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1. Now these are the namesH8034of the tribes.H7626From the northH6828endH7097to the coastH3027of the wayH1870of Hethlon,H2855as one goethH935to Hamath,H2574Hazarenan,H2704the borderH1366of DamascusH1834northward,H6828to the coastH3027of Hamath;H2574for these are his sidesH6285eastH6921and west;H3220aH259portion for Dan.H1835
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2. And by the borderH1366of Dan,H1835from the eastH6921sideH6285unto the westH3220side,H6285aH259portion for Asher.H836
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3. And by the borderH1366of Asher,H836from the eastH6921sideH6285even unto the westH3220side,H6285aH259portion for Naphtali.H5321
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4. And by the borderH1366of Naphtali,H5321from the eastH6921sideH6285unto the westH3220side,H6285aH259portion for Manasseh.H4519
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5. And by the borderH1366of Manasseh,H4519from the eastH6921sideH6285unto the westH3220side,H6285aH259portion for Ephraim.H669
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6. And by the borderH1366of Ephraim,H669from the eastH6921sideH6285even unto the westH3220side,H6285aH259portion for Reuben.H7205
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7. And by the borderH1366of Reuben,H7205from the eastH6921sideH6285unto the westH3220side,H6285aH259portion for Judah.H3063
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8. And by the borderH1366of Judah,H3063from the eastH6921sideH6285unto the westH3220side,H6285shall be the offeringH8641which ye shall offerH7311of fiveH2568and twentyH6242thousandH505reeds in breadth,H7341and in lengthH753as oneH259of the other parts,H2506from the eastH6921sideH6285unto the westH3220side:H6285and the sanctuaryH4720shall be in the midstH8432of it.
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9. The oblationH8641that ye shall offerH7311unto the LORDH3068shall be of fiveH2568and twentyH6242thousandH505in length,H753and of tenH6235thousandH505in breadth.H7341
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10. And for them, even for the priests,H3548shall be this holyH6944oblation;H8641toward the northH6828fiveH2568and twentyH6242thousandH505in length, and toward the westH3220tenH6235thousandH505in breadth,H7341and toward the eastH6921tenH6235thousandH505in breadth,H7341and toward the southH5045fiveH2568and twentyH6242thousandH505in length:H753and the sanctuaryH4720of the LORDH3068shall be in the midstH8432thereof.
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11. It shall be for the priestsH3548that are sanctifiedH6942of the sonsH1121of Zadok;H6659which have keptH8104my charge,H4931which went not astrayH8582when the childrenH1121of IsraelH3478went astray,H8582as the LevitesH3881went astray.H8582
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12. And this oblationH8642of the landH776that is offeredH8641shall be unto them a thing mostH6944holyH6944by the borderH1366of the Levites.H3881
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13. And over againstH5980the borderH1366of the priestsH3548the LevitesH3881shall have fiveH2568and twentyH6242thousandH505in length,H753and tenH6235thousandH505in breadth:H7341all the lengthH753shall be fiveH2568and twentyH6242thousand,H505and the breadthH7341tenH6235thousand.H505
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14. And they shall not sellH4376of it, neither exchange,H4171nor alienateH5674H5674the firstfruitsH7225of the land:H776for it is holyH6944unto the LORD.H3068
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15. And the fiveH2568thousand,H505that are leftH3498in the breadthH7341over againstH6440the fiveH2568and twentyH6242thousand,H505shall be a profaneH2455place for the city,H5892for dwelling,H4186and for suburbs:H4054and the cityH5892shall be in the midstH8432thereof.
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16. And these shall be the measuresH4060thereof; the northH6828sideH6285fourH702thousandH505and fiveH2568hundred,H3967and the southH5045sideH6285fourH702thousandH505and fiveH2568hundred,H3967and on the eastH6921sideH6285fourH702thousandH505and fiveH2568hundred,H3967and the westH3220sideH6285fourH702thousandH505and fiveH2568H2568hundred.H3967
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17. And the suburbsH4054of the cityH5892shall be toward the northH6828two hundredH3967and fifty,H2572and toward the southH5045two hundredH3967and fifty,H2572and toward the eastH6921two hundredH3967and fifty,H2572and toward the westH3220two hundredH3967and fifty.H2572
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18. And the residueH3498in lengthH753over againstH5980the oblationH8641of the holyH6944portion shall be tenH6235thousandH505eastward,H6921and tenH6235thousandH505westward:H3220and it shall be over againstH5980the oblationH8641of the holyH6944portion; and the increaseH8393thereof shall be for foodH3899unto them that serveH5647the city.H5892
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19. And they that serveH5647the cityH5892shall serveH5647it out of all the tribesH7626of Israel.H3478
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20. All the oblationH8641shall be fiveH2568and twentyH6242thousandH505by fiveH2568and twentyH6242thousand:H505ye shall offerH7311the holyH6944oblationH8641foursquare,H7243with the possessionH272of the city.H5892
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21. And the residueH3498shall be for the prince,H5387on the one side and on the other of the holyH6944oblation,H8641and of the possessionH272of the city,H5892over againstH6440the fiveH2568and twentyH6242thousandH505of the oblationH8641toward the eastH6921border,H1366and westwardH3220over againstH6440the fiveH2568and twentyH6242thousandH505toward the westH3220border,H1366over againstH5980the portionsH2506for the prince:H5387and it shall be the holyH6944oblation;H8641and the sanctuaryH4720of the houseH1004shall be in the midstH8432thereof.
