1 In the five and twentieth year of our captivity, in the beginning of the year, in the tenth day of the month, in the fourteenth year after that the city was struck, in the very same day the hand of the LORD was upon me, and brought me there.
Jerome · AD 420 (Chapter XL - Verses 1 onwards) 'In the twenty-fifth year of our exile (or captivity), at the beginning of the year (or in the first month), on the tenth day of the month, fourteen years after the city was struck down (or captured): on that very day, the hand of the Lord was upon me, and He brought me there.
Gregory the Dialogist · AD 604 It should be noted what he says: "In the fourteenth year after the city was struck, on that same day." For what does it mean that through this final vision almighty God deigned to show the mercy of His promise on that very day on which He fulfilled the wrath of justice upon the stricken city, except that that power of divinity, which is not drawn into any movement of change or…
2 In the visions of God he brought me into the land of Israel, and set me upon a very high mountain, by which was as the frame of a city on the south.
Gregory the Dialogist · AD 604 "The hand of the Lord came upon me, and brought me there in visions of God: He brought me into the land of Israel, and set me down upon a very high mountain, upon which there was as it were the structure of a city facing toward the South." The building of this city certainly cannot be understood according to the letter.
Isaac of Nineveh · AD 700 Ezekiel was caught away supranaturally by the action of revelation, and he came to Jerusalem; and in a divine revelation he was a beholder the renewal that was to come. It is likewise with purity of soul.
3 And he brought me there, and there was a man, whose appearance was like the appearance of bronze, with a line of flax in his hand, and a measuring reed; and he stood in the gate.
Jerome · AD 420 This man spoke to the prophet, in whose hand was a cord, and whose appearance was like bronze, and he held a reed in his hand. He spoke to Ezekiel, a true architect, whom Paul the apostle imitated, saying: Like a wise architect, I have laid the foundation.
Gregory the Dialogist · AD 604 Our Redeemer held this cord and measuring reed in His hand when He deigned to admonish the apostle Paul through a man of Macedonia appearing to him, so that this same Macedonian man said: "Come over and help us." And yet when the apostles wished to go into Asia to preach, the Spirit of Jesus did not permit them.
4 And the man said to me, Son of man, look with your eyes, and hear with your ears, and set your heart upon all that I shall show you; to the intent that I might show them to you are you brought here: declare all that you see to the house of Israel.
Jerome · AD 420 But it is not enough to command to see with the eyes and hear with the ears; but he added: And place your heart in all things; or, place in your heart all that I will show you. For nothing is of benefit to have seen and heard, unless you place those things that you have seen and heard in the treasure of memory.
Gregory the Dialogist · AD 604 Brought to the testimony of spiritual things, what is it that when it is said: "See with eyes," "your" is added, and when it is subjoined "Hear with ears," "your" is added? But it should be known that the eyes and ears of the body are present even to carnal men, and are in use for them for things that are seen corporeally.
5 And look, a wall on the outside of the house around, and in the man’s hand a measuring reed of six cubits long by the cubit and a hand breadth: so he measured the breadth of the building, one reed; and the height, one reed.
Jerome · AD 420 While reading the description of the mystical temple (which the Jews believe should be built literally upon the coming of their own Christ, whom we believe to be the Antichrist, but we refer to the Church of Christ, which we see being built daily in his saints), whenever the eye of the heart opens, it happens to me that I think I see and possess the bridegroom and joyfully say:…
Gregory the Dialogist · AD 604 Generally in sacred Scripture the incarnate Lord Himself is accustomed to be called a wall from the protection of His defense, just as it is said of holy Church through the prophet: "A wall and a rampart shall be set in her." For He Himself is a wall to us, who surrounds us by guarding us on every side.
Bonaventure · AD 1257 Next, through the addition of one unit, there is a comparison in relation to the number six. In this sense is understood the measure of the one who carried a rod of six cubits and one palm for the measuring of the temple. Seven, for Gregory, is the number of universality, as found in the major and minor worlds, and in God.
6 Then he came to the gate which looks toward the east, and went up its stairs, and measured the threshold of the gate, which was one reed broad; and the other threshold of the gate, which was one reed broad.
