Ezekiel 48: A Vision of Restoration and Divine Presence

Ezekiel 48 Scripture
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1

Now these are the names of the tribes. From the north end to the coast of the way of Hethlon, as one goeth to Hamath, Hazar–enan, the border of Damascus northward, to the coast of Hamath; for these are his sides east and west; a portion for Dan.

2

And by the border of Dan, from the east side unto the west side, a portion for Asher.

3

And by the border of Asher, from the east side even unto the west side, a portion for Naphtali.

4

And by the border of Naphtali, from the east side unto the west side, a portion for Manasseh.

5

And by the border of Manasseh, from the east side unto the west side, a portion for Ephraim.

6

And by the border of Ephraim, from the east side even unto the west side, a portion for Reuben.

7

And by the border of Reuben, from the east side unto the west side, a portion for Judah.

8

And by the border of Judah, from the east side unto the west side, shall be the offering which ye shall offer of five and twenty thousand reeds in breadth, and in length as one of the other parts, from the east side unto the west side: and the sanctuary shall be in the midst of it.

9

The oblation that ye shall offer unto the Lord shall be of five and twenty thousand in length, and of ten thousand in breadth.

10

And for them, even for the priests, shall be this holy oblation; toward the north five and twenty thousand in length, and toward the west ten thousand in breadth, and toward the east ten thousand in breadth, and toward the south five and twenty thousand in length: and the sanctuary of the Lord shall be in the midst thereof.

11

It shall be for the priests that are sanctified of the sons of Zadok; which have kept my charge, which went not astray when the children of Israel went astray, as the Levites went astray.

12

And this oblation of the land that is offered shall be unto them a thing most holy by the border of the Levites.

13

And over against the border of the priests the Levites shall have five and twenty thousand in length, and ten thousand in breadth: all the length shall be five and twenty thousand, and the breadth ten thousand.

14

And they shall not sell of it, neither exchange, nor alienate the firstfruits of the land: for it is holy unto the Lord.

15

And the five thousand, that are left in the breadth over against the five and twenty thousand, shall be a profane place for the city, for dwelling, and for suburbs: and the city shall be in the midst thereof.

16

And these shall be the measures thereof; the north side four thousand and five hundred, and the south side four thousand and five hundred, and on the east side four thousand and five hundred, and the west side four thousand and five hundred.

17

And the suburbs of the city shall be toward the north two hundred and fifty, and toward the south two hundred and fifty, and toward the east two hundred and fifty, and toward the west two hundred and fifty.

18

And the residue in length over against the oblation of the holy portion shall be ten thousand eastward, and ten thousand westward: and it shall be over against the oblation of the holy portion; and the increase thereof shall be for food unto them that serve the city.

19

And they that serve the city shall serve it out of all the tribes of Israel.

20

All the oblation shall be five and twenty thousand by five and twenty thousand: ye shall offer the holy oblation foursquare, with the possession of the city.

21

And the residue shall be for the prince, on the one side and on the other of the holy oblation, and of the possession of the city, over against the five and twenty thousand of the oblation toward the east border, and westward over against the five and twenty thousand toward the west border, over against the portions for the prince: and it shall be the holy oblation; and the sanctuary of the house shall be in the midst thereof.

22

Moreover from the possession of the Levites, and from the possession of the city, being in the midst of that which is the prince’s, between the border of Judah and the border of Benjamin, shall be for the prince.

23

As for the rest of the tribes, from the east side unto the west side, Benjamin shall have a portion.

24

And by the border of Benjamin, from the east side unto the west side, Simeon shall have a portion.

25

And by the border of Simeon, from the east side unto the west side, Issachar a portion.

26

And by the border of Issachar, from the east side unto the west side, Zebulun a portion.

27

And by the border of Zebulun, from the east side unto the west side, Gad a portion.

28

And by the border of Gad, at the south side southward, the border shall be even from Tamar unto the waters of strife in Kadesh, and to the river toward the great sea.

29

This is the land which ye shall divide by lot unto the tribes of Israel for inheritance, and these are their portions, saith the Lord God.

30

And these are the goings out of the city on the north side, four thousand and five hundred measures.

31

And the gates of the city shall be after the names of the tribes of Israel: three gates northward; one gate of Reuben, one gate of Judah, one gate of Levi.

32

And at the east side four thousand and five hundred: and three gates; and one gate of Joseph, one gate of Benjamin, one gate of Dan.

33

And at the south side four thousand and five hundred measures: and three gates; one gate of Simeon, one gate of Issachar, one gate of Zebulun.

34

At the west side four thousand and five hundred, with their three gates; one gate of Gad, one gate of Asher, one gate of Naphtali.

35

It was round about eighteen thousand measures: and the name of the city from that day shall be, The Lord is there.

Ezekiel 48 Commentary
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Ezekiel 48 presents a detailed vision of the re-division of the land of Israel in the future kingdom. This chapter isn't just about geographical boundaries; it's a powerful declaration of God's faithfulness to His promises and a glimpse into the restored relationship between God and His people. The meticulous distribution of land among the tribes, the designation of areas for the priests and Levites, and the description of the new Jerusalem all point to a future where God's presence dwells fully and permanently with His people.

The Allotment of the Land (Ezekiel 48:1-29)

The chapter begins by outlining the specific portions of land assigned to each of the twelve tribes. This division starts from the northernmost border and proceeds southward. Seven tribes, including Dan, Asher, Naphtali, Manasseh, Ephraim, Reuben, and Judah, receive their inheritance in the northern sections (Ezekiel 48:1-7). This careful allocation signifies order and justice in the restored kingdom, a stark contrast to the chaos and injustice that led to Israel's exile.

The central portion of the land holds special significance. This area, already described by Ezekiel, is designated for the sanctuary, the priests, and the Levites (Ezekiel 48:8-14). Specifically, it is reserved for the consecrated priests, the sons of Zadok, and the Levites who faithfully served the Lord. This emphasizes the importance of worship and spiritual leadership in the restored community. The land belonging to the prince is also mentioned (Ezekiel 48:21-22), highlighting the role of righteous leadership in the future kingdom. Finally, the remaining five tribes – Benjamin, Simeon, Issachar, Zebulun, and Gad – receive their allotments in the southern part of the land (Ezekiel 48:23-29). The precision with which the land is divided underscores the completeness of God's restoration plan.

The New Jerusalem: A City of God's Presence (Ezekiel 48:30-35)

The chapter culminates with a description of the new Jerusalem, a city with twelve gates, three on each side, each named after one of the tribes of Israel (Ezekiel 48:30-34). This symbolic naming signifies the unity and completeness of the restored nation, encompassing all twelve tribes.

However, the most profound element of this vision is the new name given to the city: "The LORD Is There" (YHWH Shammah) (Ezekiel 48:35). This name encapsulates the essence of the restored relationship between God and His people. The holy city had become unholy, leading to its destruction and the departure of God's glory in judgment. But in this glorious future, the city is redeemed, and God's presence returns to dwell permanently within it.

This future restoration finds its ultimate fulfillment in the return of King Jesus, who will establish His millennial kingdom reign. He will claim His rightful place as King and Lord, ushering in an era of perfect, righteous rule. Ezekiel's vision offers hope and assurance that despite the brokenness of the present, God's promises are sure, and His presence will ultimately dwell among His people in fullness and glory. The new Jerusalem is not merely a physical city; it's a symbol of God's unwavering love and His commitment to dwell with His people forever. It speaks to the promise of complete restoration, both physical and spiritual, where the presence of God is the defining characteristic of the city and its inhabitants.