The Tribal Allotments

48 “Now these are the names of the tribes:

From the northern end, along the road of Hethlon, to Lebo-hamath as far as Hazar-enon, at the northern border of Damascus, alongside Hamath and extending from the eastern side to the sea, will be Dan—one portion.
Next to the territory of Dan, from the east side to the west, will be Asher—one portion.
Next to the territory of Asher, from the east side to the west, will be Naphtali—one portion.
Next to the territory of Naphtali, from the east side to the west, will be Manasseh—one portion.
Next to the territory of Manasseh, from the east side to the west, will be Ephraim—one portion.
Next to the territory of Ephraim, from the east side to the west, will be Reuben—one portion.
Next to the territory of Reuben, from the east side to the west, will be Judah—one portion.

“Next to the territory of Judah, from the east side to the west, will be the portion you donate to the Lord, 8⅓ miles[a] wide, and as long as one of the tribal portions from the east side to the west.(A) The sanctuary will be in the middle of it.

“The special portion you donate to the Lord will be 8⅓ miles[b] long and 3⅓ miles[c] wide. 10 This holy donation will be set apart for the priests alone. It will be 8⅓ miles[d] long on the northern side, 3⅓ miles[e] wide on the western side, 3⅓ miles[f] wide on the eastern side, and 8⅓ miles[g] long on the southern side. The Lord’s sanctuary will be in the middle of it. 11 It is for the consecrated priests, the sons of Zadok, who kept My charge(B) and did not go astray as the Levites did when the Israelites went astray. 12 It will be a special donation for them out of the holy donation of the land, a most holy place adjacent to the territory of the Levites.

13 “Next to the territory of the priests, the Levites will have an area 8⅓ miles[h] long and 3⅓ miles[i] wide. The total length will be 8⅓ miles[j] and the width 3⅓ miles.[k](C) 14 They must not sell or exchange any of it, and they must not transfer this choice part of the land, for it is holy to the Lord.(D)

15 “The remaining area, 1⅔ of a mile[l] wide and 8⅓ miles[m] long, will be for common use by the city,(E) for both residential and open space. The city will be in the middle of it. 16 These are the city’s measurements:

1½ miles[n] on the north side;
1½ miles[o] on the south side;
1½ miles[p] on the east side;
and 1½ miles[q] on the west side.

17 The city’s open space will extend:

425 feet[r] to the north,
425 feet[s] to the south,
425 feet[t] to the east,
and 425 feet[u] to the west.

18 “The remainder of the length alongside the holy donation will be 3⅓ miles[v] to the east and 3⅓ miles[w] to the west. It will run alongside the holy donation. Its produce will be food for the workers of the city. 19 The city’s workers from all the tribes of Israel will cultivate it.(F) 20 The entire donation will be 8⅓ miles[x] by 8⅓ miles;[y] you are to set apart the holy donation along with the city property as a square area.

21 “The remaining area on both sides of the holy donation and the city property will belong to the prince.(G) He will own the land adjacent to the tribal portions, next to the 8⅓ miles[z] of the donation as far as the eastern border and[aa] next to the 8⅓ miles[ab] of the donation as far as the western border. The holy donation and the sanctuary of the temple will be in the middle of it. 22 Except for the Levitical property and the city property in the middle of the area belonging to the prince, the area between the territory of Judah and that of Benjamin will belong to the prince.(H)

23 “As for the rest of the tribes:

From the east side to the west, will be Benjamin—one portion.
24 Next to the territory of Benjamin, from the east side to the west, will be Simeon—one portion.
25 Next to the territory of Simeon, from the east side to the west, will be Issachar—one portion.
26 Next to the territory of Issachar, from the east side to the west, will be Zebulun—one portion.
27 Next to the territory of Zebulun, from the east side to the west, will be Gad—one portion.

28 Next to the territory of Gad toward the south side, the border will run from Tamar to the waters(I) of Meribath-kadesh, to the Brook of Egypt, and out to the Mediterranean Sea. 29 This is the land you are to allot as an inheritance to Israel’s tribes,(J) and these will be their portions.” This is the declaration of the Lord God.

