Ezekiel 48

The Tribal Allotments

1 "Now these are the names of the tribes: From the northern end, along the road of Hethlon, to Lebo-hamath as far as Hazar-enon, at the northern border of Damascus, alongside Hamath and extending from the eastern side to the sea, will be Dan-one portion.

2 Next to the territory of Dan, from the east side to the west, will be Asher-one [portion].

3 Next to the territory of Asher, from the east side to the west, will be Naphtali-one [portion].

4 Next to the territory of Naphtali, from the east side to the west, will be Manasseh-one [portion].

5 Next to the territory of Manasseh, from the east side to the west, will be Ephraim-one [portion].

6 Next to the territory of Ephraim, from the east side to the west, will be Reuben-one [portion].

7 Next to the territory of Reuben, from the east side to the west, will be Judah-one [portion].

8 "Next to the territory of Judah, from the east side to the west, will be the portion you donate [to the Lord], eight and one-third [miles]^[a] wide, and as long as one of the [tribal] portions from the east side to the west.^[b] The sanctuary will be in the middle of it.

9 "The [special] portion you donate to the Lord will be eight and one-third [miles]^[c] long and three and one-third [miles]^[d] wide.^[e]

10 This holy donation will be set apart for the priests [alone]. It will be eight and one-third [miles long]^[f] on the northern side, three and one-third [miles]^[g] wide on the western side, three and one-third [miles] wide on the eastern side, and eight and one-third [miles]^[h] long on the southern side. The Lord's sanctuary will be in the middle of it.

11 It is for the consecrated priests, the sons of Zadok, who kept My charge^[i] and did not go astray as the Levites did when the Israelites went astray.^[j]

12 It will be a special donation for them out of the [holy] donation of the land, a most holy place adjacent to the territory of the Levites.

13 "Next to the territory of the priests, the Levites [will have an area] eight and one-third [miles]^[k] long and three and one-third [miles]^[l] wide. The total length will be eight and one-third [miles]^[m] and the width three and one-third [miles].^[n][o]

14 They must not sell or exchange any of it, and they must not transfer this choice [part] of the land, for it is holy to the Lord.^[p]

15 "The remaining [area], one and two-thirds [of a mile]^[q] wide and eight and one-third [miles long],^[r] will be for common use by the city,^[s] for [both] residential and open space. The city will be in the middle of it.

16 These are the city's measurements: one and a half [miles]^[t] on the north side; one and a half [miles] on the south side; one and a half [miles] on the east side; and one and a half [miles] on the west side.

17 The city's open space will extend: 425 [feet]^[u] to the north, 425 [feet] to the south, 425 [feet] to the east, and 425 [feet] to the west.

18 "The remainder of the length alongside the holy donation will be three and one-third [miles]^[v] to the east and three and one-third [miles] to the west. It will run alongside the holy donation. Its produce will be food for the workers of the city.

19 The city's workers from all the tribes of Israel will cultivate it.

20 The entire donation will be eight and one-third [miles]^[w] by eight and one-third [miles]; you are to set apart the holy donation along with the city property as a square [area].

21 "The remaining [area] on both sides of the holy donation and the city property will belong to the prince. He will own [the land] adjacent to the [tribal] portions, next to the eight and one-third [miles]^[x]of the donation as far as the eastern border and^[y]next to the eight and one-third [miles of the donation]^[z] as far as the western border. The holy donation and the sanctuary of the temple will be in the middle of it.

22 Except for the Levitical property and the city property in the middle of the area belonging to the prince, the area between the territory of Judah and that of Benjamin will belong to the prince.

23 "As for the rest of the tribes: From the east side to the west, will be Benjamin-one [portion].

24 Next to the territory of Benjamin, from the east side to the west, will be Simeon-one [portion].

25 Next to the territory of Simeon, from the east side to the west, will be Issachar-one [portion].

26 Next to the territory of Issachar, from the east side to the west, will be Zebulun-one [portion].

27 Next to the territory of Zebulun, from the east side to the west, will be Gad-one [portion].

28 Next to the territory of Gad toward the south side, the border will run from Tamar to the waters of Meribath-kadesh, to the Brook [of Egypt], and out to the Mediterranean Sea.

29 This is the land you are to allot as an inheritance to Israel's tribes, and these will be their portions." [This is] the declaration of the Lord God .

The New City

30 "These are the exits of the city: On the north side, which measures one and a half [miles],^[aa]

31 there will be three gates facing north, the gates of the city being named for the tribes of Israel: one, the gate of Reuben; one, the gate of Judah; and one, the gate of Levi.

32 On the east side, which is one and a half [miles],^[ab] there will be three gates: one, the gate of Joseph; one, the gate of Benjamin; and one, the gate of Dan.

33 On the south side, which measures one and a half [miles], there will be three gates: one, the gate of Simeon; one, the gate of Issachar; and one, the gate of Zebulun.

34 On the west side, which is one and a half [miles], there will be three gates: one, the gate of Gad; one, the gate of Asher; and one, the gate of Naphtali.^[ac]

35 The perimeter [of the city] will be six [miles],^[ad] and the name of the city from that day^[ae] on will be: Yahweh Is There."

Ezekiel 48 Commentary

Chapter 48

- 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.

Footnotes

• [a]. Lit 25,000 [cubits]
• [b]. Ezk 45:1-5
• [c]. Lit 25,000 [cubits]
• [d]. Lit 10,000 [cubits]
• [e]. Ezk 45:1
• [f]. Lit 25,000 [cubits]
• [g]. Lit 10,000 [cubits]
• [h]. Lit 25,000 [cubits]
• [i]. Ezk 44:15
• [j]. Ezk 44:10
• [k]. Lit 25,000 [cubits]
• [l]. Lit 10,000 [cubits]
• [m]. Lit 25,000 [cubits]
• [n]. Lit 10,000 [cubits]
• [o]. Ezk 45:1; 48:9
• [p]. Lv 25:34; 27:28
• [q]. Lit 5,000 [cubits]
• [r]. Lit 25,000 [cubits]
• [s]. Ezk 45:6
• [t]. Lit 4,500 [cubits]
• [u]. Lit 250 [cubits]
• [v]. Lit 10,000 [cubits]
• [w]. Lit 25,000 [cubits]
• [x]. Lit 25,000 [cubits]
• [y]. Lit border, and to the west,
• [z]. Lit 25,000 [cubits]
• [aa]. Lit 4,500 [cubits]
• [ab]. Lit 4,500 [cubits]; also in vv. 33-34
• [ac]. Rv 21:12-13
• [ad]. Lit 18,000 [cubits]
• [ae]. Ezk 43:2-5

Chapter Summary

INTRODUCTION TO EZEKIEL 48

In this chapter an account is given of the portions of the twelve tribes in the land of Israel; seven to the north of the sanctuary, Dan, Asher, Naphtali, Manasseh, Ephraim, Reuben, and Judah, Eze 48:1-7, between which and Benjamin lay the holy portion of the land, for the sanctuary and the priests of it, and for the Levites, and for the city and its suburbs, and for the prince, Eze 48:8-22 then the portions of the other five tribes to the south of the sanctuary, Benjamin, Simeon, Issachar, Zebulun, and Gad, Eze 48:23-29, after which the city is described by its outlets, north, east, south, and west; by its twelve gates, three at each point; by its circumference and by its name, Eze 48:30-35.