- the length:
- That our translators rightly added the word reeds, is evident from the length and breadth of the sanctuary being exactly the same as before (compare "Of this¹¹ there shall be¹ for¹ the sanctuaryª fiveª hundredª [in length], with fiveª hundredª [in breadth], squareª° round about;ª and fiftyª cubitsª round aboutª for the suburbsª thereof." {Ezk 45:2} with "He measuredª° the eastª sideª with the measuringª reed,ª fiveª°² hundredª reeds,ª with the measuringª reedª round about.ª ... He turned aboutª° to¹ the westª side,ª [and] measuredª° fiveª hundredª reedsª with the measuringª reed.ª" {Ezk 42:16-19}). Estimating the reed at 3+ yards, this holy oblation would constitute a square of nearly fifty miles on every side. From the north side a portion of nearly twenty miles in width, and nearly fifty in length, was appointed for the priests; and in the midst of this portion, the area of the sanctuary, about a mile square, to be enclosed by a wall ("Moreover, when ye shall divide²° by lot¹¹ the landª for inheritance,ª ye shall offerª° an oblationª unto the LORD,ª an holy portionª of¹ the land:ª the lengthª [shall be] the lengthª of fiveª and twentyª thousandª [reeds], and the breadthª [shall be] tenª thousand.ª This¹ [shall be] holyª in all¹ the bordersª thereof round about.ª ... Of this¹¹ there shall be¹ for¹ the sanctuaryª fiveª hundredª [in length], with fiveª hundredª [in breadth], squareª° round about;ª and fiftyª cubitsª round aboutª for the suburbsª thereof." {Ezk 45:1-2}). Next to this, on the south, was the Levites' portion, of the same dimensions as that of the priests' ("And the fiveª and twentyª thousandª of length,ª and the tenª thousandª of breadth,ª shall also the Levites,ª the ministersª° of the house,ª have¹ for themselves, for a possessionª for twentyª chambers.ª" {Ezk 45:5}); and south of this was the portion for the city, of the same length as those of the priests and Levites, but only half the width ("And ye shall appointª° the possessionª of the cityª fiveª thousandª broad,ª and fiveª and twentyª thousandª long,ª over againstª the oblationª of the holyª [portion]: it shall be¹ for the whole¹ houseª of Israel.ª" {Ezk 45:6}). These three formed the square of 25,000 reeds, or nearly fifty miles; and that set apart for the prince, the breadth of which is not mentioned, extended in length from north to south, along the east and west sides of the square. As Canaan would not admit of so large a portion for the sanctuary, etc., this was no doubt intended to intimate the large extent of the church in the glorious times predicted.
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