Chapter 45

1 The portion of land for the sanctuary, 6 for the city, 7 and for the prince. 9 Ordinances for the prince.

1. Divide by lot. The meaning seems to be, “divide by allotment.” Actually each tribe was assigned a definite portion (ch. 48:1–29).

An oblation. Heb. terumah, literally, “something lifted up,” here meaning “an offering,” “a present,” “a contribution.” A small part of this “holy portion of the land” was to be occupied by the sanctuary, the rest given to the priests and Levites. The terumah is further described in ch. 48:8–22.

Reeds. This word has been supplied. The question is as to whether “reeds” or “cubits” should be understood. If the former, the area could not be fitted between the Mediterranean and the Jordan. The length would be almost 50 mi. (80 km.). “Cubits” seems more reasonable and more in proportion to the tribal allotments.

Ten thousand. That would be 3.2 mi. (5.12 km.). The total area, as described in vs. 1–6, was 25,000 cubits (6.9 mi.; 11 km.) square. This was made up of three portions: 10,000 (ch. 48:13) at the north for the Levites; 10,000 (ch. 48:10) in the middle for the priests, in the midst of which was the sanctuary; and the remaining 5,000 (ch. 48:15) for “a profane place for the city, for dwelling, and for suburbs.”

2. Fifty cubits round about. The temple was situated in a 500 cu. square court (see on ch. 40:5). Here an additional strip of land 50 cu. wide (85 ft.; 25.9 m.) is left open around the outside wall as a further check against its profanation.

Suburbs. Literally, “an open space” (see on Num. 35:2).

3. Of this measure. See on v. 1.

4. For the priests. This verse describes the priests’ domain (see ch. 48:10).

5. The Levites. The domain of the Levites lay to the north of that of the priests and was to be of the same size (see ch. 48:13).

For twenty chambers. The LXX reads “cities to dwell in,” which appears to give the better sense.

6. Whole house of Israel. This portion, of the same length but only half as wide as the others, was to supply food for those who “serve the city” (ch. 48:18).

7. For the prince. The prince’s portion included all the land eastward and westward from the oblation, presumably to the Mediterranean on the west, and to the Jordan and Dead Sea on the east.

9. Take away your exactions. Verses 9, 10 are an exhortation to the princes to observe justice in their dealings.

11. One measure. Compare Lev. 19:35, 36; Deut. 25:13–15; Prov. 16:11; Hosea 12:7; Amos 8:5; Micah 6:10. The ephah was used for dry measures, the bath for the measurement of liquids. Here they are said to be the same capacity and each equal to one tenth of a homer. By modern equivalents an ephah or a bath would be about 5.81 U.S. gal. (see Vol. I, p. 167).

12. The shekel. Compare Ex. 30:13.

Maneh. A transliteration of the Heb. maneh. Elsewhere maneh is always translated “pound” (1 Kings 10:17; Ezra 2:69; Neh. 7:71, 72). A “maneh,” also called mina (see RSV), was 50 shekels (see Vol. I, pp. 164, 167, 168). The Hebrew here is obscure.

13. The oblation. Verses 13–15 describe the tax to be paid, presumably to the prince (see v. 16), who in turn would supply the required sacrificial offerings.

17. Prepare. Heb. ФasЊah, here used in the sense of “provide”, “furnish.” The prince is made responsible for providing the offerings for the various festal sacrifices.

18. In the first month. Verse 18 to ch. 46:15 outline the sacrificial ritual to be followed on special occasions. There are changes from the Mosaic law. Neither Pentecost nor the Day of Atonement is mentioned. But it is quite idle to speculate, as some have done, that these ceremonial features were to be omitted altogether under the new ritual.

19. Take of the blood. Under the Mosaic law, on the Day of Atonement the blood of the sin offerings was sprinkled upon and before the mercy seat within the veil (Lev. 16:14, 15). Under the new ritual in connection with the ceremony of cleansing, blood was put upon the “posts of the house,” the “corners of the settle of the altar,” and “the posts of the gate.”

20. Simple. Heb. pethi, “inexperienced.”

21. The passover. The regulations concerning the observance of the Passover were similar to those under the Mosaic law, but with larger offerings (Ex. 12:6; Lev. 23:5–8; Num. 28:16–25).

25. In the seventh month. The reference is to the Feast of Tabernacles (Ex. 23:16; 34:22; Lev. 23:34; Deut. 16:13, 16). Some hold that the reason it is not so called is that the custom of living in booths was to be discontinued. The sacrifices are considerably less than those required under the Mosaic law (Num. 29:12–38).