Ch. 48 The disposition of the tribes in the land

(1) Ezekiel 48:1-7. The tribes north of the sacred oblation of land.

(2) Ezekiel 48:8-22. The oblation in its various divisions: for the priests, the Levites, the city and the prince.

(3) Ezekiel 48:23-29. The tribes situated south of the oblation.

(4) Ezekiel 48:30-35. The gates of the city.

All the tribes are now settled on the West of the Jordan. The land is divided into zones running from E. to W. of the country, one of which falls to the lot of each tribe. The dimensions of the zone are not mentioned, neither is there any indication whether the greater or less breadth of the country from the Jordan to the sea was taken into account. The oblation of land given to the priests and Levites lay not strictly in the middle of the country, but in the neighbourhood of Jerusalem, and therefore more toward the south; hence seven tribes are located to the north of the oblation and five to the south of it. Of the tribes beyond Jordan the half of Manasseh is now united with the other half, forming one tribe, and receiving one portion; while Gad and Reuben are provided with new settlements, the former in the extreme south, and the latter in the northern half of the country. Judah and Benjamin change places, the former lying to the north of the oblation and the city, and the latter to the south. In other respects the position of the tribes remains nearly what it was, except that Issachar and Zebulun have to be provided for in the south. It is perhaps accidental that the children of Leah and Rachel occupy the centre, while the sons of the handmaids are placed at the extremities.

1. Dan on the furthest north. The verse as it stands has probably some confusion of text. It may read: “now these are the names of the tribes: on the furthest north, along side of the way to Hethlon, as one goeth to Hamath, as far as Hazar Enan on the border of Damascus, even on the north along side of (the land of) Hamath—he shall have the east side (and) the west side: Dan one (portion).” First the boundary line W. to E. is specified from the sea to Hazar Enan (Ezekiel 42:16-17), and then is mentioned the country bounding the portion on the north, viz. Hamath. The he in “he shall have” is Dan, already in the writer’s mind. We might have expected “he shall have the east side even unto the west side,” or from the east side, &c., as in the following verses. The former in LXX.

1–7. The tribes to the north of the sacred oblation.

2. a portion for Asher] Asher one portion. And so in each of the following verses.

  

  Dan

  

  

  

  Asher

  

  

  

  Naphtali

  

  

  

  Manasseh

  

  

  

  Ephraim

  

  

  

  Reuben

  

  

  

  Judah

  

  

  Domain of Levites

  

Prince’s portion

  Priest’s domain

  □

  Sanctuary

  Prince’s portion

  City land

  City

  City land

  

  

  Benjamin

  

  

  

  Simeon

  

  

  

  Issachar

  

  

  

  Zebulun

  

  

  

  Gad

  

  

8–22. The oblation or Terumah in the centre of the country. This oblation is a tract of 25,000 cubits broad, N. to S., and in length equal to the portions of the tribes E. to W. This oblation is first specified in its whole extent (Ezekiel 48:8); then the portion of it to be assigned to the priests is described (Ezekiel 48:9-12); then the portion of the Levites (Ezekiel 48:13-14); then the part of the oblation belonging to the city (Ezekiel 48:15-20); and finally the portion of the oblation which shall constitute the inheritance of the prince (Ezekiel 48:21-22).

2–7. After Dan in the furthest North bordering on the land of Hamath comes Asher (Ezekiel 48:2), Naphtali (Ezekiel 48:3), the whole reunited tribe of Manasseh (Ezekiel 48:4), Ephraim (Ezekiel 48:5), Reuben transferred from the other side of the Jordan (Ezekiel 48:6), and finally Judah (Ezekiel 48:7).

8. the offering … reeds in breadth] The Oblation (Ezekiel 45:1) … cubits in breadth, i.e. N. to S. This is the breadth of the whole part subtracted from the territory of the country, and devoted to the priests, the Levites, the city and the prince. In length it goes from the Jordan to the sea, just “as one of the other parts,” i.e. the portions of the tribes. The sanctuary shall be situated in the centre of this oblation, viz. in the portion assigned to the priests—that assigned to the Levites being on the north and that assigned to the city on the south.

9. ten thousand in breadth] LXX. twenty thousand. This reading assumes that Ezekiel 48:9 refers to the portion assigned to priests and Levites together. So Ezekiel 48:13 end. The length E. to W. is 25,000, because the prince’s domain lies between it and the Jordan on the one side, and between it and the sea on the other.

9–12. The domain assigned to the priests. This is mentioned first, not because it actually borders on Judah—the Levites border on Judah—but because it is most important.

10. And for them … priests] And for these shall be the holy oblation, even for the priests: on the north … and on the west … and on the east … and on the south.

11. that are sanctified of the sons] Lit. the priests, the sanctified thing, from the sons. Possibly the words should be divided differently: it shall be for the priests that are sanctified, the sons of Zadok. On the erring of the Levites, cf. Ezekiel 44:10.

12. Read: And it shall be to them as an oblation out of the oblation of the land, a thing most holy, by, &c. Cf. Ezekiel 45:3 seq.

13. The portion of the oblation of land assigned to the Levites.—The portion of the Levites is of the same extent as that of the priests, 25,000 long (E. to W.) by 10,000 broad (N. to S.). It runs “over against,” i.e. along side of the priests’ domain, and lies to the north of it.