Jerome · AD 420 The Apostle Paul, desiring the Ephesians to understand more sacred things, prays that they may be filled with the wisdom and love of the Lord, so that rooted and founded, they may be able to know and comprehend the breadth, and length, and depth, and height, and the profound riches of Him.
Gregory the Dialogist · AD 604 Then came he unto the gate which looketh toward the east. The man is described as having a measuring reed in his hand. He came to the gate that looked toward the way of the East. Who else is signified by the name of this gate, except our Lord and Redeemer himself, who was made for us the door of the heavenly kingdom?
7 And every little room was one reed long, and one reed broad; and between the little rooms were five cubits; and the threshold of the gate by the portico of the gate within was one reed.
Gregory the Dialogist · AD 604 When we learn that the righteous who came before us acted bravely, we ourselves are girded for the strength of good work, and the soul of the reader is set aflame by the flame of holy examples. He sees what brave deeds were done by them, and is greatly indignant with himself because he does not imitate such things.
8 He measured also the portico of the gate within, one reed.
Jerome · AD 420 He also measured the width of the threshold of the ten-cubit gate, which is a perfect number and is contained either in the Decalogue or in the sacraments of the four Gospels. Whoever begins with one, reaches four in such a way as to fill the number ten.
Gregory the Dialogist · AD 604 The man, whose appearance was like the appearance of bronze, measured the vestibule of the gate at eight cubits, and its front at two cubits. And lest we should believe the vestibule to be outside the gate, it is added: But the vestibule of the gate was on the inside.
9 Then he measured the portico of the gate, eight cubits; and its posts, two cubits; and the portico of the gate was inward.
Gregory the Dialogist · AD 604 And its front was two cubits. But no one comes to that place unless he has held here with a devoted mind love of God and neighbor. Hence it is added: "And its front was two cubits." For the front of the gate is the good merit of the present life.
10 And the little rooms of the gate eastward were three on this side, and three on that side; they three were of one measure: and the posts had one measure on this side and on that side.
Gregory the Dialogist · AD 604 Moreover the chambers of the gate toward the way of the East were three on this side and three on that side, and there was one measure for the three. What the chambers and what the Eastern way designate, we have already said above, and we do not think it necessary to repeat them at greater length.
11 And he measured the breadth of the entry of the gate, ten cubits; and the length of the gate, thirteen cubits.
Gregory the Dialogist · AD 604 And he measured the width of the threshold of the gate as ten cubits, and the length of the gate as thirteen cubits. We have already said much above about the meaning of the gate, but we ought to hold to one thing through which the prudence of the reader can also penetrate the rest. Indeed it was said that Sacred Scripture can be figured through the gate.
12 The space also before the little rooms was one cubit on this side, and the space was one cubit on that side: and the little rooms were six cubits on this side, and six cubits on that side.
Gregory the Dialogist · AD 604 The chambers having been mentioned above, the prophet adds that the chambers were six cubits on this side and on that side. In this matter a great question arises for us: why did he say above that the chamber was measured by one reed, which reed he declared to have six cubits and a handbreadth, yet below he says the chambers are measured by only six cubits?
13 He measured then the gate from the roof of one little room to the roof of another: the breadth was five and twenty cubits, door against door.
Gregory the Dialogist · AD 604 And door against door. In this place, "contra" (against/opposite) is not placed in opposition to adversity, but to rectitude. For a door is opposite a door when one arrives by a straight path from the outer entrance to the inner one. In the knowledge of almighty God, our first door is faith, while the second is the vision of Him, to which we arrive by walking through faith.
14 He made also posts of sixty cubits, even to the post of the court around the gate.
Jerome · AD 420 (Verse 14 and following) He made fronts for sixty cubits, and the courtyard of the gate had a surrounding circuit. And before the face of the gate, which reached up to the face of the interior vestibule gate, there were fifty cubits, and oblique windows in the chambers, and in their fronts which were inside the gate all around.
Gregory the Dialogist · AD 604 And he made fronts of sixty cubits, and to the front of the gate was the court on every side round about. We have often said that perfection of good work is signified by the number six, not following what the wise men of this age have striven to establish, saying that the number six is perfect because it is completed when counted in its own order, as when one, two, three are sa…
15 And from the face of the gate of the entrance to the face of the portico of the inner gate were fifty cubits.
Jerome · AD 420 And after seven full weeks of festivity and joy, the first day of the Octave begins, which is the Day of Resurrection, and it brings us close to the temple.
