What is the meaning of Ezekiel 48:5? Ephraim will have one portion • The vision places Ephraim among the restored tribes with a single, clearly defined allotment, signaling God’s faithfulness to re-gather and settle all Israel (Ezekiel 47:13; Genesis 48:5). • Unlike the divided inheritance Joshua once assigned north and south of the plain (Joshua 16:1–4), this prophecy treats Ephraim as a unified tribe. • God’s precision—“one portion”—underscores that every tribe receives exactly what He decrees, reflecting the orderly care shown earlier when “Joseph’s sons” were counted as two tribes (Numbers 34:14). Bordering the territory of Manasseh • The neighboring placement of Ephraim beside Manasseh mirrors their family bond as Joseph’s sons (Genesis 48:20) and recalls their earlier adjacent lots (Joshua 17:14). • Ezekiel 48:4 names Manasseh’s portion directly above Ephraim’s, portraying the tribes restored in birth-order harmony rather than the historic rivalries that once divided them (Isaiah 11:13). • By keeping the brothers side by side, the Lord visually reaffirms that national unity flows from covenant obedience (Ezekiel 37:15–22), not from political maneuvering. From east to west • The boundary stretches “from the eastern side to the western side” (Ezekiel 48:1), indicating a horizontal strip that spans the full breadth of the land—Mediterranean to Jordan—without north-south narrowing. • This continuous band matches the other tribal borders in the chapter, emphasizing equal access to resources, trade routes, and worship (Deuteronomy 11:24; Zechariah 14:8). • The east-to-west orientation also foreshadows millennial peace when the land, the people, and the temple align perfectly with God’s design (Ezekiel 43:12). summary Ezekiel 48:5 promises a precise, peaceful inheritance for Ephraim: one clearly measured strip of land, lying right beside Manasseh, stretching the full width of Israel. God’s exact wording assures that every tribe, relationship, and boundary will be set straight in His coming kingdom, displaying His unwavering covenant faithfulness and perfect order. |
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