Ezekiel 48:15-20

The Common Portion

15 The remaining area, 5,000 cubits ^[a] wide and 25,000 cubits long, will be for common use by the city, for houses, and for pastureland. The city will be in the center of it

16 and will have these measurements: 4,500 cubits ^[b] on the north side, 4,500 cubits on the south side, 4,500 cubits on the east side, and 4,500 cubits on the west side.

17 The pastureland of the city will extend 250 cubits ^[c] to the north, 250 cubits to the south, 250 cubits to the east, and 250 cubits to the west.

18 The remainder of the length bordering the holy portion and running adjacent to it will be 10,000 cubits on the east side and 10,000 cubits on the west side. Its produce will supply food for the workers of the city.

19 The workers of the city who cultivate it will come from all the tribes of Israel.

20 The entire portion will be a square, 25,000 cubits by 25,000 cubits. You are to set apart the holy portion, along with the city property.

Ezekiel 48:15-20 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.

Footnotes

• [a] 5,000 (long) cubits is approximately 1.7 miles or 2.7 kilometers.
• [b] 4,500 (long) cubits is approximately 1.5 miles or 2.4 kilometers; also in verses 30, 32, 33, and 34.
• [c] 250 (long) cubits is approximately 437.5 feet or 133.4 meters.