Ezekiel 47:16

16 Hamat, Berotah, Sivrai, which is between the border of Dammesek and the border of Hamat; the middle Hatzer, which is by the border of Havran.

Ezekiel 47:16 Meaning and Commentary

Ezekiel 47:16

Hamath, Berothah, Sibraim
The line of the northern border should be drawn on by Hamath, the same with Antiochia in Syria, since called Epiphania, as Jerom observes, from Antiochus Epiphanies; and go on by Berothah, a city of Hadadezer king of Zobah, ( 2 Samuel 8:8 ) , the same with the Barothena of Ptolemy F17, placed by him in Syria; and from thence the line would be carried on to Sibraim, a city in Arabia Deserta: which is between the border of Damascus;
the chief city in Syria: and the border of Hamath; before mentioned. Calmet F18 imagines it to be that which Ishmael Abulfeda calls Hovvarin; which he says is a village of the country of Ems or Hamath, to the southeast of the city. Hazarhatticon, which is by the coast of Hauran;
this seems to be explanative of Sibraim, which lay between the border of Damascus and the border of Hamath; and therefore is called the middle town or village, as "Hazarhatticon" signifies; and lay by the coast of Hauran, which Jerom calls a town of Damascus, with which it is mentioned, ( Ezekiel 47:18 ) , from whence the country adjacent is called Auranitis, as this place is here by the Septuagint. The Targum calls Hazar the fish pool of the Agbeans; but for what reason, and what is meant by it, I know not.


FOOTNOTES:

F17 Geograph. l. 5. c. 19.
F18 Dictionary, in the word "Sibraim".

Ezekiel 47:16 In-Context

14 You shall inherit it, one as well as another; for I swore to give it to your fathers: and this land shall fall to you for inheritance.
15 This shall be the border of the land: On the north side, from the great sea, by the way of Hetlon, to the entrance of Tzedad;
16 Hamat, Berotah, Sivrai, which is between the border of Dammesek and the border of Hamat; the middle Hatzer, which is by the border of Havran.
17 The border from the sea, shall be Hatzar-`Enon at the border of Dammesek; and on the north northward is the border of Hamat. This is the north side.
18 The east side, between Hauran and Dammesek and Gil`ad, and Eretz-Yisra'el, shall be the Yarden; from the [north] border to the east sea shall you measure. This is the east side.
The Hebrew Names Version is in the public domain.