1 Now these are the names of the tribes. From the north end to the coast of the way of Hethlon, as one goeth to Hamath, Hazarenan, the border of Damascus northward, to the coast of Hamath; for these are his sides east and west; a portion for Dan.
2 And by the border of Dan, from the east side unto the west side, a portion for Asher.
3 And by the border of Asher, from the east side even unto the west side, a portion for Naphtali.
4 And by the border of Naphtali, from the east side unto the west side, a portion for Manasseh.
5 And by the border of Manasseh, from the east side unto the west side, a portion for Ephraim.
6 And by the border of Ephraim, from the east side even unto the west side, a portion for Reuben.
7 And by the border of Reuben, from the east side unto the west side, a portion for Judah.
8 And by the border of Judah, from the east side unto the west side, shall be the offering which ye shall offer of five and twenty thousand reeds in breadth, and in length as one of the other parts, from the east side unto the west side: and the sanctuary shall be in the midst of it.
9 The oblation that ye shall offer unto the LORD shall be of five and twenty thousand in length, and of ten thousand in breadth.
10 And for them, even for the priests, shall be this holy oblation; toward the north five and twenty thousand in length, and toward the west ten thousand in breadth, and toward the east ten thousand in breadth, and toward the south five and twenty thousand in length: and the sanctuary of the LORD shall be in the midst thereof.
11 It shall be for the priests that are sanctified of the sons of Zadok; which have kept my charge, which went not astray when the children of Israel went astray, as the Levites went astray.
12 And this oblation of the land that is offered shall be unto them a thing most holy by the border of the Levites.
13 And over against the border of the priests the Levites shall have five and twenty thousand in length, and ten thousand in breadth: all the length shall be five and twenty thousand, and the breadth ten thousand.
14 And they shall not sell of it, neither exchange, nor alienate the firstfruits of the land: for it is holy unto the LORD.
15 And the five thousand, that are left in the breadth over against the five and twenty thousand, shall be a profane place for the city, for dwelling, and for suburbs: and the city shall be in the midst thereof.
16 And these shall be the measures thereof; 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.
17 And the suburbs of the city shall be toward the north two hundred and fifty, and toward the south two hundred and fifty, and toward the east two hundred and fifty, and toward the west two hundred and fifty.
18 And the residue in length over against the oblation of the holy portion shall be ten thousand eastward, and ten thousand westward: and it shall be over against the oblation of the holy portion; and the increase thereof shall be for food unto them that serve the city.
19 And they that serve the city shall serve it out of all the tribes of Israel.
20 All the oblation shall be five and twenty thousand by five and twenty thousand: ye shall offer the holy oblation foursquare, with the possession of the city.
21 And the residue shall be for the prince, on the one side and on the other of the holy oblation, and of the possession of the city, over against the five and twenty thousand of the oblation toward the east border, and westward over against the five and twenty thousand toward the west border, over against the portions for the prince: and it shall be the holy oblation; and the sanctuary of the house shall be in the midst thereof.
22 Moreover from the possession of the Levites, and from the possession of the city, being in the midst 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 unto the west side, Benjamin shall have a portion.
24 And by the border of Benjamin, from the east side unto the west side, Simeon shall have a portion.
25 And by the border of Simeon, from the east side unto the west side, Issachar a portion.
26 And by the border of Issachar, from the east side unto the west side, Zebulun a portion.
27 And by the border of Zebulun, from the east side unto the west side, Gad a portion.
28 And by the border of Gad, at the south side southward, the border shall be even from Tamar unto the waters of strife in Kadesh, and to the river toward the great sea.
29 This is the land which ye shall divide by lot unto the tribes of Israel for inheritance, and these are their portions, saith the Lord GOD.
30 And these are the goings out of the city on the north side, four thousand and five hundred measures.
31 And the gates of the city shall be after the names of the tribes of Israel: three gates northward; one gate of Reuben, one gate of Judah, one gate of Levi.
