The River of Yahweh’s House

1Then he brought me back to the door of the house; and behold, water was flowing from under the threshold of the house toward the east, for the house faced east. And the water was flowing down from under, from the right side of the house, from south of the altar. 2He brought me out by way of the north gate and led me around by way of the outside to the outer gate by way of the gate that faces east. And behold, water was trickling from the south side.

3When the man went out toward the east with a line in his hand, he measured [†]one thousand cubits, and he had me pass through the water, water reaching the ankles. 4Again he measured one thousand and had me pass through the water, water reaching the knees. Again he measured one thousand and had me pass through the water, water reaching the loins. 5Again he measured one thousand; and it was a river that I could not pass through, for the water had become high—enough water to swim in, a river that could not be passed through. 6And he said to me, “Son of man, have you seen this?” Then he led and returned me back to the bank of the river. 7When I had returned, now behold, on the bank of the river there were very many trees on the one side and on the other. 8Then he said to me, “These waters go out toward the eastern region and go down into the Arabah; then they go toward the sea, being made to flow out to the sea, and the waters of the sea [†]will be healed. 9And it will be that every living creature, which swarms in every place where the [†]river goes, will live. And there will be very many fish, for these waters go there and the other waters [†]are healed; so everything will live where the river goes. 10And it will be that fishermen will stand beside it; from Engedi to Eneglaim there will be a place for the spreading of nets. Their fish will be according to their kinds, like the fish of the Great Sea, very many. 11But its marshes and swamps will not be [†]healed; they will be [†]left for salt. 12And by the river on its bank, on one side and on the other, will grow all kinds of trees for food. Their leaves will not wither, and their fruit will not [†]fail. They will bear every month because their water flows out from the sanctuary, and their fruit will be for food and their leaves for healing.”

Apportionment of the Land

13Thus says Lord Yahweh, “This shall be the boundary by which you shall apportion the land for an inheritance among the twelve tribes of Israel; Joseph shall have two portions. 14You shall then apportion it for an inheritance, each one [†]equally with the other; for I [†]swore to give it to your fathers, and this land shall fall to you [†]as an inheritance.

15“This shall be the boundary of the land: on the north side, from the Great Sea by the way of Hethlon, to the entrance of [†]Zedad; 16[†]Hamath, Berothah, Sibraim, which is between the border of Damascus and the border of Hamath; Hazer-hatticon, which is by the border of Hauran. 17And the boundary shall be from the sea to Hazar-enan at the border of Damascus, and on the north toward the north is the border of Hamath. This is the north side.

18“And the east side, from between Hauran, Damascus, Gilead, and the land of Israel, shall be the Jordan; from the north border to the eastern sea you shall measure. This is the east side.

19“And the south side toward the south shall extend from Tamar as far as the waters of Meribath-kadesh, to the brook of Egypt and to the Great Sea. This is the south side toward the south.

20“And the west side shall be the Great Sea, from the south border to a point opposite [†]Lebo-hamath. This is the west side.

21“So you shall divide this land among yourselves according to the tribes of Israel. 22And it will be that you shall divide it by lot for an inheritance among yourselves and among the sojourners who sojourn in your midst, who bring forth sons in your midst. And they shall be to you as the native-born among the sons of Israel. They shall be allotted an inheritance with you among the tribes of Israel. 23And it will be that in the tribe with which the sojourner sojourns, there you shall give him his inheritance,” declares Lord Yahweh.