Ezekiel 48:9
The special portion you set apart to the LORD shall be 25,000 cubits long and 10,000 cubits wide.
The special portion you set apart to the LORD
This phrase refers to a designated area within the land of Israel that is consecrated for divine purposes. In the context of Ezekiel's vision, this special portion is part of the larger division of the land among the tribes of Israel. The setting apart of land for the LORD emphasizes the importance of holiness and dedication to God. This concept of setting apart is seen throughout Scripture, such as in the consecration of the Tabernacle (Exodus 40:9) and the Temple (1 Kings 8:63). It reflects the idea that certain things are reserved exclusively for God's use and glory.

shall be 25,000 cubits long
The measurement of 25,000 cubits indicates a significant size, suggesting the importance of this portion. A cubit is traditionally understood as the length from the elbow to the tip of the middle finger, approximately 18 inches or 45 centimeters. This would make the length of the portion about 7.5 miles or 12 kilometers. The specific dimensions highlight the precision and orderliness of God's plans, reminiscent of the detailed instructions given for the construction of the Tabernacle (Exodus 25-27) and the Temple (1 Kings 6). It underscores the idea that God is a God of order and detail.

and 10,000 cubits wide
The width of 10,000 cubits, approximately 3 miles or 4.8 kilometers, further defines the area set apart for the LORD. This dimension, combined with the length, forms a rectangular area, which is a common shape for sacred spaces in ancient times. The specific measurements may symbolize completeness and perfection, reflecting God's perfect nature. The allocation of this land for sacred purposes can be seen as a foreshadowing of the New Jerusalem described in Revelation 21, where the city is also measured with precise dimensions, symbolizing God's eternal dwelling with His people.

Persons / Places / Events
1. Ezekiel
A prophet during the Babylonian exile, Ezekiel received visions and prophecies concerning the restoration of Israel and the establishment of a new temple.

2. The LORD
The covenant God of Israel, to whom the special portion of land is dedicated. This reflects His holiness and the centrality of worship in the life of Israel.

3. The Land
The specific portion of land set apart for the LORD, symbolizing the sacred space for worship and the presence of God among His people.

4. The Temple
Although not directly mentioned in this verse, the context involves the temple, which is central to the worship and religious life of Israel.

5. The Israelites
The people of God who are to set apart this portion of land, reflecting their obedience and dedication to the LORD.
Teaching Points
Holiness and Dedication
The setting apart of land for the LORD underscores the importance of dedicating our lives and resources to God. Just as the Israelites were to set apart a portion of their land, we are called to dedicate our time, talents, and treasures to the service of God.

God's Presence
The special portion signifies God's desire to dwell among His people. In our lives, we should cultivate spaces—both physical and spiritual—where we can experience and honor God's presence.

Obedience and Worship
The act of setting apart land is an act of obedience and worship. Our daily lives should reflect a commitment to obeying God's commands and worshiping Him in spirit and truth.

Future Hope and Restoration
This passage points to a future hope of restoration and renewal. As believers, we can look forward to the ultimate fulfillment of God's promises in the new heaven and new earth.
Bible Study Questions
1. What does the act of setting apart a portion of land for the LORD teach us about the concept of holiness in our own lives?

2. How can we create "sacred spaces" in our daily routines to honor and experience God's presence?

3. In what ways does the vision of the new temple in Ezekiel 40-48 inspire hope for the future restoration of God's people?

4. How does the dedication of land in Ezekiel 48:9 relate to the idea of stewardship in other parts of Scripture, such as the parable of the talents in Matthew 25?

5. What practical steps can we take to ensure that our lives reflect obedience and worship, similar to the Israelites' dedication of land to the LORD?
Connections to Other Scriptures
Leviticus 25
Discusses the concept of land being set apart for the LORD, emphasizing the holiness and sanctity of what is dedicated to God.

Ezekiel 40-48
Provides a broader context of the vision of the new temple and the division of the land, highlighting the restoration and future hope for Israel.

Revelation 21
Describes the New Jerusalem, drawing parallels to the idea of a holy space where God dwells with His people.
Characteristics of the KingdomW. Clarkson Ezekiel 48:1-20
Civic ObligationsEzekiel 48:1-35
Ezekiel's Last VisionThe Christian MagazineEzekiel 48:1-35
Ezekiel's Last VisionD. J. Vaughan, M. A.Ezekiel 48:1-35
God's Presence the Jew's HeavenA. B. Davidson, D. D.Ezekiel 48:1-35
Honoured According to FaithfulnessA. R. Fausset, M. A.Ezekiel 48:1-35
Jehovah-Shammah; a Glorious Name for the New YearEzekiel 48:1-35
The Central Position of the SanctuaryEzekiel 48:1-35
The Ideal CityJ. Wallace.Ezekiel 48:1-35
The Ideal City and its NameS. Whitehead.Ezekiel 48:1-35
The Lord is ThereW. H. M. H. Aitken, M. A.Ezekiel 48:1-35
The Name of the CityU. R. Thomas.Ezekiel 48:1-35
The Presence of Christ as the Chief Glory of HeavenR. Newton, D. D.Ezekiel 48:1-35
Religion the Nucleus of Human LifeJ.D. Davies Ezekiel 48:8-14
People
Asher, Benjamin, Dan, Enan, Ezekiel, Gad, Israelites, Issachar, Joseph, Levi, Levites, Manasseh, Naphtali, Reuben, Simeon, Tamar, Zadok, Zadokites, Zebulun
Places
Brook of Egypt, Damascus, Great Sea, Hamath, Hazar-enan, Hethlon, Jerusalem, Lebo-hamath, Meribah-kadesh, Tamar
Topics
10000, Apart, 25000, Breadth, Broad, Cubits, Heave-offering, Length, Lift, Oblation, Offer, Offering, Portion, Reeds, Ten, Thousand, Twenty, Twenty-five, Wide, Width
Dictionary of Bible Themes
Ezekiel 48:1-35

     7266   tribes of Israel

Library
Jehovah-Shammah: a Glorious Name for the New Year
THESE words may be used as a test as well as a text. They may serve for examination as well as consolation, and at the beginning of a year they may fulfill this useful double purpose. In any case they are full of marrow and fatness to those whose spiritual taste is purified. It is esteemed by the prophet to be the highest blessing that could come upon a city that its name should be, "JEHOVAH-SHAMMAH, The Lord is there." Even Jerusalem, in its best estate, would have this for its crowning blessing:
Charles Haddon Spurgeon—Spurgeon's Sermons Volume 37: 1891

Princely Service.
NUMB. VII. We learned from Numbers vi, GOD'S requirements of those who desire to take the privileged position of separation to Himself. We found also in the conclusion of the same chapter the overflow of GOD'S love in the rich and comprehensive blessing which so appropriately follows, and forms the connecting link between Nazarite separation and the princely service set forth in Chap. vii,--one of the longest in the Bible, and one full of repetition. We now propose to consider more fully why this
James Hudson Taylor—Separation and Service

Jehovah. The "I Am. "
WHEN Moses in the desert beheld the burning bush God answered his question by the revelation of His name as the "I Am." "And God said unto Moses, I am, that I am: and He said, Thus shalt thou say unto the children of Israel, I AM hath sent me unto you" (Exod. iii:14). He who spake thus out of the bush to Moses was the same who in the fullness of time appeared upon the earth in the form of man. Our Lord Jesus Christ is no less person, than the I AM. If we turn to the fourth Gospel in which the Holy
Arno Gaebelein—The Lord of Glory

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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