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]

48 “These are the names of the tribes: Beginning at the northern extreme, beside (A)the way of Hethlon (B)to Lebo-hamath, as far as (C)Hazar-enan (which is on the northern border of (D)Damascus over against Hamath), and extending[a] from the east side to the west,[b] (E)Dan, one portion. Adjoining the territory of Dan, from the east side to the west, (F)Asher, one portion. Adjoining the territory of Asher, from the east side to the west, (G)Naphtali, one portion. Adjoining the territory of Naphtali, from the east side to the west, Manasseh, one portion. Adjoining the territory of Manasseh, from the east side to the west, Ephraim, one portion. Adjoining the territory of Ephraim, from the east side to the west, Reuben, one portion. Adjoining the territory of Reuben, from the east side to the west, Judah, one portion.

“Adjoining the territory of Judah, from the east side to the west, shall be (H)the portion which you shall set apart, 25,000 cubits[c] in breadth, and in length equal to one of the tribal portions, from the east side to the west, with (I)the sanctuary in the midst of it. The portion that you shall set apart for the Lord shall be 25,000 cubits in length, and 20,000[d] in breadth. 10 (J)These shall be the allotments of the holy portion: the priests shall have an allotment measuring 25,000 cubits on the northern side, 10,000 cubits in breadth on the western side, 10,000 in breadth on the eastern side, and 25,000 in length on the southern side, with the sanctuary of the Lord in the midst of it. 11 This shall be for (K)the consecrated priests, (L)the sons of Zadok, who kept my charge, who did not go astray when the people of Israel went astray, (M)as the Levites did. 12 And it shall belong to them as a special portion from the holy portion of the land, a most holy place, adjoining the territory of the Levites. 13 (N)And alongside the territory of the priests, the Levites shall have an allotment 25,000 cubits in length and 10,000 in breadth. The whole length shall be 25,000 cubits and the breadth 20,000.[e] 14 They (O)shall not sell or exchange any of it. They shall not alienate (P)this choice portion of the land, for it is holy to the Lord.

15 (Q)“The remainder, 5,000 cubits in breadth and 25,000 in length, shall be (R)for common use for the city, for dwellings and for (S)open country. In the midst of it shall be the city, 16 and these shall be its measurements: (T)the north side 4,500 cubits, the south side 4,500, the east side 4,500, and the west side 4,500. 17 And the city shall have open land: on the north 250 cubits, on the south 250, on the east 250, and on the west 250. 18 The remainder of the length alongside the holy portion shall be 10,000 cubits to the east, and 10,000 to the west, and it shall be alongside the holy portion. (U)Its produce shall be food for the workers of the city. 19 And the workers of the city, from all the tribes of Israel, shall till it. 20 The whole portion that (V)you shall set apart shall be 25,000 cubits square, that is, the holy portion together with the property of the city.

21 (W)“What remains on both sides of the holy portion and of the property of the city shall belong to the prince. Extending from the 25,000 cubits of the holy portion to the east border, and westward from the 25,000 cubits to the west border, parallel to the tribal portions, it shall belong to the prince. (X)The holy portion with the sanctuary of the temple shall be in its midst. 22 It shall be separate from the property of the Levites and the property of the city, which are in the midst of that which belongs to the prince. The portion of the prince shall lie between the territory of Judah and the territory of Benjamin.

23 “As for the rest of the tribes: from the east side to the west, Benjamin, one portion. 24 Adjoining the territory of Benjamin, from the east side to the west, Simeon, one portion. 25 Adjoining the territory of Simeon, from the east side to the west, Issachar, one portion. 26 Adjoining the territory of Issachar, from the east side to the west, Zebulun, one portion. 27 Adjoining the territory of Zebulun, from the east side to the west, Gad, one portion. 28 And adjoining the territory of Gad to the south, the boundary shall run (Y)from Tamar to the waters of (Z)Meribah-kadesh, from there along the Brook of Egypt[f] to (AA)the Great Sea.[g] 29 This is the land that (AB)you shall allot as an inheritance among the tribes of Israel, and these are their portions, declares the Lord God.