Gregory the Dialogist · AD 604 And before the face of the gate which extended to the face of the vestibule of the inner gate, fifty cubits. That which is said in this place, "Before the face of the gate," describes not the exterior, but the interior place before the gate, since it is reported to extend up to the face of the vestibule of the inner gate.
16 And there were narrow windows to the little rooms, and to their posts within the gate around, and likewise to the arches: and windows were around inward: and upon each post were palm trees.
Gregory the Dialogist · AD 604 And in their fronts which were within the gate on every side round about. For there were windows in the chambers, and there were also windows in their fronts, which had been constructed within the gate on every side all around, because he who has a heart within also receives the light of contemplation.
17 Then he brought me into the outward court, and, look, there were rooms, and a pavement made for the court around: thirty rooms were upon the pavement.
Jerome · AD 420 And the pavement was laid with stone, so that the feet of the inhabitants, who were sinners, would not be polluted by mud, dirt, and the dust. But rather, the stones on which the temple of God is built, were walked upon.
Gregory the Dialogist · AD 604 After the prophet, introducing oblique windows concerning the grace of contemplation, spoke many things, he says he was led outside, and recalls having seen treasuries. In these treasuries, what else is designated but the knowledge of teachers?
18 And the pavement by the side of the gates over against the length of the gates was the lower pavement.
Gregory the Dialogist · AD 604 But in this matter we must vigilantly observe that the prophet, after he had described the treasury chambers, added: "The pavement round about." And below he added: "The treasury chambers round about the pavement." So that both the treasury chambers appear to be round about the pavement, and the pavement round about the treasury chambers.
19 Then he measured the breadth from the forefront of the lower gate to the forefront of the inner court without, a hundred cubits eastward and northward.
Gregory the Dialogist · AD 604 In these words, if we understand the gate as the entrance by which we enter into the knowledge of the Lord, the lower gate is faith, while the inner court is contemplation. Moreover, the lower gate has width in its face, because clearly faith through the amplitude of its charity has that operation which is seen by neighbors.
20 And the gate of the outward court that looked toward the north, he measured its length, and its breadth.
Jerome · AD 420 (Verse 20, 21.) He also measured the gate of the outer court that faced north, both in length and width. It had three rooms on each side, and its front and vestibule were the same size as those of the gate that faced east.
Gregory the Dialogist · AD 604 Readers must exercise great discernment, so that when any single word is used in sacred Scripture, it is not believed to always signify one and the same thing—just as sometimes "sun" is taken in a good sense, and sometimes in a bad sense. For by the name of sun, sometimes our Redeemer Himself is signified, and sometimes persecution.
21 And its little rooms were three on this side and three on that side; and its posts and its arches were after the measure of the first gate: its length was fifty cubits, and the breadth five and twenty cubits.
Jerome · AD 420 And it had, it says, fifty cubits in length and twenty-five in width, so that eternal rest might be demonstrated after fifty weeks following seven weeks: extending during the day of resurrection to the kingdoms of heaven, in which true rest is found.
Gregory the Dialogist · AD 604 And because in the knowledge of the Holy Trinity hearers advance from the word of preaching in love of the same Trinity, this same gate has three chambers on one side and three on the other, because everything that the Creator speaks concerning the Trinity through the New Testament, He also shows from the Old Testament.
22 And their windows, and their arches, and their palm trees, were after the measure of the gate that looks toward the east; and they went up to it by seven steps; and its arches were before them.
Gregory the Dialogist · AD 604 "And its windows, and its vestibule, and its carvings were according to the measure of the gate which looked toward the East; and its ascent was of seven steps, and the vestibule before it." All these things have already been discussed more extensively above, and therefore the discourse should not be delayed with a lengthy exposition.
23 And the gate of the inner court was over against the gate toward the north, and toward the east; and he measured from gate to gate a hundred cubits.
Gregory the Dialogist · AD 604 "And the gate of the inner court opposite the gate to the North and to the East." In this place "contra" [against/opposite] is placed not for opposition, but for straightness; for the gate of the inner court was shown to be positioned such that the gate of the North and of the East extended to it by a straight approach.
24 After that he brought me toward the south, and look, a gate toward the south: and he measured its posts and its arches according to these measures.
