In the four corners, &c.— These little courts were in the shape of an oblong square, joined with inner walls to the outside walls of the court. The Hebrew word, קטרות keturoth, translated joined, may be rendered made with chimneys; which sense agrees with the uses for which these courts were designed. See Calmet.
REFLECTIONS.—1st, The rules here prescribed for the place and manner of God's worship, like the preceding solemnities, differ far from those prescribed by the law of Moses.
1. The east gate, which at other times was always shut, chap. Ezekiel 44:2 was to be opened for the prince on the sabbaths, the new moons, and when the prince offered a voluntary sacrifice; though, it seems, he must not go through it into the inner court, but stand in the porch, by the post of the door, whence he might see the priests offering the sacrifice that he brought. By the north and south gates the people were to enter the courts of the house, observing always to return by the gate opposite that by which they came in: and on the sabbaths and new moons they were to attend the prince at the east gate, who should be in the midst of them, their leader and example in the holy service. Note; (1.) It is the greatest glory of a prince to be a pattern of true piety to his people. (2.) They who are the highest on earth, will, when they know themselves, think themselves honoured in the meanest place in the church of God. (3.) With Christ our king at our head, we may boldly draw near to the throne of God, and be assured of gracious acceptance in his sight. (4.) When we set our hearts toward the heavenly temple, we must not look back, but, still forgetting the things which are behind, must press forward to those that are before.
2. The sacrifices which the prince must provide are, a daily burnt-offering of a lamb; on the sabbath six lambs and a ram; on the new moons a young bullock was moreover added: all of them without blemish, with their several meat and drink offerings, some of which were much larger than was ordered by the law of Moses, while those for the lambs are left to his ability. Our offerings at God's altar must be proportioned to the prosperity with which he has blessed us. Where he has given much, he expects the more.
2nd, If a prince wanted to leave an inheritance to any of his children, he is permitted to settle a part of his possessions upon him, and it would continue to his descendants for ever; but if he made a gift of land to any of his servants, it must revert to his family again at the year of Jubilee. These gifts must be out of his own patrimony, and not the fruits of oppression, or the plunder of his people. A king must by his mild and equitable rule gain the love of his subjects; this will prove his greatest riches; for then they will be devoted under God to his service.
3rdly, The altar being so liberally supplied as above with sacrifices, part of which belonged to the priests, and were to be eaten in the holy place, there were boilers and ovens near their chambers, where they prepared these holy things; none of which might be carried out into the utter court to sanctify the people, who might fancy, that partaking of these holy things would recommend them to God's favour, or that but touching them communicated virtue. Such superstitious conceits the ministers of the sanctuary must never countenance.