Ezekiel 48

King James Version

Full text for Ezekiel Chapter 48

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, Hazarenan, the border of Damascus northward, to the coast of Hamath; for these are his sides east [and] west; a [portion for] Dan.

2And by the border of Dan, from the east side unto the west side, a [portion for] Asher.

3And by the border of Asher, from the east side even unto the west side, a [portion for] Naphtali.

4And by the border of Naphtali, from the east side unto the west side, a [portion for] Manasseh.

5And by the border of Manasseh, from the east side unto the west side, a [portion for] Ephraim.

6And by the border of Ephraim, from the east side even unto the west side, a [portion for] Reuben.

7And by the border of Reuben, from the east side unto the west side, a [portion for] Judah.

8And 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.

9The oblation that ye shall offer unto the LORD [shall be] of five and twenty thousand in length, and of ten thousand in breadth.

10And 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.

12And [this] oblation of the land that is offered shall be unto them a thing most holy by the border of the Levites.

13And 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.

14And they shall not sell of it, neither exchange, nor alienate the firstfruits of the land: for [it is] holy unto the LORD.

15And 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.

16And 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.

17And 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.

18And 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.

19And they that serve the city shall serve it out of all the tribes of Israel.

20All 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.

21And 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.

22Moreover 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.

23As for the rest of the tribes, from the east side unto the west side, Benjamin [shall have] a [portion].

24And by the border of Benjamin, from the east side unto the west side, Simeon [shall have] a [portion].

25And by the border of Simeon, from the east side unto the west side, Issachar a [portion].

26And by the border of Issachar, from the east side unto the west side, Zebulun a [portion].

27And by the border of Zebulun, from the east side unto the west side, Gad a [portion].

28And 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.

29This [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.

30And 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.

32And 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.

33And 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.

34At 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.

AI Analysis

AI Summaries

Short Summary

Ezekiel 48 meticulously details the final division of the land among the twelve tribes of Israel, arranged in precise north-to-south strips. Central to this arrangement is a large holy oblation, set aside for the priests, Levites, and a designated city. The chapter concludes by describing the new city's dimensions, its twelve gates named after the tribes, and its ultimate name, 'The LORD is there.'

Medium Summary

This chapter outlines the precise geographical distribution of the promised land among the tribes of Israel, with seven tribes receiving portions north of a central holy oblation and five tribes receiving portions to its south. The holy oblation itself is a substantial square of land, further subdivided into a sacred portion for the sanctified priests of Zadok, containing the sanctuary, and an adjacent portion for the Levites. A separate 'profane place' within this oblation is designated for the city, its dwellings, and suburbs, with its produce serving those who labor there. The prince is allotted land flanking this central holy area. The chapter concludes with the detailed measurements and gate names of the new city, which is ultimately named 'The LORD is there,' signifying God's perpetual presence.

Long Summary

Ezekiel 48 provides a detailed blueprint for the division of the land in the eschatological vision, commencing with the northern tribal allotments from Dan down to Judah, each extending from the east to the west border. Following these seven northern tribes, a significant central 'holy oblation' is described, measuring twenty-five thousand reeds square. This oblation is further partitioned: a sacred portion for the priests, specifically the sons of Zadok who remained faithful, containing the sanctuary; an adjacent portion for the Levites; and a 'profane place' of five thousand reeds in breadth for the city, its suburbs, and for dwelling. The city itself is a perfect square, with gates on each of its four sides, each gate named after three of the tribes of Israel. The produce from the land surrounding the city is designated for those who serve it from all tribes. The prince is allotted large portions of land on both the east and west sides of this holy oblation and the city. Finally, the remaining five tribes—Benjamin, Simeon, Issachar, Zebulun, and Gad—receive their portions to the south of the holy oblation, also extending from east to west, with a defined southern border. The chapter concludes by specifying the dimensions and the twelve gates of the new city, which will bear the symbolic name 'Jehovah-shammah,' meaning 'The LORD is there,' emphasizing the divine presence within it.

Core Concepts

  • Tribal Land DivisionThe chapter meticulously details the allocation of land to the twelve tribes of Israel, arranged in ordered east-to-west strips, with seven tribes to the north and five to the south of the central holy oblation.
  • The Holy OblationA large, central square of consecrated land, set apart from the tribal allotments, which serves as the sacred heart of the land division, containing portions for the priests, Levites, and the city.
  • Priestly and Levitical PortionsWithin the holy oblation, specific sections are designated for the sanctified priests of the sons of Zadok, where the sanctuary resides, and an adjacent portion for the Levites, emphasizing their distinct roles.
  • The City and its GatesA new, perfectly square city is described within the holy oblation's 'profane place,' featuring twelve gates, each named after one of the tribes of Israel, symbolizing inclusion and divine order.
  • The Prince's AllotmentLand is specifically designated for the prince, flanking the holy oblation and the city on both its eastern and western sides, indicating his significant administrative role in this new order.
  • Jehovah-shammahThe chapter concludes by naming the new city 'The LORD is there' (Jehovah-shammah), signifying the perpetual and manifest presence of God within this divinely ordered land and city.