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22. Moreover from the possessionH272of the Levites,H3881and from the possessionH272of the city,H5892being in the midstH8432of that which is the prince's,H5387between the borderH1366of JudahH3063and the borderH1366of Benjamin,H1144shall be for the prince.H5387
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23. As for the restH3499of the tribes,H7626from the eastH6921sideH6285unto the westH3220side,H6285BenjaminH1144shall have aH259portion.
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24. And by the borderH1366of Benjamin,H1144from the eastH6921sideH6285unto the westH3220side,H6285SimeonH8095shall have aH259portion.
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25. And by the borderH1366of Simeon,H8095from the eastH6921sideH6285unto the westH3220side,H6285IssacharH3485aH259portion.
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26. And by the borderH1366of Issachar,H3485from the eastH6921sideH6285unto the westH3220side,H6285ZebulunH2074aH259portion.
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27. And by the borderH1366of Zebulun,H2074from the eastH6921sideH6285unto the westH3220side,H6285GadH1410aH259portion.
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28. And by the borderH1366of Gad,H1410at the southH5045sideH6285southward,H8486the borderH1366shall be even from TamarH8559unto the watersH4325of strifeH4808H4809in Kadesh,H6946and to the riverH5158toward the greatH1419sea.H3220
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29. This is the landH776which ye shall divideH5307by lot unto the tribesH7626of IsraelH3478for inheritance,H5159and these are their portions,H4256saithH5002the LordH136GOD.H3069
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30. And these are the goings outH8444of the cityH5892on the northH6828side,H6285fourH702thousandH505and fiveH2568hundredH3967measures.H4060
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31. And the gatesH8179of the cityH5892shall be after the namesH8034of the tribesH7626of Israel:H3478threeH7969gatesH8179northward;H6828oneH259gateH8179of Reuben,H7205oneH259gateH8179of Judah,H3063oneH259gateH8179of Levi.H3878
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32. And at the eastH6921sideH6285fourH702thousandH505and fiveH2568hundred:H3967and threeH7969gates;H8179and oneH259gateH8179of Joseph,H3130oneH259gateH8179of Benjamin,H1144oneH259gateH8179of Dan.H1835
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33. And at the southH5045sideH6285fourH702thousandH505and fiveH2568hundredH3967measures:H4060and threeH7969gates;H8179oneH259gateH8179of Simeon,H8095oneH259gateH8179of Issachar,H3485oneH259gateH8179of Zebulun.H2074
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34. At the westH3220sideH6285fourH702thousandH505and fiveH2568hundred,H3967with their threeH7969gates;H8179oneH259gateH8179of Gad,H1410oneH259gateH8179of Asher,H836oneH259gateH8179of Naphtali.H5321
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35. It was round aboutH5439eighteenH6240H8083thousandH505measures: and the nameH8034of the cityH5892from that dayH3117shall be, The LORD is there.H3074
Commentary for Ezekiel 48 Click here to view
In this chapter we have particular directions given for the distribution of the land, of which we had the metes and bounds assigned in the foregoing chapter. I. The portions of the twelve tribes, seven to the north of the sanctuary (Ezekiel 48:1-7) and five to the south, Ezekiel 48:23-29. II. The allotment of land for the sanctuary, and the priests (Ezekiel 48:8-11), for the Levites (Ezekiel 48:12-14), for the city (Ezekiel 48:15-20), and for the prince, Ezekiel 48:21,22. Much of this we had before, Ezekiel 45:1-25 III. A plan of the city, its gates, and the new name given to it (Ezekiel 48:30-35), which seals up, and concludes, the vision and prophecy of this book.
The Plan of the City. B. C. 574.
31 And the gates of the city shall be after the names of the tribes of Israel: three gates northward one gate of Reuben, one gate of Judah, one gate of Levi. 32 And at the east side four thousand and five hundred: and three gates and one gate of Joseph, one gate of Benjamin, one gate of Dan. 33 And at the south side four thousand and five hundred measures: and three gates one gate of Simeon, one gate of Issachar, one gate of Zebulun. 34 At the west side four thousand and five hundred, with their three gates one gate of Gad, one gate of Asher, one gate of Naphtali. 35 It was round about eighteen thousand measures: and the name of the city from that day shall be, The LORD is there.