32 And at the east side four thousand and five hundred: and three gates; and one gate of Joseph, one gate of Benjamin, one gate of Dan.
33 And at the south side four thousand and five hundred measures: and three gates; one gate of Simeon, one gate of Issachar, one gate of Zebulun.
34 At the west side four thousand and five hundred, with their three gates; one gate of Gad, one gate of Asher, one gate of Naphtali.
35 It was round about eighteen thousand measures: and the name of the city from that day shall be, The LORD is there.
Ezekiel Chapter 48, the final chapter of the book of Ezekiel in the King James Version (KJV) of the Holy Bible, presents a detailed record of the division of the land among the twelve tribes of Israel in the new, divinely restored Jerusalem. The chapter also concludes with a description of the city and its gates, named after the tribes, and a significant statement about the name of the city. This chapter, along with the entire book of Ezekiel, is a critical part of the prophetic literature of the Old Testament, offering profound insights into the nature of God, the role of the people of Israel, and the future restoration of God's kingdom.
Ezekiel 48 begins with the allocation of the land to the tribes of Israel. Each tribe is assigned a specific portion, starting from the northern border. The tribes of Dan, Asher, Naphtali, Manasseh, Ephraim, Reuben, and Judah are in the north. The allotment of land is done in a manner that ensures equity, reflecting the divine justice and fairness of God. This division of land is not only a physical allocation but also a spiritual restoration of the unity of the tribes of Israel, signifying their return from exile and the fulfillment of God's promises to them.
The chapter then shifts to describe the sacred district, which includes the temple, the city, and the land for the prince. The 'offering', a holy portion of the land, is set apart for the priests, the Levites, and the prince. The temple, the most sacred place, is in the center of this holy allotment. The inclusion of the prince in this sacred district signifies the integration of the secular and the sacred, and the divinely ordained role of the prince in the community.
The prophet further details the layout of the city, its gates, and the remaining land. The city is in the center of the land, with gates named after the twelve tribes of Israel. The naming of the gates after the tribes symbolizes their equal access to the city and their equal status in the restored Israel. The city measures 4500 cubits, and the remaining land is divided equally to the east and the west of the city. This geographical description signifies the centrality of the city in the divinely restored Israel and the balanced distribution of land.
The chapter concludes with a profound statement, "the name of the city from that day shall be, The Lord is there". This name signifies the divine presence in the city and the realization of the promise of God's enduring presence among His people. This statement reinforces the central theme of God's relationship with His people and His commitment to their well-being. The divine presence in the city also signifies the restoration of the broken relationship between God and His people and the return of His glory to the city.
Ezekiel 48, like the rest of the book, carries significant theological themes. It emphasizes God's sovereignty, justice, and faithfulness. The equitable distribution of land among the tribes reflects God's justice. The realization of the promises of restoration and the return from exile demonstrate God's faithfulness. The divine presence in the city underscores God's sovereignty and His desire for communion with His people.
The chapter also carries eschatological implications. The detailed description of the city and the land signifies the future perfect kingdom of God. The presence of God in the city points towards the eschatological hope of God's people, where God will dwell among them in perfect harmony.
Furthermore, Ezekiel 48 underscores the holiness of God and the call for His people to be holy. The sacred district, the temple, and the city's name all signify God's holiness. The allocation of the land, the layout of the city, and the division of the gates reflect the divine order and the call for the people of Israel to live in accordance with God's commandments.
In conclusion, Ezekiel 48, in its detailed description of the land, the city, and the divine presence, provides a compelling vision of the restored Israel and the ultimate fulfillment of God's promises. It encapsulates the central themes of God's sovereignty, justice, faithfulness, and holiness. It also offers a profound eschatological hope for the people of Israel and for all believers. The final words, "The Lord is there", serve as a powerful reminder of the enduring presence of God among His people, the ultimate promise of divine communion, and the hope of a future where God's glory will fill the earth.
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