Bible Commentaries

Ezekiel 43:2. Behold, the glory of the God of Israel came from the way of the east. In Ezekiel 10:18, we read that the glory had departed from the ancient temple. Here it returns at the east gate, which was the proper way to the sanctum sanctorum, or Holy of holies. The prophet had seen a similar vision at the river Chebar, as is intimated in the next verse; and now again he beholds the Messiah on the throne of his glory. This it is that gives a plenitude of joy to the church on earth; for what people have God so nigh unto them. The Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us. His name is Immanuel, God with us.

Those who plead for the personal reign of Christ a thousand years on earth during the millennium, lay great emphasis on this chapter; but their whole theory seems to have no positive promise on that head. It is enough if he reign in his spiritual temple, reward the martyrs with an earlier resurrection, and cause the age of righteousness to follow the ages of wickedness.

Ezekiel 43:5. So the Spirit took me up. Not Ish, as in Ezekiel 41:4. But Ruach, the Holy Spirit, as elsewhere in this book: Ezekiel 37:1. Here is then an Adorable Trinity, Messiah and his Spirit reviving the prophet.

Ezekiel 43:7. My holy name shall the house of Israel no more defile, neither they nor their kings by their whoredoms. The first temple was confessedly destroyed for these things; but here is a reference to the glory of the latter day, when the people shall be all righteous, and the sanctuary adorned with the beauties of holiness.

The carcases of their kings in their high places, the idols adored by the gentiles. The jews also had their monuments of dead men who had reigned, or been distinguished in antiquity; but it is probable that the allusion here is either to the bodies of Amon or Manasseh, who were not buried with their fathers, or to some idolatrous princes, who are here called kings, and who were interred near the high places of their idols.