Verse 15. - The whole length of the gate, from the outer entrance to the inner exit fifty cubits, was thus composed -

1. An outer threshold - 6 cubits

2. Three guard-chambers, six cubits each -18 cubits

3. Two spaces between the chambers, five cubits each - 10 cubits

4. An inner threshold - 6 cubits

5. A porch before the gate - 8 cubits

6. One post, or pillar - 2 cubits

Total - 50 cubits

40:1-49 The Vision of the Temple. - Here is a vision, beginning at ch. 40, and continued to the end of the book, ch. 48, which is justly looked upon to be one of the most difficult portions in all the book of God. When we despair to be satisfied as to any difficulty we meet with, let us bless God that our salvation does not depend upon it, but that things necessary are plain enough; and let us wait till God shall reveal even this unto us. This chapter describes two outward courts of the temple. Whether the personage here mentioned was the Son of God, or a created angel, is not clear. But Christ is both our Altar and our Sacrifice, to whom we must look with faith in all approaches to God; and he is Salvation in the midst of the earth, Ps 74:12, to be looked unto from all quarters.And from the face of the gate of the entrance,.... That is, from the outward gate as you went into the porch, and was to the east, so called from people's passing and repassing (b) in it; so Jarchi takes it to be the eastern gate; the Targum calls it the middle gate:

unto the face of the porch of the inner gate; which opened at the other end of the porch, into the outward court, and was to the west: from gate to gate

were fifty cubits; as he measured the breadth of the porch before, Ezekiel 40:13, here the length; there were three chambers six cubits long, which made eighteen; and between each chamber were five cubits, which were ten cubits; and the space between the chambers and the gates at each end were six cubits each; Ezekiel 40:8, which make twelve more; and then allow ten cubits for the thickness of both walls of each gate, and there will be fifty cubits, or twenty nine yards and half a foot.

(b) Vid. R. Sol. Urbin. Ohel Moed, fol. 9. 1.