Ezekiel 48:13-23

13 But also to deacons in like manner by the coasts of priests shall be five and twenty thousand of length, and ten thousand of breadth; all the length of five and twenty thousand, and the breadth of ten thousand. (And also the Levites in like manner shall have a portion of the place of the first fruits unto the border of the priests, and it shall be twenty-five thousand in length, and ten thousand in breadth; and so all the length shall be twenty-five thousand, and the breadth shall be ten thousand.)
14 And they shall not sell thereof, neither shall (ex)change (any part of their portion); and the (place of the) first fruits of the land shall not be translated, for those be hallowed to the Lord. (And they shall never sell, or exchange, any part of their portion; and the place of the first fruits of the land shall never be transferred to anyone, for they be holy to, and belong to, the Lord.)
15 Soothly the five thousand, that be left over in breadth, by five and twenty thousand, shall be the unholy things, either common things, of the city, into dwelling place, and into suburbs (for a dwelling place, and for common land); and the city shall be in the midst thereof.
16 And these shall be the measures thereof; at the north coast, five hundred and four thousand of reeds (five hundred and four thousand rods), and at the south coast, five hundred and four thousand, and at the east coast, five hundred and four thousand, and at the west coast, five hundred and four thousand. (And these shall be its measurements; on the north side, four thousand five hundred cubits, and on the south side, four thousand five hundred, and on the east side, four thousand five hundred, and on the west side, four thousand five hundred.)
17 Forsooth the suburbs of the city at the north shall be two hundred and fifty, and at the south two hundred and fifty, and at the east two hundred and fifty, and at the sea, that is, (at) the west, two hundred and fifty.
18 But that that is residue in length, by the (place of the) first fruits of the saintuary, ten thousand into the east, and ten thousand into the west, shall be as the (place of the) first fruits of the saintuary; and the fruits shall be into loaves to them that serve the city. (But what is left over in length, by the place of the first fruits, ten thousand to the east, and ten thousand to the west, which be alongside the place of the first fruits, shall be used to grow food for those who serve in the city.)
19 Forsooth they that serve (in) the city shall (be able to) work (that land), (anyone out) of all the lineages of Israel. (And they who serve in the city shall be able to work that land, yea, anyone from all of Israel's tribes.)
20 All the (place of the) first fruits of five and twenty thousand, by five and twenty thousand in square, shall be separated into the (place of the) first fruits of [the] saintuary, and into (the) possession of the city. (All the place of the first fruits, twenty-five thousand, by twenty-five thousand square, shall be set apart for the place of the first fruits, unto the possession for the city.)
21 Forsooth that that is residue, shall be the prince's part, on each side of the (place of the) first fruits of [the] saintuary, and of the possession of the city, even against (the) five and twenty thousand of the (place of the) first fruits, till to the east end; but also to the sea even against (the) five and twenty thousand, till to the end of the sea, shall be in like manner in the parts of the prince; and the (place of the) first fruits of the saintuary, and the saintuary of the temple shall be in the midst of it. (And what is left over, shall be the prince's portion, on each side of the place of the first fruits, and the possession of the city; that is, to the east, over against the twenty-five thousand of the place of the first fruits unto the east side, and also to the west, over against the twenty-five thousand, unto the west side, in like manner, both portions shall be for the prince; and the place of the first fruits, and the sanctuary, that is, the Temple, shall be in their midst.)
22 Forsooth from the possession of (the) deacons, and from the possession of the city, which is in the midst of (the) parts of the prince, shall be into the term, either portion, of Judah, and into the term, either portion, of Benjamin; and it shall pertain to the prince. (And from the possession of the Levites, and from the possession of the city, which is in the midst of the portions of the prince, shall be unto the border, or the portion, of Judah, and unto the border, or the portion, of Benjamin; and it shall pertain to the prince.)
23 And to [the] other lineages, from the east coast till to the west coast, one to Benjamin. (And for the other tribes, from the east side unto the west side, one portion shall be for Benjamin.)

Ezekiel 48:13-23 Meaning and Commentary

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.

Copyright © 2001 by Terence P. Noble. For personal use only.