Ezekiel 48NASB
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Ezekiel48

New American Standard

1“Now these are the names of the tribes: from the northern extremity, beside the way of Hethlon to Lebo-hamath, as far as Hazar-enan at the border of Damascus, toward the north beside Hamath, running from east to west, Dan, one portion.

2Beside the border of Dan, from the east side to the west side, Asher, one portion.

3Beside the border of Asher, from the east side to the west side, Naphtali, one portion.

4Beside the border of Naphtali, from the east side to the west side, Manasseh, one portion.

5Beside the border of Manasseh, from the east side to the west side, Ephraim, one portion.

6Beside the border of Ephraim, from the east side to the west side, Reuben, one portion.

7Beside the border of Reuben, from the east side to the west side, Judah, one portion.

8“And beside the border of Judah, from the east side to the west side, shall be the allotment which you shall set apart, twenty-five thousand cubits in width, and in length like one of the portions, from the east side to the west side; and the sanctuary shall be in the middle of it.

9The allotment that you shall set apart to the Lord shall be twenty-five thousand cubits in length and ten thousand in width.

10The holy allotment shall be for these, namely for the priests, toward the north twenty-five thousand cubits in length, toward the west ten thousand in width, toward the east ten thousand in width, and toward the south twenty-five thousand in length; and the sanctuary of the Lord shall be in its midst.

11It shall be for the priests who are sanctified of the sons of Zadok, who have taken the responsibility I gave them, who did not go astray when the sons of Israel went astray as the Levites went astray.

12It shall be an allotment to them from the allotment of the land, a most holy reserve, by the border of the Levites.

13And alongside the border of the priests, the Levites shall have twenty-five thousand cubits in length and ten thousand in width. The entire length shall be twenty-five thousand cubits and the width ten thousand.

14Moreover, they shall not sell or exchange any of it, or allow this choice portion of land to pass to others; for it is holy to the Lord.

15“The remainder, five thousand cubits in width and twenty-five thousand in length, shall be for common use for the city, for homes and for open spaces; and the city shall be in its midst.

16And these shall be its measurements: the north side, 4,500 cubits, the south side 4,500 cubits, the east side 4,500 cubits, and the west side, 4,500 cubits.

17The city shall have open spaces: on the north 250 cubits, on the south 250 cubits, on the east 250 cubits, and on the west 250 cubits.

18The remainder of the length alongside the holy allotment shall be ten thousand cubits toward the east and ten thousand toward the west; and it shall be alongside the holy allotment. And its produce shall be food for the workers of the city.

19And the workers of the city, out of all the tribes of Israel, shall cultivate it.

20The whole allotment shall be twenty-five thousand by twenty-five thousand cubits; you shall set apart the holy allotment, a square, with the property of the city.

21“The remainder shall be for the prince, on the one side and on the other of the holy allotment and of the property of the city; in front of the twenty-five thousand cubits of the allotment toward the east border and westward in front of the twenty-five thousand toward the west border, alongside the portions, it shall be for the prince. And the holy allotment and the sanctuary of the house shall be in the middle of it.

22And exclusive of the property of the Levites and the property of the city, which are in the middle of that which belongs to the prince, everything between the border of Judah and the border of Benjamin shall belong to the prince.

23“As for the rest of the tribes: from the east side to the west side, Benjamin, one portion.

24Beside the border of Benjamin, from the east side to the west side, Simeon, one portion.

25Beside the border of Simeon, from the east side to the west side, Issachar, one portion.

26Beside the border of Issachar, from the east side to the west side, Zebulun, one portion.

27Beside the border of Zebulun, from the east side to the west side, Gad, one portion.

28And beside the border of Gad, at the south side toward the south, the border shall be from Tamar to the waters of Meribath-kadesh, to the brook of Egypt, to the Great Sea.

29This is the land which you shall divide by lot to the tribes of Israel for an inheritance, and these are their several portions,” declares the Lord God.

