1Afterward, he brought me back to the entrance of the Temple, and I saw a stream of water flowing out from under the threshold of the Temple eastward; for the front of the Temple faced to the east, and the water came down from under from the right (south) side of the Temple, south of the altar. 2Then he brought me out through the north gate, and led me around the outside to the outer east gate; and I could see water flowing on the right side. 3And when the man that had the line in his hand went out eastward, he measured a thousand cubits, and he brought me through the waters; the waters were to the ankles. 4Again he measured off a thousand cubits, and brought me through the waters; the waters were to the knees. And after he measured another thousand, and brought me through; the water was waste deep. 5Then he measured yet another thousand; and it was a river that I could not wade through; for the water had risen to where one had to swim, a river that could not be waded through. 6And he asked me, “Son of man, do you see this?” Then he led me back to the riverbank. 7Now when I had arrived at the bank of the river, were very many trees on each side of the river. 8Then he said to me, “These waters flow toward the east country, and go down into the Arabah, and out into the Dead Sea; and when it flows into the sea, the salty waters become fresh. 9And every living creature that moves, wherever this river shall come, shall thrive; and there shall be a very great multitude of fish, because these waters flow there; and make the salt water fresh. 10And fishermen shall stand along its shores; from En-gedi to En-eglaim, it shall be a place for spreading nets; the fish shall be of many kinds, like the fish of the great (Mediterranean) sea, exceedingly abundant. 11But the swamps and marshes shall not be freshened; they shall still be salty. 12And fruit trees of all kinds shall be on each riverbank, and shall yield much food; their leaf shall not fade, nor shall its fruit fail; it shall bring forth new fruit according to its months, because their water issuing out of the Temple; and its fruit shall be for food, and its leaf for healing medicine.” 13Thus says the Sovereign LORD: “This shall be the border, within which you shall divide the inherited land between the twelve tribes of Israel; Joseph shall have two portions. 14And you shall divide it equally; because I raised My hand and promised to give it to your fathers; and this land shall become your inheritance. 15And this shall be the boundary of the land: on the north side, from the Great (Mediterranean) Sea, by the road from Lebo Hethlon to Zedad; 16Hamath, Berothah, Sibraim, which is between the borders of Damascus and Hamath; Hazar-hatticon, which is by the border of Hauran. 17And the boundary will extend from the sea to Hazar Enan, along the northern border of Damascus, with the border of Hamath to the north. This will be the northern boundary. 18On the east side the boundary will run between Hauran and Damascus, along the Jordan between Gilead and the land of Israel, to the Dead Sea and as far as Tamar. This will be the eastern boundary. 19On the south side it will run from Tamar as far as the waters of Meribah Kadesh, then along the Wadi of Egypt to the Mediterranean Sea. This will be the southern boundary. 20On the west side, the Mediterranean Sea will be the boundary to a point opposite Lebo Hamath. This will be the western boundary. 21You are to distribute this land among yourselves according to the tribes of Israel. 22You are to allot it as an inheritance for yourselves and for the foreigners residing among you who have children. You are to consider them as native-born Israelites; along with you, they are to be allotted an inheritance among the tribes of Israel. 23In whatever tribe a foreigner resides, there you are to give them their inheritance,” declares the Sovereign LORD. Reader-Friendly Bible: Purple Letter Edition © 2024 by Jim Musser. Used by Permission. All rights Reserved. Bible Hub |