Jerome · AD 420 (Verse 24 and following) 'And he led me to the south gate, and behold, there was a gate that faced south. And its frontispiece and vestibule were measured according to the upper measurements, and its windows and vestibules all around were like the other windows.
Gregory the Dialogist · AD 604 "And he led me out to the way of the South, and behold a gate which looked toward the South; and he measured its front and its vestibule according to the measures above." All these things have already been said regarding the gate of the East and the North, and it is not fitting that we should repeatedly go over what we have already explained once and twice.
25 And there were windows in it and in its arches around, like those windows: the length was fifty cubits, and the breadth five and twenty cubits.
Gregory the Dialogist · AD 604 "And there were windows in it and in the arches thereof round about, like those windows: the length was fifty cubits, and the breadth five and twenty cubits." Among these matters, however, it can be asked, since there are four parts of this world, why in this building of the outer court are not four but three gates mentioned?
26 And there were seven steps to go up to it, and its arches were before them: and it had palm trees, one on this side, and another on that side, upon its posts.
Gregory the Dialogist · AD 604 "And there were seven steps to go up to it, and the arches thereof were before them: and it had palm trees, one on this side, and another on that side, upon the posts thereof." What is the meaning of this, that earlier a painting of palms was on the fronts, but now carved palms are mentioned as being on the front?
27 And there was a gate in the inner court toward the south: and he measured from gate to gate toward the south a hundred cubits.
Jerome · AD 420 And lest we think there is only one atrium to the south, it is said about the second atrium: And the entrance of the inner atrium is on the southern road: and it is measured from the entrance to the entrance on the southern road one hundred cubits; so that after a week and the sacraments of the old covenant, she may reach the good land and the grace of the Gospel.
Gregory the Dialogist · AD 604 Now it is said: "And the gate of the inner court toward the South way, and he measured from gate to gate in the South way, one hundred cubits." Now, therefore, we must inquire what these three inner gates are.
28 And he brought me to the inner court by the south gate: and he measured the south gate according to these measures;
Gregory the Dialogist · AD 604 "And he brought me into the inner court by the South gate, and he measured the gate according to the former measures." But if by the name of gates we understand only the holy apostles to be designated, who are indeed the first preachers of holy Church to us, and who taught us to hold most firmly to faith, hope, and charity, they therefore are gates for us in these virtues, who…
29 And its little rooms, and its posts, and its arches, according to these measures: and there were windows in it and in its arches around: it was fifty cubits long, and five and twenty cubits broad.
Gregory the Dialogist · AD 604 "And he measured the gate according to the former measures, its chamber, and its front, and its vestibule with the same measures, and its windows, and its vestibule round about, fifty cubits in length, and twenty-five cubits in width, and the vestibule all around." What, therefore, is signified by the inner court, by the chamber, by the fronts, by the vestibule, by the windows,…
30 And the arches around were five and twenty cubits long, and five cubits broad.
Gregory the Dialogist · AD 604 "Twenty-five cubits in length, and five cubits in width, and its vestibule toward the outer court." The interior gates have vestibules that are measured as twenty-five cubits in length. For if we multiply eight by three, we arrive at twenty-four. To this one is added, so that we have twenty-five.
31 And its arches were toward the outer court; and palm trees were upon its posts: and the going up to it had eight steps.
Gregory the Dialogist · AD 604 "And its palm trees on the front, and there were eight steps by which one ascended to it." This step, as Truth teaches, was shown to a certain man, who when the precepts of the law were spoken to him, responded: All these things have I kept from my youth. For he was standing as it were already on seven steps, when he said he had kept all things from his youth.
32 And he brought me into the inner court toward the east: and he measured the gate according to these measures.
Jerome · AD 420 And when, through the weapons of justice, on the right and left, through glory and disgrace, through good and bad reputation, through praise and blame, we have obtained victory over this world: then palms are given to us on both sides, which neither joys have changed, nor sorrow, nor prosperity, nor adversity have overcome: and not by seven degrees, as in the region of the Nort…
Gregory the Dialogist · AD 604 "And he brought me into the inner court by the East gate, and he measured the gate according to the former measures, its chamber, and its front, and its vestibule as above." This also which is written concerning the South gate is narrated in the same order concerning the East gate as well.
