Ezekiel 48:18-28

18 The remaining area alongside the holy portion is 2.84 miles on the east and 2.84 miles on the west. These areas that adjoin the holy portion will produce the food for the city's workers.

19 The city's workers from every tribe of Israel will farm it.

20 The entire portion that you will set aside is 7.1 miles by 7.1 miles, a square; it includes the holy portion in addition to the city property.

21 What is left on both sides of the holy portion and the city property belongs to the prince. The land from the edge of the portion of 7.1 miles, to the eastern boundary, and on the western edge of the 7.1 miles to the western boundary, belongs to the prince. It corresponds to one tribal portion. The holy portion and the temple sanctuary are in the middle of it,

22 but what belongs to the prince is separate from both the levitical property and the city property. The prince's territory will be between the boundary of Judah and the boundary of Benjamin.

23 Now for the rest of the tribes: From the eastern border to the western border: Benjamin, one portion.

24 Along the boundary of Benjamin from the eastern border to the western border: Simeon, one portion.

25 Along the boundary of Simeon from the eastern border to the western border: Issachar, one portion.

26 Along the boundary of Issachar from the eastern border to the western border: Zebulon, one portion.

27 Along the boundary of Zebulon from the eastern border to the western border: Gad, one portion.

28 Along the boundary of Gad to the southern border, the boundary will run from Tamar to the waters of Meribath-kadesh and from there to the border of Egypt and to the Mediterranean Sea.

Ezekiel 48:18-28 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]. Or Wadi; traditionally Brook, MT lacks of Egypt.
• [b]. Or Great Sea