34 lines
1.6 KiB
Markdown
34 lines
1.6 KiB
Markdown
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title = "Ezekiel 46:16–24"
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date = "2023-07-18"
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### [Read the passage.](https://biblia.com/bible/esv/Ezekiel46.16-24)
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In between these sections about offerings and how they are prepared, we are
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told how the prince is to treat his inheritance, that is, the land that is set
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aside for him. Specifically, he must keep it within his family, just as the
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land allotted to other families must stay with them. If any land is ever signed
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over to another person, it can only be kept until the year of liberty, when all
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debts are erased, slaves are freed, and collateral is returned. This had
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actually been the law since the time of Moses, but there had never been any
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evidence that Israel ever observed it.
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There also are admonitions that the prince must not evict anyone off the
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property they own and take it for himself. This was apparently a large problem
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throughout Israel's history, and the Lord wants to reiterate how inappropriate
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it was for the leader of the people to use his power for his own gain at the
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expense of his people.
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The final descriptions and measurements of the temple are given at the end of
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the chapter. Ezekiel is shown the kitchens of the temple where the grain
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offerings are baked and the sin and guilt offerings are boiled for the priests
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to eat. These are at the far western end of the inner court, as far from the
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outer court as possible. The outer court has four corners where the sacrificial
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meat for the rest of the people were to be prepared. Worship in Old Testament
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times involved communal meals as well as sacrifice and prayer.
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* * *
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Your laws and precepts declare Your holiness and benefit all Your people.
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