33 And its little rooms, and its posts, and its arches, were according to these measures: and there were windows in it and in its arches around: it was fifty cubits long, and five and twenty cubits broad.
Gregory the Dialogist · AD 604 "And its windows, and its vestibules round about, fifty cubits in length, and twenty-five cubits in width." But if the Gentile world is designated by the name of the North, it is clear to all who read carefully that the Gentile world existed before the Synagogue. For Heber himself, from whom the Hebrews are named, was chosen from among the Gentiles.
34 And its arches were toward the outward court; and palm trees were upon its posts, on this side, and on that side: and the going up to it had eight steps.
Gregory the Dialogist · AD 604 "And its vestibule, that is, of the inner court, and palm trees carved on its front on this side and on that, and its ascent was by eight steps." In the first description, therefore, let the Eastern gate be before the gate of the North and of the South; but in the second, let the gate of the East be named between the gate of the South and of the North, because both from His div…
35 And he brought me to the north gate, and measured it according to these measures;
Jerome · AD 420 (Verse 35 and following) 'And he brought me to the gate that faced the north, and he measured it according to the higher measurements: its chamber, its facade, its vestibule, and its windows all around: it was fifty cubits long and twenty-five cubits wide.
Gregory the Dialogist · AD 604 "And he brought me to the gate which looked toward the North, and he measured according to the former measures, its chamber, and its front, and its vestibule." Those things also which were said concerning the South gate and the East gate are repeated in the same words also concerning the gate which looks toward the North. The converted Gentile world is designated by the North.
36 Its little rooms, its posts, and its arches, and the windows to it around: the length was fifty cubits, and the breadth five and twenty cubits.
Gregory the Dialogist · AD 604 "And its windows round about, fifty cubits in length, and twenty-five cubits in width." But because our discourse has led us to the resurrection of the flesh, it is exceedingly sad and greatly lamentable that we know some stand in the Church and yet doubt the resurrection of the flesh.
37 And its posts were toward the outer court; and palm trees were upon its posts, on this side, and on that side: and the going up to it had eight steps.
Gregory the Dialogist · AD 604 "And its vestibule looked toward the outer court, and carved palm trees on its front on this side and on that, and its ascent was by eight steps." Behold, the ancient and new Fathers agree with one another in one spirit concerning the resurrection of the flesh.
38 And the rooms and the its entries were by the posts of the gates, where they washed the burnt offering.
Jerome · AD 420 And there are four tables made of square stones, and these themselves are for sacrifice and burnt offering (also called holocausts). These are living stones that are rolled upon the earth, and they have with them a corner stone, by which the walls of the old and new Covenant are held together.
Gregory the Dialogist · AD 604 "And for each treasury chamber there was a door in the fronts of the gates." We said above that the treasuries are the hearts of teachers, which preserve the riches of knowledge. The fronts of the gates are the words and works of preachers, by which we recognize outwardly what kind of persons they are who live within themselves.
39 And in the portico of the gate were two tables on this side, and two tables on that side, to slay on it the burnt offering and the sin offering and the guilt offering.
Gregory the Dialogist · AD 604 And in the vestibule of the gate were two tables on this side, and two tables on that side. For our gate has four tables in the inner vestibule, because the holy Church has been instructed by the preaching of the four evangelists, through whose teaching it learned to raise the heart in love of almighty God and to sacrifice its thoughts to Him as an offering.
40 And at the side without, as one goes up to the entry of the north gate, were two tables; and on the other side, which was at the portico of the gate, were two tables.
Gregory the Dialogist · AD 604 The gate that leads to the north. The gate that leads to the north also has two tables on one side and two on the other—the same chief priests and elders of the people we mentioned who held greater authority in governance, as well as the scribes and Pharisees who presided over that unlearned people in a lesser position.
41 Four tables were on this side, and four tables on that side, by the side of the gate; eight tables, whereupon they slew their sacrifices.
Gregory the Dialogist · AD 604 Four tables on this side, and four tables on that side, by the sides of the gate. But let it be said: Four tables on this side, and four tables on that side by the sides of the gate. For while faith and life, doctrine and prophecy are kept in the minds of the good, our gate, that is the understanding of sacred speech, has four tables on its side.
