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Ezekiel48

Ezekiel 48 meticulously details the final division of the land among the twelve tribes of Israel, arranged in precise north-to-south strips. Central to this arrangement is a large holy oblation, set aside for the priests, Levites, and a designated city. The chapter concludes by describing the new city's dimensions, its twelve gates named after the tribes, and its ultimate name, 'The LORD is there.'

The Division of the Land: Northern Tribes

1
Now these are the names of the tribes: From the north end, beside the way of Hethlon to the entrance of Hamath, Hazar Enan at the border of Damascus, northward beside Hamath, (and they shall have their sides east and west), Dan, one portion. ​
2
By the border of Dan, from the east side to the west side, Asher, one portion.
3
By the border of Asher, from the east side even to the west side, Naphtali, one portion.
4
By the border of Naphtali, from the east side to the west side, Manasseh, one portion.
5
By the border of Manasseh, from the east side to the west side, Ephraim, one portion.
6
By the border of Ephraim, from the east side even to the west side, Reuben, one portion.
7
By the border of Reuben, from the east side to the west side, Judah, one portion. ​

The Sacred Central Offering (Oblation)

8
By the border of Judah, from the east side to the west side, shall be the offering which you shall offer, twenty-five thousand reeds in breadth, and in length as one of the portions, from the east side to the west side: and the sanctuary shall be in its midst. ​
9
The offering that you shall offer to the LORD shall be twenty-five thousand reeds in length, and ten thousand in breadth.
10
For these, even for the priests, shall be the holy offering: toward the north twenty-five thousand in length, and toward the west ten thousand in breadth, and toward the east ten thousand in breadth, and toward the south twenty-five thousand in length: and the sanctuary of the LORD shall be in its midst.
11
It shall be for the priests who are sanctified of the sons of Zadok, who have kept my instruction, who didn’t go astray when the children of Israel went astray, as the Levites went astray. ​
12
It shall be to them an offering from the offering of the land, a thing most holy, by the border of the Levites.
13
Answerable to the border of the priests, the Levites shall have twenty-five thousand in length, and ten thousand in breadth: all the length shall be twenty-five thousand, and the breadth ten thousand.
14
They shall sell none of it, nor exchange it, nor shall the first fruits of the land be alienated; for it is holy to the LORD. ​
15
The five thousand that are left in the breadth, in front of the twenty-five thousand, shall be for common use, for the city, for dwelling and for suburbs; and the city shall be in its midst. ​
16
These shall be its measures: the north side four thousand and five hundred, and the south side four thousand and five hundred, and on the east side four thousand and five hundred, and the west side four thousand and five hundred.
17
The city shall have suburbs: toward the north two hundred fifty, and toward the south two hundred fifty, and toward the east two hundred fifty, and toward the west two hundred fifty.
18
The remainder in the length, answerable to the holy offering, shall be ten thousand eastward, and ten thousand westward; and it shall be answerable to the holy offering; and its increase shall be for food to those who labor in the city.
19
Those who labor in the city, out of all the tribes of Israel, shall cultivate it.
20
All the offering shall be a square of twenty-five thousand by twenty-five thousand: you shall offer it as a holy offering, with the possession of the city. ​
21
The remainder shall be for the prince, on the one side and on the other of the holy offering and of the possession of the city; in front of the twenty-five thousand of the offering toward the east border, and westward in front of the twenty-five thousand toward the west border, answerable to the portions, it shall be for the prince: and the holy offering and the sanctuary of the house shall be in its midst. ​
22
Moreover from the possession of the Levites, and from the possession of the city, being in the midst of that which is the prince’s, between the border of Judah and the border of Benjamin, it shall be for the prince.

