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