From c6f6d0925daba3be036dcc7e7470154fa1ca2c0f Mon Sep 17 00:00:00 2001
From: Lyle Mantooth <lyle@menteeth.us>
Date: Sat, 15 Jul 2023 00:39:50 -0400
Subject: [PATCH] Ezekiel 45:1-25

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+title = "Ezekiel 45:1–25"
+date = "2023-07-14"
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+
+### [Read the passage.](https://biblia.com/bible/esv/Ezekiel45.1-25)
+
+With the entire temple area measured, described, and instructions for its use
+given, the Lord gives instructions for the surrounding land and city. The holy
+district, set apart for the Lord, is a plot of land some seven miles long
+(11.2km) and (if we take the Hebrew value of 10,000 instead of the Septuagint's
+20,000) nearly three miles wide (4.5km). I take the value from the Hebrew text
+because verse 3 states the district with the sanctuary is 10,000 cubits broad,
+and I believe the extra 10,000 found in the Greek text is because of the plot
+of land next to it for the Levites. In total, there is a large squareof land
+with three sections: one for the priests and the temple, one for the Levites,
+and a half-sized section for the rest of the house of Israel. They get a
+smaller piece of the city because they will be getting the rest of the country
+as their inheritance.
+
+That is, besides the large strip of land allotted to the prince. Extending east
+and west from the city all the way to the borders of Israel are the lands of
+the crown. Somehow, this allotment of land is connected to an admonishment to
+the prince not to oppress the people as the princes of old did. The prince will
+be given his land and must not be greedy and try to take any more from the rest
+of the children of Israel. Weights and measures must be fair, having proper
+definitions that aren't changed from person to person.
+
+The rest of the chapter concerns the various sacrifices and offerings that the
+prince of Israel is expected to make on behalf of the people. That's something
+new and interesting. The details of the offerings could be analyzed, but I want
+to take a step back and notice that Scriptures don't talk about sacrifices and
+offerings on others' behalf very much. Job sacrificed animals for his children,
+in case they sinned during their constant parties. The high priesst offered a
+sacrifice on the Day of Atomenment and put the sins of the whole camp on the
+scapegoat before sending it out into the wilderness. There may be more
+examples, but I dont' think there would be many more.
+
+Now might also be a good time to clarify that these prophecies are not about
+the Messiah. Jesus is the ultimate fulfillment of the Lord's promise to David
+that the throne would never leave his house, but I think there are a couple of
+big reasons to believe He is not the prince desribed in these last few chapters
+of Ezekiel. In the first place, there is no need to tell Jesus to put away
+violence and oppresion and execute justice and righteousness. He's perfectly
+good and will do those things because of who He is. Secondly, when He returns
+in glory to rule on earth again for a thousand years, there will be no need for
+sacrifices then. He already offered up Himself as the once-for-all atonement
+for sins; He wouldn't offer up mere animals for the sins of His people now or
+ever.
+
+* * *
+
+The lengths to which You have gone to save sinners defy comprehension.