The New City

30 “These are the exits of the city:

On the north side, which measures 1½ miles,[ac] 31 there will be three gates facing north, the gates of the city being named for the tribes of Israel: one, the gate of Reuben; one, the gate of Judah; and one, the gate of Levi.
32 On the east side, which is 1½ miles,[ad] there will be three gates: one, the gate of Joseph; one, the gate of Benjamin; and one, the gate of Dan.
33 On the south side, which measures 1½ miles,[ae] there will be three gates: one, the gate of Simeon; one, the gate of Issachar; and one, the gate of Zebulun.
34 On the west side, which is 1½ miles,[af] there will be three gates: one, the gate of Gad; one, the gate of Asher; and one, the gate of Naphtali.

35 The perimeter of the city will be six miles,[ag] and the name of the city from that day on will be: Yahweh Is There.”(K)

Footnotes

  1. Ezekiel 48:8 Lit 25,000 [cubits]
  2. Ezekiel 48:9 Lit 25,000 [cubits]
  3. Ezekiel 48:9 Lit 10,000 [cubits]
  4. Ezekiel 48:10 Lit 25,000 [cubits]
  5. Ezekiel 48:10 Lit 10,000 [cubits]
  6. Ezekiel 48:10 Lit 10,000 [cubits]
  7. Ezekiel 48:10 Lit 25,000 [cubits]
  8. Ezekiel 48:13 Lit 25,000 [cubits]
  9. Ezekiel 48:13 Lit 10,000 [cubits]
  10. Ezekiel 48:13 Lit 25,000 [cubits]
  11. Ezekiel 48:13 Lit 10,000 [cubits]
  12. Ezekiel 48:15 Lit 5,000 [cubits]
  13. Ezekiel 48:15 Lit 25,000 [cubits]
  14. Ezekiel 48:16 Lit 4,500 [cubits]
  15. Ezekiel 48:16 Lit 4,500 [cubits]
  16. Ezekiel 48:16 Lit 4,500 [cubits]
  17. Ezekiel 48:16 Lit 4,500 [cubits]
  18. Ezekiel 48:17 Lit 250 [cubits]
  19. Ezekiel 48:17 Lit 250 [cubits]
  20. Ezekiel 48:17 Lit 250 [cubits]
  21. Ezekiel 48:17 Lit 250 [cubits]
  22. Ezekiel 48:18 Lit 10,000 [cubits]
  23. Ezekiel 48:18 Lit 10,000 [cubits]
  24. Ezekiel 48:20 Lit 25,000 [cubits]
  25. Ezekiel 48:20 Lit 25,000 [cubits]
  26. Ezekiel 48:21 Lit 25,000 [cubits]
  27. Ezekiel 48:21 Lit border, and to the west,
  28. Ezekiel 48:21 Lit 25,000 [cubits]
  29. Ezekiel 48:30 Lit 4,500 [cubits]
  30. Ezekiel 48:32 Lit 4,500 [cubits]
  31. Ezekiel 48:33 Lit 4,500 [cubits]
  32. Ezekiel 48:34 Lit 4,500 [cubits]
  33. Ezekiel 48:35 Lit 18,000 [cubits]

The Division of the Land

48 “These are the tribes, listed by name: At the northern frontier, Dan(A) will have one portion; it will follow the Hethlon road(B) to Lebo Hamath;(C) Hazar Enan and the northern border of Damascus next to Hamath will be part of its border from the east side to the west side.

“Asher(D) will have one portion; it will border the territory of Dan from east to west.

“Naphtali(E) will have one portion; it will border the territory of Asher from east to west.

“Manasseh(F) will have one portion; it will border the territory of Naphtali from east to west.

“Ephraim(G) will have one portion; it will border the territory of Manasseh(H) from east to west.(I)

“Reuben(J) will have one portion; it will border the territory of Ephraim from east to west.

“Judah(K) will have one portion; it will border the territory of Reuben from east to west.

“Bordering the territory of Judah from east to west will be the portion you are to present as a special gift. It will be 25,000 cubits[a] wide, and its length from east to west will equal one of the tribal portions; the sanctuary will be in the center of it.(L)

“The special portion you are to offer to the Lord will be 25,000 cubits long and 10,000 cubits[b] wide.(M) 10 This will be the sacred portion for the priests. It will be 25,000 cubits long on the north side, 10,000 cubits wide on the west side, 10,000 cubits wide on the east side and 25,000 cubits long on the south side. In the center of it will be the sanctuary of the Lord.(N) 11 This will be for the consecrated priests, the Zadokites,(O) who were faithful in serving me(P) and did not go astray as the Levites did when the Israelites went astray.(Q) 12 It will be a special gift to them from the sacred portion of the land, a most holy portion, bordering the territory of the Levites.

