Ezekiel 47:18

And the east side ye shall measure from Hauran, and from Damascus, and from Gilead, and from the land of Israel [by] Jordan, from the border unto the east sea. And [this is] the east side.

And the east {H6921} side {H6285} ye shall measure {H4058} from {H996} Hauran {H2362}, and from {H996} Damascus {H1834}, and from {H996} Gilead {H1568}, and from {H996} the land {H776} of Israel {H3478} by Jordan {H3383}, from the border {H1366} unto the east {H6931} sea {H3220}. And this is the east {H6921} side {H6285}.

"'On the east side, measure between Havran and Dammesek, Gil'ad and the land of Isra'el by the Yarden, from the border to the eastern sea. This is the east side.

On the east side the border will run between Hauran and Damascus, along the Jordan between Gilead and the land of Israel, to the Eastern Sea and as far as Tamar. This will be the eastern boundary.

And the east side, between Hauran and Damascus and Gilead, and the land of Israel, shall be the Jordan; from the north border, unto the east sea shall ye measure. This is the east side.

Commentary

Ezekiel 47:18 is part of a detailed prophetic vision given to the prophet Ezekiel concerning the restoration and redistribution of the land of Israel in a future era. This specific verse meticulously outlines the eastern boundary of this divinely allotted territory.

Context

Chapter 47 of Ezekiel describes a profound vision of a life-giving river flowing from the new temple, bringing healing and fertility wherever it goes. This river transforms even the Dead Sea, making its waters fresh and teeming with life (Ezekiel 47:8). Following this miraculous depiction, the chapter shifts to describe the precise borders of the land that will be divided among the twelve tribes of Israel. Verse 18 focuses solely on the eastern side, providing specific geographical markers for its extent, emphasizing the meticulous nature of God's plan for His people's inheritance. This vision is part of a larger section in Ezekiel (chapters 40-48) detailing the new temple, its ordinances, and the renewed land.

Key Themes

  • Divine Precision and Order: The detailed description of the borders, including specific geographical names, highlights God's meticulous planning and the certainty of His prophetic word. It underscores that God's restoration is not vague but perfectly ordered.
  • Restoration of Inheritance: This verse reinforces the theme of God's faithfulness to His covenant promises regarding the land of Israel. It speaks to a future time when Israel will dwell securely within divinely appointed borders, fulfilling ancient promises of their promised inheritance.
  • Geographical Significance: The mention of "Hauran," "Damascus," "Gilead," and the "Jordan" indicates a restored territory that extends beyond the conventional borders of ancient Israel, encompassing regions historically contested or outside direct Israelite control. The "East Sea" specifically refers to the Dead Sea, whose transformation is a central miracle in this vision (Ezekiel 47:9).

Linguistic Insights

The names "Hauran" (modern Hawran in Syria), "Damascus" (the ancient capital of Syria), and "Gilead" (a region east of the Jordan River) are specific geographical locations. Their inclusion in the eastern boundary underscores the expansive and precise nature of the land division. The "east sea" (KJV) is the Hebrew yam haqqadmoni, meaning the "eastern sea" or "former sea," universally understood to be the Dead Sea. The phrase "by Jordan" indicates the land's proximity to the Jordan River, which serves as a natural boundary along part of the eastern side.

Practical Application

While this prophecy has specific implications for the future of Israel, it also offers broader spiritual lessons for believers today:

  • God's Faithfulness: The meticulous detail of this prophecy reassures us of God's unwavering faithfulness to His promises. If God is so precise with geographical boundaries, how much more precise and certain are His spiritual promises for our lives?
  • Divine Order in Chaos: In a world often marked by disorder and uncertainty, this vision reminds us that God has a sovereign, detailed plan for all things. He brings order out of chaos and fulfills His purposes with divine precision.
  • Hope for Restoration: The transformation of the Dead Sea and the detailed land distribution point to a future where God brings complete restoration and abundance. This offers hope that God can bring life and healing to barren or seemingly hopeless situations in our own lives, just as He makes all things new.
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Cross-References

  • Genesis 13:10 (3 votes)

    ¶ And Lot lifted up his eyes, and beheld all the plain of Jordan, that it [was] well watered every where, before the LORD destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah, [even] as the garden of the LORD, like the land of Egypt, as thou comest unto Zoar.

  • Numbers 32:1 (2 votes)

    ¶ Now the children of Reuben and the children of Gad had a very great multitude of cattle: and when they saw the land of Jazer, and the land of Gilead, that, behold, the place [was] a place for cattle;

  • Judges 10:8 (2 votes)

    And that year they vexed and oppressed the children of Israel: eighteen years, all the children of Israel that [were] on the other side Jordan in the land of the Amorites, which [is] in Gilead.

  • Genesis 31:47 (2 votes)

    And Laban called it Jegarsahadutha: but Jacob called it Galeed.

  • Genesis 31:23 (2 votes)

    And he took his brethren with him, and pursued after him seven days' journey; and they overtook him in the mount Gilead.

  • Job 40:23 (2 votes)

    Behold, he drinketh up a river, [and] hasteth not: he trusteth that he can draw up Jordan into his mouth.