Ezekiel 45:1
"When you divide the land by lot as an inheritance, you are to set aside a portion for the LORD, a holy portion of the land 25,000 cubits long and 20,000 cubits wide. This entire tract of land will be holy.
When you divide the land by lot as an inheritance
This phrase refers to the allocation of the Promised Land among the tribes of Israel, reminiscent of the division under Joshua (Joshua 14:2). The use of "lot" suggests divine guidance in the distribution, emphasizing God's sovereignty in the inheritance of the land. This method ensured fairness and was a common practice in ancient Israel (Proverbs 16:33).

you are to set aside a portion for the LORD
Setting aside a portion for the LORD indicates the dedication of land specifically for religious purposes, underscoring the principle of firstfruits and the importance of prioritizing God in all aspects of life. This reflects the broader biblical theme of holiness and separation for divine purposes (Leviticus 20:26).

a holy portion of the land
The designation of a "holy portion" signifies that this land is consecrated and set apart for sacred use, likely for the temple and the priests. This concept of holiness is central to the identity of Israel as a nation set apart for God (Exodus 19:6).

25,000 cubits long and 20,000 cubits wide
The specific dimensions indicate a large, defined area, suggesting the importance and centrality of worship in the life of the community. The cubit, an ancient measure, was approximately 18 inches, making this a substantial tract of land. This precision reflects the order and structure God desires in worship and community life.

This entire tract of land will be holy
Reiterating the holiness of the land emphasizes its exclusive dedication to God. This mirrors the future vision of a restored Israel where God's presence is central. It also foreshadows the ultimate fulfillment of holiness in Christ, who embodies the presence of God among His people (John 1:14).

Persons / Places / Events
1. Ezekiel
A prophet during the Babylonian exile who received visions and messages from God concerning the future of Israel and the restoration of the land.

2. The Land
Refers to the land of Israel, which is to be divided among the tribes as an inheritance. This division is symbolic of God's promise to restore His people to their homeland.

3. The Holy Portion
A specific section of the land set apart for the LORD, indicating its sacredness and the importance of dedicating a part of our resources to God.

4. The LORD
The covenant God of Israel, who commands the setting apart of a holy portion of the land as a sign of His sovereignty and holiness.

5. The Inheritance
The division of the land among the tribes of Israel, symbolizing God's faithfulness in fulfilling His promises to His people.
Teaching Points
Holiness and Dedication
Just as a portion of the land was set apart for the LORD, we are called to dedicate parts of our lives and resources to God, recognizing His sovereignty over all.

God's Faithfulness
The division of the land as an inheritance is a testament to God's faithfulness in keeping His promises. We can trust God to fulfill His promises in our lives.

Stewardship
The concept of land as an inheritance reminds us of our role as stewards of God's creation. We are to manage our resources wisely and in a way that honors God.

Community and Unity
The division of the land among the tribes underscores the importance of community and unity among God's people. We are called to work together for the common good.

Sacred Space
The holy portion of the land signifies the importance of having sacred spaces in our lives where we can connect with God and grow spiritually.
Bible Study Questions
1. What does the concept of a "holy portion" of the land teach us about the importance of dedicating parts of our lives to God?

2. How does the division of the land as an inheritance reflect God's faithfulness to His promises, and how can this encourage us in our own faith journey?

3. In what ways can we practice good stewardship of the resources God has entrusted to us, both individually and as a community?

4. How can the idea of community and unity among the tribes of Israel inspire us to foster stronger relationships within our own faith communities?

5. What are some practical ways we can create sacred spaces in our lives to deepen our relationship with God?
Connections to Other Scriptures
Leviticus 25
Discusses the Year of Jubilee and the concept of land as an inheritance, emphasizing the idea of land belonging to God and being used according to His purposes.

Numbers 34
Details the boundaries of the Promised Land and the division among the tribes, highlighting the importance of land in God's covenant with Israel.

Joshua 13-21
Describes the actual division of the land among the tribes, reinforcing the fulfillment of God's promises and the importance of obedience in receiving God's blessings.
Devotement and ConsecrationW. Clarkson Ezekiel 45:1-5
People
Ephah, Ezekiel, Levites
Places
Holy Place, Most Holy Place
Topics
Allot, 25000, Apart, Area, Border, Borders, Boundary, Breadth, Broad, Causing, Cubits, Decision, Distribution, District, Divide, Entire, Extent, Fall, Heave-offering, Heritage, Holy, Inheritance, Inside, Length, Lift, Limits, Lot, Making, Moreover, Oblation, Offer, Offering, Portion, Possession, Present, Reeds, Round, Sacred, Ten, Thereof, Thousand, Throughout, Twenty, Twenty-five, Wide, Width, Within
Dictionary of Bible Themes
Ezekiel 45:1-3

     4803   breadth

Ezekiel 45:1-6

     5618   measures, linear
     5619   measures, distance and area

Library
Of the Third Seal.
The third animated being is the index of the third seal, in a human form, his station being towards the south, and consequently shows that this seal begins with an emperor proceeding from that cardinal point of the compass; probably with Septimius Severus, the African, an emperor from the south, of whom Eutropius writes in the following manner: "Deriving his origin from Africa, from the province of Tripolis, from the town of Leptis, the only emperor from Africa within all remembrance, before or since."
Joseph Mede—A Key to the Apocalypse

The Section Chap. I. -iii.
The question which here above all engages our attention, and requires to be answered, is this: Whether that which is reported in these chapters did, or did not, actually and outwardly take place. The history of the inquiries connected with this question is found most fully in Marckius's "Diatribe de uxore fornicationum," Leyden, 1696, reprinted in the Commentary on the Minor Prophets by the same author. The various views may be divided into three classes. 1. It is maintained by very many interpreters,
Ernst Wilhelm Hengstenberg—Christology of the Old Testament

Ezekiel
To a modern taste, Ezekiel does not appeal anything like so powerfully as Isaiah or Jeremiah. He has neither the majesty of the one nor the tenderness and passion of the other. There is much in him that is fantastic, and much that is ritualistic. His imaginations border sometimes on the grotesque and sometimes on the mechanical. Yet he is a historical figure of the first importance; it was very largely from him that Judaism received the ecclesiastical impulse by which for centuries it was powerfully
John Edgar McFadyen—Introduction to the Old Testament

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