Ezekiel 48:17-27

17 Open lands will surround the city for 150 yards in every direction.

18 Outside the city there will be a farming area that stretches 3 miles to the east and 3 miles to the west along the border of the sacred area. This farmland will produce food for the people working in the city.

19 Those who come from the various tribes to work in the city may farm it.

20 This entire area—including the sacred lands and the city—is a square that measures 8 miles on each side.

21 “The areas that remain, to the east and to the west of the sacred lands and the city, will belong to the prince. Each of these areas will be 8 miles wide, extending in opposite directions to the eastern and western borders of Israel, with the sacred lands and the sanctuary of the Temple in the center.

22 So the prince’s land will include everything between the territories allotted to Judah and Benjamin, except for the areas set aside for the sacred lands and the city.

23 “These are the territories allotted to the rest of the tribes. Benjamin’s territory lies just south of the prince’s lands, and it extends across the entire land of Israel from east to west.

24 South of Benjamin’s territory lies that of Simeon, also extending across the land from east to west.

25 Next is the territory of Issachar with the same eastern and western boundaries.

26 “Then comes the territory of Zebulun, which also extends across the land from east to west.

27 The territory of Gad is just south of Zebulun with the same borders to the east and west.

Ezekiel 48:17-27 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]. Hebrew 250 [cubits] [133 meters].
• [b]. Hebrew 10,000 [cubits] [5.3 kilometers] to the east and 10,000 [cubits] to the west.
• [c]. Hebrew 25,000 [cubits] [13.3 kilometers]; also in 48:21 .