Ezekiel 44-46. The Temple Officers and Festivals.
Ezekiel 44:1-3. From the inner court where he had seen the Divine glory and heard the mysterious voice (435f.) the prophet was led back to the outer eastern gate; but as Yahweh had crossed its threshold on re-entering the Temple (cf. 1 Samuel 5:5) it was for ever after to remain shut. Only the prince i.e. the king of the Messianic days was privileged to eat bread before Yahweh, i.e. to partake of the festal meal, in the vestibule.
1 Then he brought me back the way of the gate of the outward sanctuary which looketh toward the east; and it was shut.
2 Then said the LORD unto me; This gate shall be shut, it shall not be opened, and no man shall enter in by it; because the LORD, the God of Israel, hath entered in by it, therefore it shall be shut.
3 It is for the prince; the prince, he shall sit in it to eat bread before the LORD; he shall enter by the way of the porch of that gate, and shall go out by the way of the same.