Page 246 - NOTES ON EZEKIEL

24U NOTES ON EZEKIEL.

CHAPTER XLIV.

T h e prophet is again brought back to the gate that
looks toward the east. This time it was shut. When
he saw it before, the glory of Jehovah came by this
very way into the house, and filled it. This gives
occasion for the word of Jehovah. And there is ample
instruction to decide its application. “ Then he brought
me back the way of the gate of the outward sanctuary
which looketh toward the east; and it was shut. Then
said Jehovah unto me ; This gate shall be shut, it shall
not be opened, and no man shall enter in by it; because
Jehovah, the God of Israel, hath entered in by it,
therefore it shall be shut. It is for the prince; the
prince, he shall sit in it to eat bread before Jehovah;
he shall enter by the way of the porch of that gate,
and shall go out by the way of the same.” (Ver. 1-3.)
The entrance of Jehovah, the- God of Israel,,
was enough to close it for all but His representa­
tive. But He will have a representative upon earth
—the prince—and the prince shall sit “ to eat bread
before Jehovah.” He is to have the honour of en­
tering in and going out by the way of the porch of
that gate. No high priest ever claimed this. Indeed
it is not a priest but the prince, the earthly chief
of Israel. We shall learn from chapters xlv. and xlvL
a little more about the prince. Suffice it to say that
he is certainly not the Messiah; for although he is
thoroughly distinguished from a priest, he needs to offer
a sin-offering, and ho may have sons. Doubtless it is
a future prince of the house of David.