40:24 Then he led me toward the south. I saw 6 a gate on the south. He measured its jambs and its porches; they had the same dimensions as the others.
1 tn Or “Groan silently. As to the dead….” Cf. M. Greenberg’s suggestion that דֹּם מֵתִים (dom metim) be taken together and דֹּם be derived from ָדּמַם (damam, “to moan, murmur”). See M. Greenberg, Ezekiel (AB), 2:508.
2 tn Heb “(For) the dead mourning you shall not conduct.” In the Hebrew text the word translated “dead” is plural, indicating that mourning rites are in view. Such rites would involve outward demonstrations of one’s sorrow, including wailing and weeping.
3 sn The turban would normally be removed for mourning (Josh 7:6; 1 Sam 4:12).
4 sn Mourning rites included covering the lower part of the face. See Lev 13:45.
5 tn Heb “the bread of men.” The translation follows the suggestion accepted by M. Greenberg (Ezekiel [AB], 2:509) that this refers to a meal brought by comforters to the one mourning. Some repoint the consonantal text to read “the bread of despair” (see L. C. Allen, Ezekiel [WBC], 2:56), while others, with support from the Targum and Vulgate, emend the consonantal text to read “the bread of mourners” (see D. I. Block, Ezekiel [NICOT], 1:784).
6 tn The word הִנֵּה (hinneh, traditionally “behold”) indicates becoming aware of something and has been translated here as a verb.
7 tn Heb “fifty cubits” (i.e., 26.25 meters).
8 tn Heb “twenty-five cubits” (i.e., 13.125 meters).
9 tn Heb “fifty cubits” (i.e., 26.25 meters).
10 tn Heb “twenty-five cubits” (i.e., 13.125 meters).