Ezekiel 47:13-23

The Borders of the Land

13 This is what the Lord God says: "This is^[a] the border you will [use to] divide the land^[b] as an inheritance for the 12 tribes of Israel. Joseph will receive two shares.^[c]

14 You will inherit it in equal portions, since I swore^[d] to give it to your ancestors. So this land will fall to you as an inheritance.

15 "This is to be the border of the land: On the north side it will extend from the Mediterranean Sea by way of Hethlon and Lebo-hamath to Zedad,^[e]

16 Berothah, and Sibraim (which is between the border of Damascus and the border of Hamath), [as far as] Hazer-hatticon, which is on the border of Hauran.

17 So the border will run from the sea to Hazar-enon at the border of Damascus, with the territory of Hamath to the north. This will be the northern side.

18 On the east side it will run between Hauran and Damascus, along the Jordan between Gilead and the land of Israel; you will measure from the [northern] border to the eastern sea.^[f] This will be the eastern side.

19 On the south side it will run from Tamar to the waters of Meribath-kadesh,^[g] and on to the Brook [of Egypt] as far as the Mediterranean Sea. This will be the southern side.

20 On the west side the Mediterranean Sea will be the border, from the [southern] border up to a point opposite Lebo-hamath. This will be the western side.

21 "You are to divide this land among yourselves according to the tribes of Israel.

22 You will allot it as an inheritance for yourselves and for the foreigners living among you, who have fathered children among you. You will treat them^[h] like native-born Israelites; along with you, they will be allotted an inheritance among the tribes of Israel.

23 In whatever tribe the foreigner lives, you will assign his inheritance there." [This is] the declaration of the Lord God .

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]. Tg, Vg; Syr reads The valley of
• [b]. Nm 34:2-12
• [c]. Gn 48:15-16; Jos 16:4-17:18
• [d]. Lit lifted My hand
• [e]. LXX; MT reads [and] Lebo to Zedad, Hamath; Ezk 48:1
• [f]. the Dead Sea
• [g]. Kadesh-barnea
• [h]. Lit They will be to you