14. Seems to apply to the united domain of priests and Levites.

the firstfruits] Possibly: this first-fruits or, best—the term being applied to the holy oblation in distinction from the rest of the land.

15–20. The portion of the oblation assignable to the city.—The remaining 5000 in breadth (N. to S.) shall belong to the city, with the same length as the portions of the priests and Levites, viz. 25,000, as it is said “over against (i.e. in length) the 25,000.” On “suburbs,” cf. Ezekiel 45:2—they are the free place round the city.

16. The city shall be a square of 4500 cubits.

17. The “suburbs” or free space round the city shall be 250 cubits on all the four sides. Adding the 250 on the N. and on the S. of the city to the 4500 it appears that the whole breadth of the 5000 assigned to the city was occupied by it and its suburbs from N. to S.

18. As the city with its suburbs was a square of 5000 cubits, there remained of the 25,000 in length assigned to it a portion 10,000 long on the E. and another equally long on the W. In their length these portions lay “over against,” i.e. along, the holy portion of the priests.

that serve the city] The words are very difficult. It is plain that the 10,000 cubits of land E. and W. of the city serve to supply the inhabitants of the city with food. The restored land is a land of husbandmen, and those who dwell in the city live from the city’s domain. Either “serve” or “cultivate,” must be taken in the sense of inhabit and the words be read: for food to them that inhabit the city, 19 and they that inhabit the city &c; though such a usage has no parallel. Or, the word “city” must be taken in a general sense of the city and its domain of land: for food to the tillers of the city, 19 and they that till the city &c.

19. that serve the city] Those who render inhabit (Hitz.) consider that the verse states directly who the inhabitants of the city shall be: “and as for the inhabitants of the city, they shall inhabit it (reading fem.) out of all the tribes of Israel.” On the other supposition: “and they that till the city shall till it (the domain of land) out of all the tribes of Israel.” This rendering also states, though indirectly, that the city shall be common to all the tribes of Israel, and that whoever comes to sojourn there shall live by the land belonging to the city. However the words be translated there is no ref. to two classes of persons—citizens and labourers.

20. The verse means that the holy oblation when the possession of the city is included forms a square of 25,000 by 25,000.

21, 22. The domain of the prince. The domain of the Levites, priests and city formed a square of 25,000 cubits in the heart of the country. The portion of the prince shall be the land from the E. of this square to the Jordan, and from the W. of it to the sea. The “five and twenty thousand” here is the breadth N. to S.; the prince’s domain shall be of the same breadth and be “over against” the square on the E. and W.

over against the portions] Or, by the side of the portions, it shall be for the prince; and the holy oblation, and the sanctuary of the house shall be in the midst thereof. The “portions” here are those of the tribes, which run from the Jordan to the sea; the prince’s domain shall run alongside of them, i.e. Judah’s on the N. and Benjamin’s on the S. And the holy oblation lies between the two halves of the prince’s domain.

22. Moreover from the possession] And from. The verse gives again the breadth of the prince’s possession, by stating the two limits N. (the Levites) and S. (the city) of the central oblation. All the land lying between these limits, in other words between the tribes of Judah and Benjamin, shall belong to the prince.

being in the midst] i. e. lying between the two halves of the prince’s portion.

23–29. The tribes lying south of the oblation

First, Benjamin, which changes places with Judah, and bounds the oblation on the south (Ezekiel 48:23). The two tribes that formed the ancient kingdom of Judah still have the prerogative of lying nearest the sanctuary. Then Simeon, formerly located in the south (Ezekiel 48:24). Then successively Issachar (Ezekiel 48:25), Zebulun (Ezekiel 48:26), and finally Gad (Ezekiel 48:27). The two former are brought down from the north, and Gad from beyond the Jordan.

28. The southern border is again given as stated in Ezekiel 47:19.

and to the river] to the brook (of Egypt), unto the great sea. Cf. Ezekiel 47:19.

30–35. The city with its twelve gates, named after the tribes. Cf. Revelation 21:12 seq

30. goings out of the city] i.e. the extensions on all sides.

measures] in measure, i.e. extent. The 4500 are naturally cubits. The city lies foursquare, each side being 4500. But on each side is a free place of 250 cubits, so that the city forms a square of 5000 cubits.

31. The measurement proceeds from W. to E. The gate Reuben was thus the westmost on the north of the city; Judah in the centre and Levi towards the east.

32. Of the three gates on the east side Benjamin’s was in the centre, Joseph’s to the north and Dan’s to the south.

33. Those on the south were Simeon, Issachar and Zebulun, tribes now all located in the south of the country. For “measures,” in measure or extent.

34. The gates on the west were those of Gad, Asher and Naphtali.

35. The whole circumference of the city was 18,000 cubits, or some-what under six miles. Josephus (Bell. Jud. Ezekiel 48:4; Ezekiel 48:3) reckoned the bounds of Jerusalem in his day at 33 stadia, or about four miles. For measures, cubits.

The Lord is there] Cf. Revelation 21:3, “And I heard a great voice out of the throne saying, Behold the tabernacle of God is with men, and he shall dwell with them and they shall be his people, and God himself shall be with them and be their God.” The prophet beheld the Lord forsake his temple (11), and he beheld him again enter it (43); now he abides in it among his people for ever. The covenant ran that he should be their God and they his people; this is perfectly fulfilled in his presence among them. The end in view from the beginning has been reached.