The Division of the Land: Southern Tribes

23
As for the rest of the tribes: from the east side to the west side, Benjamin, one portion. ​
24
By the border of Benjamin, from the east side to the west side, Simeon, one portion.
25
By the border of Simeon, from the east side to the west side, Issachar, one portion.
26
By the border of Issachar, from the east side to the west side, Zebulun, one portion.
27
By the border of Zebulun, from the east side to the west side, Gad, one portion.
28
By the border of Gad, at the south side southward, the border shall be even from Tamar to the waters of Meribath Kadesh, to the brook, to the great sea. ​
29
This is the land which you shall divide by lot to the tribes of Israel for inheritance, and these are their several portions, says the Lord GOD. ​

The Gates and Name of the Holy City

30
These are the exits of the city: On the north side four thousand and five hundred reeds by measure; ​
31
and the gates of the city shall be after the names of the tribes of Israel, three gates northward: the gate of Reuben, one; the gate of Judah, one; the gate of Levi, one. ​
32
At the east side four thousand and five hundred reeds, and three gates: even the gate of Joseph, one; the gate of Benjamin, one; the gate of Dan, one.
33
At the south side four thousand and five hundred reeds by measure, and three gates: the gate of Simeon, one; the gate of Issachar, one; the gate of Zebulun, one.
34
At the west side four thousand and five hundred reeds, with their three gates: the gate of Gad, one; the gate of Asher, one; the gate of Naphtali, one.
35
It shall be eighteen thousand reeds around: and the name of the city from that day shall be, the LORD is there. ​

Study Notes for Ezekiel 48

Verse 1

This chapter concludes the vision with the precise allocation of the land among the twelve tribes. Unlike the historical settlement, the tribes are arranged in parallel strips running east to west, symbolizing perfect order and equality. Dan, historically located in the south, is placed furthest north.

Verse 7

The portion of Judah is allotted immediately adjacent to the sacred central offering (the oblation), emphasizing the tribe’s importance in the restored community.

Verse 8

This section details the large, central square of land (25,000 reeds/cubits wide) set aside exclusively for sacred use. This 'oblation' is the spiritual and geographic heart of the community, ensuring the sanctuary is perpetually supported.

Verse 11

This privilege is reserved specifically for the sons of Zadok, the priestly line who remained faithful to God’s charge during the period when other Levites were unfaithful during the apostasy (cf. Ezek 44:15).

Verse 14

The prohibition against selling or exchanging this land emphasizes its absolute holiness and permanence. It ensures that the resources necessary for priestly service can never be alienated from the sanctuary.

Verse 15

The final 5,000 unit strip of the oblation is designated as 'profane' (common use) for the city. This distinction shows that while the city is sacred, the Temple and priestly portions (vv. 9-13) possess a higher degree of holiness.

Verse 20

The total holy oblation is a perfect square (25,000 x 25,000), symbolizing completeness and perfection in the sacred design established by God.

Verse 21

The Prince's land is placed on the eastern and western flanks of the central holy oblation. This provision grants the Prince resources but ensures he cannot encroach upon or oppress the sacred land or the people (cf. Ezek 45:7-8).

Verse 23

The remaining five tribes are listed, also receiving parallel strips of land leading down to the southern border. Benjamin is placed directly next to the Prince’s portion and the central oblation.

Verse 28

This verse defines the southern boundary of the land, stretching from Tamar (likely near the Dead Sea) to the waters of Meribah Kadesh, and west toward the Mediterranean Sea ('the great sea').

Verse 29

This serves as the concluding summary for the entire land division plan. The division is not arbitrary but is established by divine decree, confirming the restoration of Israel’s inheritance.

Verse 30

The description shifts to the Holy City itself, which is a perfect square (4,500 measures per side). This geometric perfection mirrors the design of the New Jerusalem in Revelation 21.

Verse 31

The city has twelve gates, named after the tribes, symbolizing that access to God’s presence is available to all Israel. Notably, Levi receives a gate, but Joseph’s two sons (Ephraim and Manasseh) are replaced by Joseph and Levi to maintain the number twelve.

Verse 35

This verse is the theological climax of the entire vision (chapters 40–48) and arguably of the book. The city’s new and eternal name, 'The LORD is there' (Hebrew: *YHWH Shammah*), signifies the permanent, manifest presence of God among his redeemed people.

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