13 “Alongside the territory of the priests, the Levites will have an allotment 25,000 cubits long and 10,000 cubits wide. Its total length will be 25,000 cubits and its width 10,000 cubits.(R) 14 They must not sell or exchange any of it. This is the best of the land and must not pass into other hands, because it is holy to the Lord.(S)

15 “The remaining area, 5,000 cubits[c] wide and 25,000 cubits long, will be for the common use of the city, for houses and for pastureland. The city will be in the center of it 16 and will have these measurements: the north side 4,500 cubits,[d] the south side 4,500 cubits, the east side 4,500 cubits, and the west side 4,500 cubits.(T) 17 The pastureland for the city will be 250 cubits[e] on the north, 250 cubits on the south, 250 cubits on the east, and 250 cubits on the west. 18 What remains of the area, bordering on the sacred portion and running the length of it, will be 10,000 cubits on the east side and 10,000 cubits on the west side. Its produce will supply food for the workers of the city.(U) 19 The workers from the city who farm it will come from all the tribes of Israel. 20 The entire portion will be a square, 25,000 cubits on each side. As a special gift you will set aside the sacred portion, along with the property of the city.

21 “What remains on both sides of the area formed by the sacred portion and the property of the city will belong to the prince. It will extend eastward from the 25,000 cubits of the sacred portion to the eastern border, and westward from the 25,000 cubits to the western border. Both these areas running the length of the tribal portions will belong to the prince, and the sacred portion with the temple sanctuary will be in the center of them.(V) 22 So the property of the Levites and the property of the city will lie in the center of the area that belongs to the prince. The area belonging to the prince will lie between the border of Judah and the border of Benjamin.

23 “As for the rest of the tribes: Benjamin(W) will have one portion; it will extend from the east side to the west side.

24 “Simeon(X) will have one portion; it will border the territory of Benjamin from east to west.

25 “Issachar(Y) will have one portion; it will border the territory of Simeon from east to west.

26 “Zebulun(Z) will have one portion; it will border the territory of Issachar from east to west.

27 “Gad(AA) will have one portion; it will border the territory of Zebulun from east to west.

28 “The southern boundary of Gad will run south from Tamar(AB) to the waters of Meribah Kadesh, then along the Wadi of Egypt to the Mediterranean Sea.(AC)

29 “This is the land you are to allot as an inheritance to the tribes of Israel, and these will be their portions,” declares the Sovereign Lord.(AD)

The Gates of the New City

30 “These will be the exits of the city: Beginning on the north side, which is 4,500 cubits long, 31 the gates of the city will be named after the tribes of Israel. The three gates on the north side will be the gate of Reuben, the gate of Judah and the gate of Levi.

32 “On the east side, which is 4,500 cubits long, will be three gates: the gate of Joseph, the gate of Benjamin and the gate of Dan.

33 “On the south side, which measures 4,500 cubits, will be three gates: the gate of Simeon, the gate of Issachar and the gate of Zebulun.

34 “On the west side, which is 4,500 cubits long, will be three gates: the gate of Gad, the gate of Asher and the gate of Naphtali.(AE)

35 “The distance all around will be 18,000 cubits.[f]

“And the name of the city from that time on will be:

the Lord is there.(AF)

Footnotes

  1. Ezekiel 48:8 That is, about 8 miles or about 13 kilometers; also in verses 9, 10, 13, 15, 20 and 21
  2. Ezekiel 48:9 That is, about 3 1/3 miles or about 5.3 kilometers; also in verses 10, 13 and 18
  3. Ezekiel 48:15 That is, about 1 2/3 miles or about 2.7 kilometers
  4. Ezekiel 48:16 That is, about 1 1/2 miles or about 2.4 kilometers; also in verses 30, 32, 33 and 34
  5. Ezekiel 48:17 That is, about 440 feet or about 135 meters
  6. Ezekiel 48:35 That is, about 6 miles or about 9.5 kilometers