Ezekiel 47:13-23

13 The LORD God proclaims: These are the boundaries of the portions of land that will be distributed as an inheritance to the twelve tribes of Israel. Joseph will receive two portions.

14 What I swore to give to your ancestors, you will distribute as an inheritance equally. This land is given to you as an inheritance.

15 This is the boundary of the land. The northern limit begins at the Mediterranean Sea and goes in the direction of Hethlon toward Lebo-hamath, Zedad,

16 Berothah, Sibraim (which is between the boundary of Damascus and the boundary of Hamath), and Hazer-hatticon (that is on the boundary of Hauran).

17 So the boundary from the Mediterranean Sea to Hazar-enon will run north of the boundary of Damascus, with the boundary of Hamath to the north. This is the northern limit.

18 For the eastern limit, you will measure continuously between Hauran and Damascus and between Gilead and the land of Israel, along the Jordan River as far as the Dead Sea. This is the eastern limit.

19 The southern limit runs from Tamar to the waters of Meribath-kadesh and from there along the border of Egypt to the Mediterranean Sea. This is the southern limit.

20 For the western limit, the Mediterranean Sea is the boundary up to Lebo-hamath. This is the western limit.

21 You will apportion this land among yourselves according to the tribes of Israel.

22 When you distribute the land as an inheritance, the immigrants who reside with you and raise families among you are considered full citizens along with the Israelites. They will receive an inheritance along with you among the tribes of Israel.

23 You will assign the immigrants' inheritance with the tribe with whom they reside. This is what the LORD God says.

Ezekiel 47:13-23 Meaning and Commentary

INTRODUCTION TO EZEKIEL 47

This chapter gives an account of the vision of the holy waters, and of the borders of the holy land, and the division of it to Israelites and strangers. The waters are described by the original and spring of them, Eze 47:1,2, by the progress and increase of them, Eze 47:3-5, by the healing and quickening nature of them, and the places where they were so, and were not, Eze 47:8-11, and by the trees which grew upon the banks of them, Eze 47:6,7,12. The borders of the holy land are fixed, Eze 47:13,14, the northern border, Eze 47:15-17, the eastern border, Eze 47:18, the southern, Eze 47:19, and the western, Eze 47:20, which is to be divided by lot to the tribes of Israel, and the strangers that sojourn among them, Eze 47:21-23.

Footnotes

• [a]. LXX, Tg, Vulg; Heb uncertain
• [b]. LXX; MT transposes Hamath and Zedad.
• [c]. Or the sea
• [d]. Or eastern sea
• [e]. Or Wadi; traditionally Brook