48:1ffThe land would be divided into 13 parallel portions (one for each tribe plus a sacred district) that would stretch from the Jordan River or Dead Sea to the Mediterranean Sea. The division of the land shows that in God's Kingdom there is a place for all who believe in and obey the one true God (see John 14:1-6).
Life Application Study BibleEzekielChapter 48
Ezekiel 48
New Living Translation · Life Application Study Bible · Original pages: 1372, 1373
A few verse numbers on this page were hard to read in the scan and are marked with a dotted underline — compare with the original page image if in doubt.
Division of the Land
148 “Here is the list of the tribes of Israel and the territory each is to receive. The territory of Dan is in the extreme north. Its boundary line follows the Hethlon road to Lebo-hamath and then runs on to Hazar-enan on the border of Damascus, with Hamath to the north. Dan’s territory extends all the way across the land of Israel from east to west. 2“Asher’s territory lies south of Dan’s and also extends from east to west. 3Naphtali’s land lies south of Asher’s, also extending from east to west. 4Then comes Manasseh south of Naphtali, and its territory also extends from east to west. 5South of Manasseh is Ephraim, Sand then Reuben, ’and then Judah, all of whose boundaries extend from east to west. 8“South of Judah is the land set aside for a special purpose. It will be 8% miles* wide and will extend as far east and west as the tribal territories, with the Temple at the center. 9” The area set aside for the LORD’s Temple will be 8'4 miles long and 6%4 miles wide.* 10For the priests there will be a strip of land measuring 8% miles long by 3% miles wide,* with the LORD’s Temple at the center. ‘This area is set aside for the ordained priests, the descendants of Zadok who served me faithfully and did not go astray with the people of Israel and the rest of the Levites, 12It will be their special portion when the land is distributed, the most sacred land of all. Next to the priests’ territory will lie the land where the other Levites will live. 13“The land allotted to the Levites will be the same size and shape as that belonging to the priests—8¥3 miles long and 34 miles wide. Together these portions of land will measure 8 miles long by 674 miles wide.* 14None of this special land may ever be sold or traded or used by others, for it belongs to the LORD; it is set apart as holy. 15" An additional strip of land 8 miles long by 17 miles wide,* south of the sacred Temple area, will be allotted for public use—homes, pasturelands, and common lands, with a city at the center. 16The city will measure 12 miles* on each side—north, south, east, and west. 17Open lands will surround the city for 150 yards* in every direction. 19Outside 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. 8 Those who come from the various tribes to work in the city may farm it. 20This 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. 22So 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. 24South of Benjamin’s territory lies that of Simeon, also extending across the land from east to west. 25Next 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. 27The territory of God is just south of Zebulun with the same borders to the east and west. 28The southern border of Gad runs from Tamar to the waters of Meribah at Kadesh* and then follows the Brook of Egypt to the Mediterranean.* 29"These are the allotments that will be set aside for each tribe’s exclusive possession. I, the Sovereign LORD, have spoken!
The Gates of the City
3030“These will be the exits to the city: On the north wall, which is 1% miles long, *' there will be three gates, each one named after a tribe of Israel. The first will be named for Reuben, the second for Judah, and the third for Levi. 32On the east wall, also 14 miles long, the gates will be named for Joseph, Benjamin, and Dan. 33The south wall, also 142 miles long, will have gates named for Simeon, Issachar,and Zebulun. °4And on the west wall, also 1 miles long, the gates will be named for Gad, Asher, and Naphtali. 35"The distance around the entire city will be 6 miles.* And from that day the name of the city will be ‘The LORD Is There.’*”
Textual footnotes
- Ephraim and Manasseh, received tand as two tribes.
- Hebrew reads you will measure.
- kilometers]. 48:9 Reflecting one Greek manuscript and the Greek reading in 45:1: 25,000 cubits [13.3 kilometers]
- long and 20,000 cubits [10.6 kilometers] wide; Hebrew reads 25,000 cubits fong and 10,000 cubits [31/3 miles or
- 5.3 kilometers] wide. Similarly in 48:13b. Compare 45:1-5; 48:10-13.
- long by 10,000 cubits [5.3 kilometers] wide; also in 48:13a.
- cubits {2.4 kilometers]; also in 48:30, 32, 33,34, 48:17 Hebrew 250 cubits [133 meters].
- cubits [5.3 kilometers} to the east and 10,000 cubits to the west, 48:20 Hebrew 25,000 cubits [13.3 kilometers];
- also in 48:21.
- 18,000 cubits [9.6 kilometers].
- 48:8 Hebrew 25,000 cubits [13.3
- 48:10 Hebrew 25,000 cubits [13.3 kilometers]
- 48:13 See note on 48:9.
- 48:15 Hebrew 25,000 cubits [13.3 kilometers] fong by 5,000 cubits [2.65 kilometers] wide.
- 48:16 Hebrew 4,500
- 48:18 Hebrew 10,000
- 48:28a Hebrew waters of Meribath-kadesh.
- 48:28b Hebrew the great sea.
- 48:35a Hebrew
- 48:35b Hebrew Yahweh Shammah.
Life Application Notes 2 notes
48:35The book of Ezekiel begins by describing the holiness of God that Israel had despised and ignored. As a result, God's presence departed from the Temple, the city, and the people. The book ends with a detailed vision of the new Temple, the new city, and the new people—all demonstrating God’s holiness. The pressures of everyday life may cause us to focus on the here and now and thus forget God. That is why worship is so important: it takes our eyes off our current worries, gives us a glimpse of God’s holiness, and allows us to look toward his future Kingdom. God’s presence makes everything glorious, and worship brings us into his presence.