Ezekiel 43:1,2 - Joseph Benson’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments

Then he brought me to the gate The eastern gate of the court of the priests, which was just before the temple. And behold, the glory of the God of Israel The word behold is an expression of joy and admiration; as if the prophet had said, Behold, a wonderful and joyful sight! The glory of that God who calls himself the God of Israel, which had departed from this place and people, and had absented itself from them for so long a time, is now returning to them, and fixing its residence among them. When the glory of the Lord forsook the temple, it is represented as departing from the eastern gate of it; afterward, as quite forsaking the city, and removing to a mountain on the east side of it; and now that glory is described as returning by the same way it departed: see Ezekiel 10:18; Ezekiel 11:23. This was intended to signify that God would again accept of this place for a temple to be built on it, and dedicated to his worship, and would accept of the service that should be paid him there, and afford the place his peculiar protection. And his voice was like a noise of many waters Great and terrible: compare Ezekiel 1:24; Revelation 1:15. Either to signify the dreadfulness of God's judgments, or the efficacy of his commands, who calls things into existence by the power of his word. And the earth shined with his glory The rays of his glory, like the sunbeams, enlightened the earth: see the margin. This glory of the Lord seems to have been intended as an emblem of the light of the gospel, which is the glory of Christ, and which spread from the eastern part of the world into the western; and which has been, and still is, powerful and mighty in operation, in saving mankind, and enlightening the earth with abundance of knowledge, holiness, and comfort.