Ezekiel47

Ezekiel is shown a miraculous river flowing from the temple, which progressively deepens and brings life and healing wherever it flows, causing abundant fish and ever-fruiting trees. The chapter then outlines the divinely ordained borders for the land's inheritance among the twelve tribes of Israel. Notably, this inheritance is also extended to the strangers dwelling among them, who are to receive portions alongside the native-born.

The River Flowing from the Temple

1
He brought me back to the door of the house; and behold, waters issued out from under the threshold of the house eastward; (for the forefront of the house was toward the east;) and the waters came down from under, from the right side of the house, on the south of the altar. ​
2
Then he brought me out by the way of the gate northward, and led me round by the way outside to the outer gate, by the way of the gate that looks toward the east; and behold, there ran out waters on the right side.
3
When the man went out eastward with the line in his hand, he measured one thousand cubits, and he caused me to pass through the waters, waters that were to the ankles. ​
4
Again he measured one thousand, and caused me to pass through the waters, waters that were to the knees. Again he measured one thousand, and caused me to pass through waters that were to the waist.
5
Afterward he measured one thousand; and it was a river that I could not pass through; for the waters were risen, waters to swim in, a river that could not be passed through. ​
6
He said to me, Son of man, have you seen? Then he brought me, and caused me to return to the bank of the river.
7
Now when I had returned, behold, on the bank of the river were very many trees on the one side and on the other.
8
Then he said to me, These waters flow out toward the eastern region, and will go down into the Arabah; and they will go toward the sea; and flow into the sea which will be made to flow out; and the waters will be healed. ​
9
It shall happen, that every living creature which swarms, in every place where the rivers come, shall live; and there shall be a very great multitude of fish; for these waters have come there, and the waters of the sea shall be healed, and everything shall live wherever the river comes. ​
10
It shall happen, that fishermen shall stand by it: from En Gedi even to En Eglaim shall be a place for the spreading of nets; their fish shall be after their kinds, as the fish of the great sea, exceeding many. ​
11
But the miry places of it, and its marshes, shall not be healed; they shall be given up to salt. ​
12
By the river on its bank, on this side and on that side, shall grow every tree for food, whose leaf shall not wither, neither shall its fruit fail: it shall produce new fruit every month, because its waters issue out of the sanctuary; and its fruit shall be for food, and its leaf for healing. ​

Boundaries and Inheritance of the Land

13
Thus says the Lord GOD: This shall be the border, by which you shall divide the land for inheritance according to the twelve tribes of Israel: Joseph shall have two portions. ​
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 Hethlon, to the entrance of Zedad;
16
Hamath, Berothah, Sibraim, which is between the border of Damascus and the border of Hamath; Hazer Hatticon, which is by the border of Hauran.
17
The border from the sea, shall be Hazar Enon at the border of Damascus; and on the north northward is the border of Hamath. This is the north side.
18
The east side, between Hauran and Damascus and Gilead, and Eretz-Israel, shall be the Jordan; from the north border to the east sea you shall measure. This is the east side.
19
The south side southward shall be from Tamar as far as the waters of Meriboth Kadesh, to the brook, to the great sea. This is the south side southward.
20
The west side shall be the great sea, from the south border as far as over against the entrance of Hamath. This is the west side.
21
So you shall divide this land to you according to the tribes of Israel.
22
It shall happen, that you shall divide it by lot for an inheritance to you and to the aliens who live among you, who shall father children among you; and they shall be to you as the native-born among the children of Israel; they shall have inheritance with you among the tribes of Israel. ​
23
It shall happen, that in what tribe the stranger lives, there you shall give him his inheritance, says the Lord GOD.

Study Notes for Ezekiel 47

Verse 1

The vision begins by establishing the source of life and blessing: the Temple, which represents the presence of God. The flow is eastward, symbolizing the spread of God’s restorative power into the desolate regions outside Jerusalem.

Verse 3

The prophet's guide measures the waters at thousand-cubit intervals (approx. 1,500 feet). This progressive measurement emphasizes the deliberate, increasing power and abundance of the divine blessing.

Verse 5

The river becomes uncrossable, requiring the prophet to swim. This symbolizes that the fullness of God’s blessing is so vast that it requires complete reliance and submission (swimming) rather than cautious wading.

Verse 8

The waters flow toward the 'sea,' generally identified as the Dead Sea, which is notoriously saline and lifeless. The purpose of the river is miraculous healing, bringing life to the most desolate regions.

Verse 9

This verse emphasizes the life-giving theological power of the river. The imagery links back to the Garden of Eden (Genesis 2) and anticipates the description of the New Jerusalem (Revelation 22:1-2), stressing restoration and vitality.

Verse 10

Engedi and Eneglaim were real locations marking the northern and southern limits of the Dead Sea shoreline, illustrating the vast extent of the miraculous fertility and economic renewal brought by the river.

Verse 11

This warning indicates that not all areas will be restored. Places that resist the healing flow, perhaps symbolizing perpetual rebellion or barrenness, will remain desolate and 'given to salt.'

Verse 12

The perennial fruitfulness (never-fading leaf, constant yield) recalls the Tree of Life. The leaves used for 'medicine' (or healing) highlights the total physical and spiritual restoration provided by the divine source.

Verse 13

This marks a shift from the visionary description to practical geopolitical instructions. Joseph receiving two portions (through his sons Ephraim and Manasseh) maintains the traditional twelve-territory division of Israel.

Verse 22

This provision is radical within ancient Israelite law. Granting sojourners (strangers) full inheritance rights, equal to those born in Israel, demonstrates the inclusive and universal nature of the restored covenant community.

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