Ezekiel 48:1-11

1 "'Following is the list of tribes: "'This is Dan's territory: from the north end, through Hetlon to the entrance of Hamat, Hatzar-'Einan (at the border of Dammesek), northward, next to Hamat; and they will have their sides east and west.

2 "'Asher's territory will run alongside the territory of Dan from east to west.

3 "'Naftali's territory will run alongside the territory of Asher from east to west.

4 "'M'nasheh's territory will run alongside the territory of Naftali from east to west.

5 "'Efrayim's territory will run alongside the territory of M'nasheh from east to west.

6 "'Re'uven's territory will run alongside the territory of Efrayim from east to west.

7 "'Y'hudah's territory will run alongside the territory of Re'uven from east to west.

8 "'Alongside the territory of Y'hudah, from east to west, will be the offering you are to set aside, 25,000 [cubits] wide [eight miles], and in length equal to distance between the east and west boundaries of one of the portions, with the sanctuary inside it.

9 The offering you are to set aside for ADONAI is to be eight [miles] long and three wide.

10 This holy offering will be for the cohanim; it will be eight [miles] in length along its north and south sides and three in width along its west and east sides; ADONAI's sanctuary will be inside it.

11 The portion set aside as holy will be for the cohanim who are descendants of Tzadok that remained faithful to my commission and did not go astray when the people of Isra'el and the L'vi'im went astray.

Ezekiel 48:1-11 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.