Bible Commentaries

The Division of the Land and the Plan of the City

(a) The Tribes (Ezekiel 48:1-7; Ezekiel 48:23-29)

These were twelve in number, as the two tribes descended from Joseph (Ezekiel 47:13) made up for the exclusion of Levi. From the N. border (Ezekiel 48:1) to the S. border (Ezekiel 48:28) the country was divided into 13 parallel zones, running across it from the E. to the W. boundary. Starting from the N., seven of these were assigned in order to the tribes of Dan, Asher, Naphtali, Manasseh, Ephraim, Reuben, and Judah. Passing over the eighth portion, the remaining five were allotted to the tribes of Benjamin, Simeon, Issachar, Zebulun, and Gad respectively (see Fig. 8).

1. To the coast of] RV 'beside', As one goeth to] RV 'to the entering in of', For these are his sides] RV 'and they shall have their sides',

28. See on Ezekiel 47:19.

(b) The Sacred Territory (Ezekiel 48:8-22)

This has already been partly described in Ezekiel 45:1-8. It formed a zone extending from the Mediterranean to the Jordan, between the portion of Judah on the N. and that of Benjamin on the S. (see Fig. 8). Its breadth was 25,000 cubits from N. to S. (Ezekiel 48:8). The central portion formed a square of 25,000 cubits each way, and included the domains of the Lévites, priests, and city, as described in Ezekiel 45:8-15 (see Fig. 7). The strip of 25,000 cubits by 5,000 (Fig. 7, g h c d), assigned to the city, consisted of a central square 5,000 cubits each way (i k I m), which contained the city proper, a square of 4,500 cubits each way (Ezekiel 48:16), surrounded on all sides by a border (suburbs) 250 cubits across (Ezekiel 48:17). E. and W. of this square were two rectangles (g i c l, k h m d), each 10,000 cubits by 5,000, to be cultivated by the citizens for food (Ezekiel 48:18-19). On the E. and W. of the great square formed by the lands of the Lévites, priests, and city, lay the possessions of the prince (Fig. 7, PP), extending to the Mediterranean on the W. and the Jordan on the E., as described in Ezekiel 45:7 (Ezekiel 48:21-22).

8. Offering] RV 'oblation'. See Ezekiel 48:9-10, Ezekiel 48:20, Ezekiel 48:21. Reeds] should be 'cubits', and so throughout.

9. Ten thousand] RM 'twenty thousand', as in Ezekiel 45:1.

13. Over against] RV 'answerable unto': so in Ezekiel 48:18, Ezekiel 48:21.

15. A profane place] RV 'for common use.'

18. Serve] RV 'labour in': so in Ezekiel 48:19.

19. Shall serve it] RV 'shall till it.'

21. The portions] The territories of Judah and Benjamin.

(c) The Gates of the City (Ezekiel 48:30-35)

The city, excluding the suburbs, was a square of 4,500 cubits each way, or 18,000 cubits in circuit. It had twelve gates, three on each side, and called after the twelve tribes, Joseph being here one tribe. The name of the city, Jehovah-Shammah, expressed the abiding presence of God with His people. This passage is the basis of Revelation 22:12-13, Revelation 22:16.

30. Measures] means 'cubits': so in Ezekiel 48:33, Ezekiel 48:35. In Ezekiel 48:32, Ezekiel 48:34 for reeds (RT) read 'cubits.'