“Thus says the Lord GOD: The gate of the inner court that faces east shall be shut on the six working days, but on the Sabbath day it shall be opened, and on the day of the new moon it shall be opened.
Whether these ordinances were meant to bind the second temple we cannot say for certain; their history shows they governed themselves by the law of Moses alone, treating this as mystical rather than literal. Yet mark this: the east gate stood shut save on the Sabbath and new moon, when it opened for the prince, magistrates and ministers ought to go hand in hand in God's service, the prince standing at the threshold to signify his concurrence with the priests' work before all the people.
AI summary
Commenting on Ezekiel 46:1-15
Thus saith the Lord God,.... Which is premised, to raise the greater attention to what is about to be said: the gate of the inner court that looketh towards the east; the eastern gate of the inner court; the court of the priests, where stood the altar of burnt offerings, and where they offered the sacrifices for atonement; and seems, in the mystical sense, to...
The prince must provide the sacrifices and be present at their offering, though the priests handle the slaughtering and preparation; the people, by contrast, are bound to appear only at the yearly feasts. He enters by the porch, stands at the posts, and worships at the threshold, signifying his unity with the priests' work before the Lord and the assembled people of the land.
AI summary
Commenting on Ezekiel 46:1-7