Ezekiel48
World English Bible · Public Domain
1“Now these are the names of the tribes: From the north end, beside the way of Hethlon to the entrance of Hamath, Hazar Enan at the border of Damascus, northward beside Hamath (and they shall have their sides east and west), Dan, one portion.
2“By the border of Dan, from the east side to the west side, Asher, one portion.
3“By the border of Asher, from the east side even to the west side, Naphtali, one portion.
4“By the border of Naphtali, from the east side to the west side, Manasseh, one portion.
5“By the border of Manasseh, from the east side to the west side, Ephraim, one portion.
6“By the border of Ephraim, from the east side even to the west side, Reuben, one portion.
7“By the border of Reuben, from the east side to the west side, Judah, one portion.
8“By the border of Judah, from the east side to the west side, shall be the offering which you shall offer, twenty-five thousand reeds in width, and in length as one of the portions, from the east side to the west side; and the sanctuary shall be in the middle of it.
9“The offering that you shall offer to Yahweh shall be twenty-five thousand reeds in length, and ten thousand in width.
10For these, even for the priests, shall be the holy offering: toward the north twenty-five thousand in length, and toward the west ten thousand in width, and toward the east ten thousand in width, and toward the south twenty-five thousand in length; and the sanctuary of Yahweh shall be in the middle of it.
11It shall be for the priests who are sanctified of the sons of Zadok, who have kept my instruction, who didn’t go astray when the children of Israel went astray, as the Levites went astray.
12It shall be to them an offering from the offering of the land, a most holy thing, by the border of the Levites.
13“Alongside the border of the priests, the Levites shall have twenty-five thousand cubits in length and ten thousand in width. All the length shall be twenty-five thousand, and the width ten thousand.
14They shall sell none of it, nor exchange it, nor shall the first fruits of the land be alienated, for it is holy to Yahweh.
15“The five thousand cubits that are left in the width, in front of the twenty-five thousand, shall be for common use, for the city, for dwelling and for pasture lands; and the city shall be in the middle of it.
16These shall be its measurements: the north side four thousand and five hundred, and the south side four thousand and five hundred, and on the east side four thousand and five hundred, and the west side four thousand and five hundred.
17The city shall have pasture lands: toward the north two hundred fifty, and toward the south two hundred fifty, and toward the east two hundred fifty, and toward the west two hundred fifty.
18The remainder of the length, alongside the holy offering, shall be ten thousand eastward and ten thousand westward; and it shall be alongside the holy offering. Its increase shall be for food to those who labor in the city.
19Those who labor in the city, out of all the tribes of Israel, shall cultivate it.
20All the offering shall be a square of twenty-five thousand by twenty-five thousand. You shall offer it as a holy offering, with the possession of the city.
21“The remainder shall be for the prince, on the one side and on the other of the holy offering and of the possession of the city; in front of the twenty-five thousand of the offering 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. The holy offering and the sanctuary of the house shall be in the middle of it.
22Moreover, from the possession of the Levites, and from the possession of the city, being in the middle of that which is the prince’s, between the border of Judah and the border of Benjamin, shall be for the prince.
23“As for the rest of the tribes: from the east side to the west side, Benjamin, one portion.
24“By the border of Benjamin, from the east side to the west side, Simeon, one portion.
25“By the border of Simeon, from the east side to the west side, Issachar, one portion.
26“By the border of Issachar, from the east side to the west side, Zebulun, one portion.
27“By the border of Zebulun, from the east side to the west side, Gad, one portion.
28“By the border of Gad, at the south side southward, the border shall be even from Tamar to the waters of Meribath Kadesh, to the brook, to the great sea.
29“This is the land which you shall divide by lot to the tribes of Israel for inheritance, and these are their several portions, says the Lord Yahweh.
30“These are the exits of the city: On the north side four thousand five hundred reeds by measure;
31and the gates of the city shall be named after the tribes of Israel, three gates northward: the gate of Reuben, one; the gate of Judah, one; the gate of Levi, one.
32“At the east side four thousand five hundred reeds, and three gates: even the gate of Joseph, one; the gate of Benjamin, one; the gate of Dan, one.
33“At the south side four thousand five hundred reeds by measure, and three gates: the gate of Simeon, one; the gate of Issachar, one; the gate of Zebulun, one.
34“At the west side four thousand five hundred reeds, with their three gates: the gate of Gad, one; the gate of Asher, one; the gate of Naphtali, one.
35“It shall be eighteen thousand reeds in circumference; and the name of the city from that day shall be, ‘Yahweh is there.’
Study Guide
Public-domain commentary and original-language notes for Ezekiel 48.
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.
Key Words
אֵלֶּה: these or those
שֵׁם: an appellation, as amark or memorial of individuality; by implication honor, authority, character
שֵׁבֶט: a scion, i.e. (literally) a stick (for punishing, writing, fighting, ruling, walking, etc.) or (figuratively) a clan
מִן: properly, a part of; hence (prepositionally), from or out of in many senses
צָפוֹן: properly, hidden, i.e. dark; used only of the north as aquarter (gloomy and unknown)
קָצֶה: an extremity
יָד: a hand (the open one (indicating power, means, direction, etc.),
דֶּרֶךְ: a road (as trodden); figuratively, a course of life or mode of action, often adverb
חֶתְלֹן: Chethlon, a place in Palestine
חֲצַר עֵינָן: Chatsar-Enan, a place in Palestine
Cross References
Ezekiel 48John's New Jerusalem gates correspond to Ezekiel's twelve gates named after the twelve tribes.
Supported by JFB
Parallel designation of the city as named by the Lord's presence and righteousness.
Supported by JFB
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
Reaffirms the selection of the sons of Zadok who faithfully kept the sanctuary charge.
Supported by Matthew Poole
Matches the southern boundary line from Tamar to the waters of strife in Kadesh.
Supported by Matthew Poole
Jacob's prophecy explains why Reuben, the firstborn, does not excel or hold central prominence.
Supported by JFB
The initial command regarding the measurement of the holy oblation (offering) of the land.
Supported by Matthew Poole
Prophetic promise of God dwelling in the midst of His people, matching Jehovah-Shammah.
Supported by JFB
Jerusalem called the 'Throne of the Lord', highlighting the same reality as 'The Lord is there'.
Supported by JFB
The law of land redemption; the land belongs to God and cannot be permanently sold.
Supported by Matthew Poole
Parallel description of the portions allocated specifically to the prince.
Supported by Matthew Poole
Connects back to the command to divide the land for inheritance among the tribes.
Supported by Matthew Poole
The throne of God and of the Lamb shall be in it; perfect realization of Jehovah-Shammah.
Supported by JFB
Specifies the dimensions of the city possession adjacent to the holy oblation.
Supported by Matthew Poole