Adam Clarke's Bible Commentary Verse 1. Behold, waters issued out from under the threshold] Ezekiel, after having made the whole compass of the court of the people, is brought back by the north gate into the courts of the priests; and, having reached the gate of the temple, he saw waters which had their spring under the threshold of that gate, that looked towards the east; and which passing to the south of the altar of burnt-offerings on the right of the temple, ran from the west to the east, that they might fall into the brook Kidron, and thence be carried into the Dead Sea. Literally, no such waters were ever in the temple; and because there were none, Solomon had what is called the brazen sea made, which held water for the use of the temple. It is true that the water which supplied this sea might have been brought by pipes to the place: but a fountain producing abundance of water was not there, and could not be there, on the top of such a hill; and consequently these waters, as well as those spoken of in Joel iii. 18, and in Zech. xiv. 8, are to be understood spiritually or typically; and indeed the whole complexion of the place here shows, that they are thus to be understood. Taken in this view, I shall proceed to apply the whole of this vision to the effusion of light and salvation by the outpouring of the Spirit of God under the Gospel dispensation, by which the knowledge of the true God was multiplied in the earth; and have only one previous remark to make, that the farther the waters flowed from the temple, the deeper they grew.
With respect to the phraseology of this chapter, it may be said that St. John had it particularly in view while he wrote his celebrated description of the paradise of God, Rev. xxii. The prophet may therefore be referring to the same thing which the apostle describes, viz., the grace of the Gospel, and its effects in the world.
Matthew Henry Commentary
- The ordinances of worship for the prince and for the people, are her described, and the gifts the prince may bestow on his sons an servants. Our Lord has directed us to do many duties, but he has als left many things to our choice, that those who delight in his commandments may abound therein to his glory, without entangling their own consciences, or prescribing rules unfit for others; but we mus never omit our daily worship, nor neglect to apply the sacrifice of the Lamb of God to our souls, for pardon, peace, and salvation _________________________________________________
Original Hebrew וישׁבני7725 אל413 פתח6607 הבית1004 והנה2009 מים4325 יצאים3318 מתחת8478 מפתן4670 הבית1004 קדימה6921 כי3588 פני6440 הבית1004 קדים6921 והמים4325 ירדים3381 מתחת8478 מכתף3802 הבית1004 הימנית3233 מנגב5045 למזבח׃4196
