1 Moreover, when ye shall divide by lot the land for inheritance, ye shall offer an oblation unto the LORD, an holy portion of the land: the length shall be the length of five and twenty thousand reeds, and the breadth shall be ten thousand. This shall be holy in all the borders thereof round about.
2 Of this there shall be for the sanctuary five hundred in length, with five hundred in breadth, square round about; and fifty cubits round about for the suburbs thereof.
3 And of this measure shalt thou measure the length of five and twenty thousand, and the breadth of ten thousand: and in it shall be the sanctuary and the most holy place.
4 The holy portion of the land shall be for the priests the ministers of the sanctuary, which shall come near to minister unto the LORD: and it shall be a place for their houses, and an holy place for the sanctuary.
5 And the five and twenty thousand of length, and the ten thousand of breadth shall also the Levites, the ministers of the house, have for themselves, for a possession for twenty chambers.
6 And ye shall appoint the possession of the city five thousand broad, and five and twenty thousand long, over against the oblation of the holy portion: it shall be for the whole house of Israel.
7 And a portion shall be for the prince on the one side and on the other side of the oblation of the holy portion, and of the possession of the city, before the oblation of the holy portion, and before the possession of the city, from the west side westward, and from the east side eastward: and the length shall be over against one of the portions, from the west border unto the east border.
8 In the land shall be his possession in Israel: and my princes shall no more oppress my people; and the rest of the land shall they give to the house of Israel according to their tribes.
9 Thus saith the Lord GOD; Let it suffice you, O princes of Israel: remove violence and spoil, and execute judgment and justice, take away your exactions from my people, saith the Lord GOD.
10 Ye shall have just balances, and a just ephah, and a just bath.
11 The ephah and the bath shall be of one measure, that the bath may contain the tenth part of an homer, and the ephah the tenth part of an homer: the measure thereof shall be after the homer.
12 And the shekel shall be twenty gerahs: twenty shekels, five and twenty shekels, fifteen shekels, shall be your maneh.
13 This is the oblation that ye shall offer; the sixth part of an ephah of an homer of wheat, and ye shall give the sixth part of an ephah of an homer of barley:
14 Concerning the ordinance of oil, the bath of oil, ye shall offer the tenth part of a bath out of the cor, which is an homer of ten baths; for ten baths are an homer:
15 And one lamb out of the flock, out of two hundred, out of the fat pastures of Israel; for a meat offering, and for a burnt offering, and for peace offerings, to make reconciliation for them, saith the Lord GOD.
16 All the people of the land shall give this oblation for the prince in Israel.
17 And it shall be the prince's part to give burnt offerings, and meat offerings, and drink offerings, in the feasts, and in the new moons, and in the sabbaths, in all solemnities of the house of Israel: he shall prepare the sin offering, and the meat offering, and the burnt offering, and the peace offerings, to make reconciliation for the house of Israel.
18 Thus saith the Lord GOD; In the first month, in the first day of the month, thou shalt take a young bullock without blemish, and cleanse the sanctuary:
19 And the priest shall take of the blood of the sin offering, and put it upon the posts of the house, and upon the four corners of the settle of the altar, and upon the posts of the gate of the inner court.
20 And so thou shalt do the seventh day of the month for every one that erreth, and for him that is simple: so shall ye reconcile the house.
21 In the first month, in the fourteenth day of the month, ye shall have the passover, a feast of seven days; unleavened bread shall be eaten.
22 And upon that day shall the prince prepare for himself and for all the people of the land a bullock for a sin offering.
23 And seven days of the feast he shall prepare a burnt offering to the LORD, seven bullocks and seven rams without blemish daily the seven days; and a kid of the goats daily for a sin offering.
24 And he shall prepare a meat offering of an ephah for a bullock, and an ephah for a ram, and an hin of oil for an ephah.
25 In the seventh month, in the fifteenth day of the month, shall he do the like in the feast of the seven days, according to the sin offering, according to the burnt offering, and according to the meat offering, and according to the oil.
Ezekiel chapter 45 is a continuation of the Prophet Ezekiel's vision of the future temple, a vision that began in chapter 40. This chapter essentially deals with the distribution of land among the twelve tribes of Israel, the duties and responsibilities of the prince, and the rules for worship, particularly during the feasts. The chapter is an attempt to restore the dignity of the people of Israel by providing them with a set of rules and guidelines for their spiritual and social life. It emphasizes the importance of justice, righteousness, and fairness in the society envisioned by God.
The first five verses of Ezekiel chapter 45 lay out the dimensions of the sacred district, which was to be set apart for the Lord. This district was to be a square, 25,000 cubits on each side, and within it would be the sanctuary, the most sacred place. The size and structure of the district symbolize the importance of God's presence among His people. It also signifies the centrality of worship in the life of the community. The land within this district was to be holy, set apart for the service of the Lord, thus highlighting the sanctity of the land and the importance of maintaining its purity.
The next few verses (6-8) describe the allocation of land to the prince and the people. The prince was to have a portion of land on either side of the sacred district and the city. This land was to be his possession in Israel, and he was to give up his former oppressive ways. He was to practice justice and righteousness, not oppressing the people of Israel. The land for the people was to be distributed fairly among the tribes, symbolizing the justice and equality that God desired in His society.
Verses 9-12 of Ezekiel chapter 45 provide a strong message against corrupt rulers and their oppressive practices. The prophet warns the princes of Israel against violence and destruction, and against oppressing the people. He calls them to practice justice and righteousness, to stop their evictions and to use accurate scales and honest measurements. These verses highlight the importance of justice and righteousness in the society envisioned by God. They underscore the need for fair and honest governance, and the need to protect the rights and dignity of all individuals.
Verses 13-17 set out the offerings to be made by the people of Israel. These offerings were to be given to the prince, who would then use them for the daily, weekly, monthly, and yearly sacrifices for the people. The prince, as the representative of the people, was to bear the expenses of the worship and to ensure that the worship was carried out according to the rules set out by God. These verses emphasize the importance of worship in the life of the community, and the role of the prince in facilitating this worship.
Verses 18-25 describe the feasts and the sacrifices to be offered during these feasts. The feasts were to be times of celebration, of remembrance, and of atonement for the sins of the people. The sacrifices offered during these feasts were to be a symbol of the people's repentance, their desire for forgiveness, and their commitment to live according to God's laws. These verses highlight the importance of communal worship, of remembering God's goodness, and of seeking His forgiveness.
In conclusion, Ezekiel chapter 45 presents a vision of a society based on justice, righteousness, and worship. It provides a set of rules and guidelines for the people of Israel, laying out the dimensions of the sacred district, the allocation of land, the duties and responsibilities of the prince, and the rules for worship. The chapter emphasizes the importance of justice and righteousness in society, the need for fair and honest governance, and the centrality of worship in the life of the community. It presents a vision of a society where God's presence is central, where His laws are respected, and where His people live in peace and harmony.
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