30“Now these are the exits of the city: on the north side, 4,500 cubits by measurement,

31shall be the gates of the city, named for the tribes of Israel, three gates toward the north: the gate of Reuben, one; the gate of Judah, one; and the gate of Levi, one.

32On the east side, 4,500 cubits, shall be three gates: the gate of Joseph, one; the gate of Benjamin, one; and the gate of Dan, one.

33On the south side, 4,500 cubits by measurement, shall be three gates: the gate of Simeon, one; the gate of Issachar, one; and the gate of Zebulun, one.

34On the west side, 4,500 cubits, shall be three gates: the gate of Gad, one; the gate of Asher, one; and the gate of Naphtali, one.

35The city shall be eighteen thousand cubits all around; and the name of the city from that day shall be, ‘The Lord is there.’”

Study Guide

Public-domain commentary and original-language notes for Ezekiel 48.

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Chapter Summary

In this chapter: The Vision of the Temple. (1-35).

vv1-35

Here is a description of the several portions of the land belonging to each tribe. In gospel times, behold all things are become new. Much is wrapped up in emblems and numbers. This method God has used to state mysterious truths in his word, not to be more clearly revealed till the proper time and season. But into the church of Christ, both in its state of warfare and triumph, there is free access by faith, from every side. Christ has opened the kingdom of heaven for all believers. Whoever will, may come, and take of the water of life, of the tree of life, freely. The Lord is there, in his church, to be nigh unto them in all they call upon him for. This is true of every real Christian; whatever soul has in it a living principle of grace, it may truly be said, The Lord is there. May we be found citizens of this holy city, and act agreeably to that character; and have the benefit of the Lord's presence with us, in life, in death, and for evermore.

Cross References

Ezekiel 48
v31Revelation 21:12allusion

John's New Jerusalem gates correspond to Ezekiel's twelve gates named after the twelve tribes.

Supported by JFB

v35Jeremiah 33:16thematic

Parallel designation of the city as named by the Lord's presence and righteousness.

Supported by JFB

v35Revelation 21:3allusion

Fulfillment of the ultimate city name, 'The Lord is there' (Jehovah-Shammah), where God dwells with men.

Supported by Matthew Henry, JFB

Direct continuity with the northern boundaries (Hethlon, Hamath, Hazar-enan) defined in the previous chapter.

Supported by Matthew Poole

Contrast with Revelation 7, where the tribe of Dan is omitted from the tribal listing.

Supported by JFB

v11Ezekiel 44:15thematic

Reaffirms the selection of the sons of Zadok who faithfully kept the sanctuary charge.

Supported by Matthew Poole

v28Ezekiel 47:19thematic

Matches the southern boundary line from Tamar to the waters of strife in Kadesh.

Supported by Matthew Poole

v6Genesis 49:4thematic

Jacob's prophecy explains why Reuben, the firstborn, does not excel or hold central prominence.

Supported by JFB

v8Ezekiel 45:1thematic

The initial command regarding the measurement of the holy oblation (offering) of the land.

Supported by Matthew Poole

v35Zechariah 2:10thematic

Prophetic promise of God dwelling in the midst of His people, matching Jehovah-Shammah.

Supported by JFB

v35Jeremiah 3:17thematic

Jerusalem called the 'Throne of the Lord', highlighting the same reality as 'The Lord is there'.

Supported by JFB

v14Leviticus 25:23thematic

The law of land redemption; the land belongs to God and cannot be permanently sold.

Supported by Matthew Poole

v21Ezekiel 45:7thematic

Parallel description of the portions allocated specifically to the prince.

Supported by Matthew Poole

v29Ezekiel 47:13thematic

Connects back to the command to divide the land for inheritance among the tribes.

Supported by Matthew Poole

v35Revelation 22:3allusion

The throne of God and of the Lamb shall be in it; perfect realization of Jehovah-Shammah.

Supported by JFB

v15Ezekiel 45:6thematic

Specifies the dimensions of the city possession adjacent to the holy oblation.

Supported by Matthew Poole