42 And the four tables were of hewn stone for the burnt offering, of a cubit and a half long, and a cubit and a half broad, and one cubit high: whereupon also they laid the instruments with which they slew the burnt offering and the sacrifice.
Gregory the Dialogist · AD 604 But four tables for the holocaust were built from squared stones. For whom do we understand by squared stones in this place, if not any holy ones whose life has known how to stand firmly in prosperity and adversity? For a squared stone stands equally on whichever side it has been turned.
43 And within were hooks, a hand broad, fastened around: and upon the tables was the flesh of the offering.
Gregory the Dialogist · AD 604 And their edges were of one palm. But well, when the edges of the tables are measured, and the measure is said to be a palm, "one" is added, so that from the preaching of the teachers, just as unity is held in faith, so also unity of minds may be preserved in work, lest through the good work which one does, another break forth into the evil of discord.
44 And without the inner gate were the rooms of the singers in the inner court, which was at the side of the north gate; and their prospect was toward the south: one at the side of the east gate having the prospect toward the north.
Jerome · AD 420 (Vers. 44 seqq.) "And outside the front gate of the cantor's treasury in the inner courtyard, which was on the side of the gate facing the north, their faces were towards the south: one on the side of the eastern gate, which faced the way of the north." Regarding the treasuries, the Seventy translated them as exedrae.
Gregory the Dialogist · AD 604 It should be noted that the Eastern gate is described as being between the gate of the South and of the North, because our Lord and Redeemer was born from Judea, and soon afterward drew the Church from the Gentiles to His faith. For He appeared as it were between the southern gate and that of the North, because He came from the former and converted the latter to His service.
45 And he said to me, This room, whose prospect is toward the south, is for the priests, the keepers of the charge of the house.
Jerome · AD 420 "And he said to me: This is the treasury that faces the southern way of the priests, who keep watch in the temple's guardrooms.
Gregory the Dialogist · AD 604 In these words of the prophet we must first inquire who are the priests of the greater order, whether those who keep watch in the guardianships of the temple, or those who serve at the ministry of the altar.
46 And the room whose prospect is toward the north is for the priests, the keepers of the charge of the altar: these are the sons of Zadok among the sons of Levi, which come near to the LORD to minister to him.
Gregory the Dialogist · AD 604 But in this matter a question arises, since it was said above that the treasury chambers had their fronts toward the Southern way, by what reasoning is it now said that the treasury chamber which looks toward the southern way belongs to the priests who keep watch in the guardianship of the temple, and the treasury chamber which looks toward the way of the North belongs to the p…
47 So he measured the court, a hundred cubits long, and a hundred cubits broad, foursquare; and the altar that was before the house.
Jerome · AD 420 "And he measured the porch of the temple by the length of one hundred cubits, and the width of one hundred cubits, square: and the altar that was before the temple." But this man who introduced Ezekiel into the inner courtyard, and so to speak, into the Holy of Holies, measured the courtyard itself, in which there were two chambers or treasuries assigned to the guards of the te…
Gregory the Dialogist · AD 604 But because under the name of the altar a discourse on the flame of compunction has presented itself, I think it necessary to show what the diversity of that same compunction is. For one compunction is that which is born through fear, another which is born through love, because it is one thing to flee punishments, another to desire rewards.
48 And he brought me to the portico of the house, and measured each post of the portico, five cubits on this side, and five cubits on that side: and the breadth of the gate was three cubits on this side, and three cubits on that side.
Jerome · AD 420 "And he brought me into the porch of the temple, and he measured the porch five cubits on this side, and five cubits on that side: and the breadth of the gate three cubits on this side, and three cubits on that side." Moreover, the aforementioned man led Ezekiel into the vestibule, or πρόπυλον of the temple, which measured five cubits on each side, for the one who was brought i…
49 The length of the portico was twenty cubits, and the breadth eleven cubits; and he brought me by the steps whereby they went up to it: and there were pillars by the posts, one on this side, and another on that side.
Jerome · AD 420 "And the length of the porch was twenty cubits, and the breadth eleven cubits, and there were steps to it: and pillars before the gates one on this side, and another on that side." But what follows, the length of the vestibule is twenty cubits, and the width is eleven cubits, seems to raise the question of how the dual number, which refers to two decades, and the eleventh, whic…