We have here a further account of the city that should be built for the metropolis of this glorious land, and to be the receptacle of those who would come from all parts to worship in the sanctuary adjoining. It is nowhere called Jerusalem, nor is the land which we have had such a particular account of the dividing of any where called the land of Canaan for the old names are forgotten, to intimate that the old things are done away, behold all things have become new. Now, concerning this city, observe here, 1. The measures of its out-lets, and the grounds belonging to it, for its several conveniences each way its appurtenances extended 4500 measures 18,000 in all, Ezekiel 48:35. But what these measures were is uncertain. It is never said, in all this chapter, whether so many reeds (as our translation determines by inserting that word, Ezekiel 48:8, each reed containing six cubits and span, Ezekiel 40:5, and why should the measurer appear with the measuring reed in his hand of that length if he did not measure with that, except where it is expressly said he measured by cubits?) or whether, as others think, it is so many cubits, because those are mentioned Ezekiel 45:2,47:3. Yet that makes me incline rather to think that where cubits are not mentioned must be intended so many lengths of the measuring reed. But those who understand it of so many cubits are not agreed whether it be meant of the common cubit, which was half a yard, or the geometrical cubit, which, for better expedition, is supposed to be mostly used in surveying lands, which, some say, contained six cubits, others about three cubits and a half, so making 1000 cubits the same with 1000 paces, that is, an English mile. But our being left at this uncertainty is an intimation that these things are to be understood spiritually, and that what is principally meant is that there is an exact and just proportion observed by Infinite Wisdom in modelling the gospel church, which though now we cannot discern we shall when we come to heaven. 2. The number of its gates. It had twelve gates in all, three on each side, which was very agreeable when it lay four square and these twelve gates were inscribed to the twelve tribes. Because the city was to be served out of all the tribes of Israel (Ezekiel 48:19) it was fit that each tribe should have its gate and, Levi being here taken in, to keep to the number twelve Ephraim and Manasseh are made one in Joseph, Ezekiel 48:32. On the north side were the gates of Reuben, Judah, and Levi (Ezekiel 48:31), on the east the gates of Joseph, Benjamin, and Dan (Ezekiel 48:32), on the south the gates of Simeon, Issachar, and Zebulun (Ezekiel 48:33), and on the west the gates of Gad, Asher, and Naphtali, Ezekiel 48:34. Conformable to this, in St. John's vision, the new Jerusalem (for so the holy city is called there, though not here) has twelve gates, three on a side, and on them are written the names of the twelve tribes of the children of Israel, Revelation 21:12,13. Note, Into the church of Christ, both militant and triumphant, there is a free access by faith for all that come of every tribe, from every quarter. Christ has opened the kingdom of heaven for all believers. Whoever will may come and take of the water of life, of the tree of life, freely. 3. The name given to this city: From that day, when it shall be newly-erected according to this model, the name of it shall be, not, as before, Jerusalem--The vision of peace, but which is the original of that, and more than equivalent to it, Jehovah Shammah--The Lord is there, Ezekiel 48:35. This intimated, (1.) That the captives, after their return, should have manifest tokens of God's presence with them and his residence among them, both in his ordinances and his providences. They shall have no occasion to ask, as their fathers did, Is the Lord among us, or is he not? for they shall see and say that he is with them of a truth. And then, though their troubles were many and threatening, they were like the bush which burned but was not consumed, because the Lord was there. But when God departed from their temple, when he said, Migremus hinc--Let us go hence, their house was soon left unto them desolate. Being no longer his, it was not much longer theirs. (2.) That the gospel-church should likewise have the presence of God in it, though not in the Shechinah, as of old, yet in a token of it no less sure, that of his Spirit. Where the gospel is faithfully preached, gospel ordinances are duly administered, and God is worshipped in the name of Jesus Christ only, it may truly be said, The Lord is there for faithful is he that has said, and he will be as good as his word, Lo, I am with you always even unto the end of the world. The Lord is there in his church, to rule and govern it, to protect and defend it, and graciously to accept and own his sincere worshippers, and to be nigh unto them in all that they call upon him for. This should engage us to keep close to the communion of saints, for the Lord is there and then whither shall we go to better ourselves? Nay, it is true of every good Christian he dwells in God, and God in him whatever soul has in it a living principle of grace, it may be truly said, The Lord is There. (3.) That the glory and happiness of heaven should consist chiefly in this, that the Lord is there. St. John's representation of that blessed state does indeed far exceed this in many respects. That is all gold, and pearls, and precious stones it is much larger than this, and much brighter, for it needs not the light of the sun. But, in making the presence of God the principal matter of its bliss, they both agree. There the happiness of the glorified saints is made to be that God himself shall be with them (Revelation 21:3), that he who sits on the throne shall dwell among them, Revelation 7:15. And here it is made to crown the bliss of this holy city that the Lord is there. Let us therefore give all diligence to make sure to ourselves a place in that city, that we may be for ever with the Lord.