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Regulations for Israel’s Northern Land Divisions

48 “These are the names of the tribes from the northernmost extremity westward[a] along the road from Hethlon to the entrance of Hamath,[b] Hazar-enan (a border of Damascus) northward to the coast[c] of Hamath. The perimeter is to run[d] east-to-west;[e] the tribe of[f] Dan with one portion;[g] running along the border of the tribe of Dan from the eastern perimeter to the western perimeter, the tribe of Asher with one portion; running along the border of the tribe of Asher from the eastern perimeter to the western perimeter, the tribe of Naphtali with one portion; running along the border of the tribe of Naphtali from the eastern perimeter to the western perimeter, the tribe of Manasseh with one portion; running along the border of the tribe of Manasseh from the eastern perimeter to the western perimeter, the tribe of Ephraim with one portion; running along the border of the tribe of Ephraim from the eastern perimeter to the western perimeter, the tribe of Reuben with one portion; and running along the border of the tribe of Reuben from the eastern perimeter to the western perimeter, the tribe of Judah with one portion.”

Israel’s National Temple Allotment

“Running along the border of the tribe of Judah from the eastern perimeter to the western perimeter you are to set apart the Terumah,[h] 25,000 units[i] wide, with its east-west length equal to one of the other apportionments, from the eastern perimeter to the western perimeter, with the Temple in the middle of it. The Terumah that you are to give to the Lord is to be 25,000 units wide.”[j]

Allotments for the Priests

10 “The holy Terumah is to be reserved for these, the priests: Toward the north, 25,000 units in length;[k] toward the west, 10,000 units in width; toward the east, 10,000 units in width; and toward the south, 25,000 units in length. The Lord’s sanctuary is to be in its midst. 11 It is to be for use by[l] priests from the descendants of Zadok, who have observed the things with which I charged them and who did not wander astray when the Israelis went astray, just as the descendants of Levi wandered astray. 12 It is to be a Terumah for them from the allotment of the land, a Most Holy Place, adjoining the border of the descendants of Levi.”

13 “Alongside the border of the priests, the descendants of Levi are to be allotted 25,000 units in length and 10,000 units in width. The entire length is to be 25,000 units and its width 10,000 units. 14 Furthermore, they are not to sell or exchange any part of it, nor transfer these first fruits[m] of the land, because it is holy to the Lord.

15 “The rest, 5,000 units wide and 25,000 units along its front, will serve as a common portion for use by the city for housing and open spaces, since the city is to be in its midst. 16 These are to be its dimensions: the north side, 4,500 units; the south side, 4,500 units; the east side, 4,500 units; and the west side 4,500 units. 17 The city is to have urban areas set aside: on the north 250 units; on the south, 250 units, on the east, 250 units; and on the west, 250 units.

18 “The remainder of the length that borders the holy Terumah is to be 10,000 units long eastward and 10,000 units westward. It is to lie adjacent to the holy Terumah. Its harvest will produce food for those who work in the city. 19 The city workers who cultivate it are to come from all the tribes of Israel. 20 The entire Terumah is to be[n] 25,000 units by 25,000 units—you are to reserve it as a holy Terumah in the form of a square within the city limits.”

The Allotment for the Regent Prince

21 “Now the remainder of the allotment[o] on either side of the holy Terumah is to be for the Regent Prince and for city property[p]—adjoining the 25,000 units along the eastern border and adjoining the 25,000 units along the western border, and parallel to the allotments. These are to be for the Regent Prince. The holy Terumah and the sanctuary of the Temple is to stand in the middle of it. 22 Except for what belongs to the descendants of Levi and the city property, which will stand in the middle of what belongs to the Regent Prince, whatever is between the border of Judah and the border of Benjamin is to belong to the Regent Prince.”

The Allotment for the Tribes

23 “Now as to the rest of the tribes: from the east side to the west side, Benjamin is to retain one portion.[q] 24 Adjacent to the border of Benjamin running from east to west, Simeon is to retain one portion. 25 Adjacent to the border of Simeon running from east to west, Issachar is to retain one portion. 26 Adjacent to the border of Issachar running from east to west, Zebulun is to retain one portion. 27 Adjacent to the border of Zebulun running from east to west, Gad is to retain one portion. 28 Adjacent to the border of Gad to the south and extending toward the south, the border is to proceed from Tamar to the waters of Meribath-kadesh, then to the Wadi[r] of Egypt,[s] and from there to the Mediterranean[t] Sea. 29 This is the land that you are to allocate by lottery to the tribes of Israel as their inheritance, and these are their respective divisions,” declares the Lord God.

The Gates of the City

30 “These are the exits from the city: On the north side, 4,500 units by measurement, 31 are to be the gates of the city. Named after the tribes of Israel, three gates are to serve the north site: one named the Reuben Gate, one named the Judah Gate, and one named the Levi Gate. 32 On the east side, 4,500 units by measurement,[u] there are to be three gates: one named the Joseph Gate, one named the Benjamin Gate, and one named the Dan Gate. 33 On the south side, 4,500 units by measurement, there are to be three gates: one named the Simeon Gate, one named the Issachar Gate, and one named the Zebulun Gate. 34 On the west side, 4,500 units by measurement,[v] there are to be three gates: one named the Gad Gate, one named the Asher Gate, and one named the Naphtali Gate. 35 A perimeter is to measure 18,000 units, and the name of the city from that time on is to be:

The Lord is There.’”

Footnotes

  1. Ezekiel 48:1 Lit. to the sea; i.e. in the direction of the Mediterranean Sea
  2. Ezekiel 48:1 Or to Lebo-hamath
  3. Ezekiel 48:1 Lit. to the sea; i.e. in the direction of the Mediterranean Sea
  4. Ezekiel 48:1 The Heb. lacks is to run
  5. Ezekiel 48:1 Lit. from east to the Sea; and so throughout the chapter
  6. Ezekiel 48:1 The Heb. lacks The tribe of; and so throughout the chapter
  7. Ezekiel 48:1 The Heb. lacks portion; and so throughout the list
  8. Ezekiel 48:8 Lit. Gift; i.e. a special section of Israel’s land to be dedicated to the Lord as a national temple park, and so throughout the chapter; cf. Eze 45:1-7
  9. Ezekiel 48:8 The Heb. lacks units; i.e. the measuring unit is unspecified throughout the chapter
  10. Ezekiel 48:9 The Heb. lacks wide
  11. Ezekiel 48:10 The Heb. lacks in length
  12. Ezekiel 48:11 The Heb. lacks It is to be for use by
  13. Ezekiel 48:14 Or this choice portion
  14. Ezekiel 48:20 The Heb. lacks is to be
  15. Ezekiel 48:21 The Heb. lacks of the allotment
  16. Ezekiel 48:21 I.e. public property
  17. Ezekiel 48:23 Lit. Benjamin, one; and so through v. 27
  18. Ezekiel 48:28 I.e. a seasonal stream or river that channels water during rain seasons but is dry at other times; ancient Israel’s southwestern-most border
  19. Ezekiel 48:28 I.e. ancient Israel’s southwestern-most border
  20. Ezekiel 48:28 Lit. Great
  21. Ezekiel 48:32 The Heb. lacks by measurement
  22. Ezekiel 48:34 The Heb. lacks by measurement

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