The passage is mainly instructional, with no explicit emotional tone.