The Gates of the City

30 “These shall be (AC)the exits of the city: On the north side, which is to be (AD)4,500 cubits by measure, 31 (AE)three gates, the gate of (AF)Reuben, the gate of (AG)Judah, and the gate of (AH)Levi, the gates of the city being named after the tribes of Israel. 32 On the east side, which is to be 4,500 cubits, three gates, the gate of Joseph, the gate of Benjamin, and the gate of Dan. 33 On the south side, which is to be 4,500 cubits by measure, three gates, the gate of Simeon, the gate of Issachar, and the gate of Zebulun. 34 On the west side, which is to be 4,500 cubits, three gates,[h] the gate of Gad, the gate of Asher, and the gate of Naphtali. 35 The circumference of the city shall be 18,000 cubits. And (AI)the name of the city from that time on shall be, (AJ)The Lord Is There.”

Footnotes

  1. Ezekiel 48:1 Probable reading; Hebrew and they shall be his
  2. Ezekiel 48:1 Septuagint (compare verses 2–8); Hebrew the east side the west
  3. Ezekiel 48:8 A cubit was about 18 inches or 45 centimeters; a long cubit (see 40:5) was about 21 inches or 53 centimeters
  4. Ezekiel 48:9 Compare 45:1; Hebrew 10,000
  5. Ezekiel 48:13 Septuagint; Hebrew 10,000
  6. Ezekiel 48:28 Hebrew lacks of Egypt
  7. Ezekiel 48:28 That is, the Mediterranean Sea
  8. Ezekiel 48:34 One Hebrew manuscript, Syriac (compare Septuagint); most Hebrew manuscripts their gates three

Division of the Land

48 “Now these are the names of the tribes: (A)From the northern border along the road to Hethlon at the entrance of Hamath, to Hazar Enan, the border of Damascus northward, in the direction of Hamath, there shall be one section for (B)Dan from its east to its west side; by the border of Dan, from the east side to the west, one section for (C)Asher; by the border of Asher, from the east side to the west, one section for (D)Naphtali; by the border of Naphtali, from the east side to the west, one section for (E)Manasseh; by the border of Manasseh, from the east side to the west, one section for (F)Ephraim; by the border of Ephraim, from the east side to the west, one section for (G)Reuben; by the border of Reuben, from the east side to the west, one section for (H)Judah; by the border of Judah, from the east side to the west, shall be (I)the district which you shall set apart, twenty-five thousand cubits in width, and in length the same as one of the other portions, from the east side to the west, with the (J)sanctuary in the center.

“The district that you shall set apart for the Lord shall be twenty-five thousand cubits in length and ten thousand in width. 10 To these—to the priests—the holy district shall belong: on the north twenty-five thousand cubits in length, on the west ten thousand in width, on the east ten thousand in width, and on the south twenty-five thousand in length. The sanctuary of the Lord shall be in the center. 11 (K)It shall be for the priests of the sons of Zadok, who are sanctified, who have kept My charge, who did not go astray when the children of Israel went astray, (L)as the Levites went astray. 12 And this district of land that is set apart shall be to them a thing most (M)holy by the border of the Levites.

13 “Opposite the border of the priests, the (N)Levites shall have an area twenty-five thousand cubits in length and ten thousand in width; its entire length shall be twenty-five thousand and its width ten thousand. 14 (O)And they shall not sell or exchange any of it; they may not alienate this best part of the land, for it is holy to the Lord.

15 (P)“The five thousand cubits in width that remain, along the edge of the twenty-five thousand, shall be (Q)for general use by the city, for dwellings and common-land; and the city shall be in the center. 16 These shall be its measurements: the north side four thousand five hundred cubits, the south side four thousand five hundred, the east side four thousand five hundred, and the west side four thousand five hundred. 17 The common-land of the city shall be: to the north two hundred and fifty cubits, to the south two hundred and fifty, to the east two hundred and fifty, and to the west two hundred and fifty. 18 The rest of the length, alongside the district of the holy section, shall be ten thousand cubits to the east and ten thousand to the west. It shall be adjacent to the district of the holy section, and its produce shall be food for the workers of the city. 19 (R)The workers of the city, from all the tribes of Israel, shall cultivate it. 20 The entire district shall be twenty-five thousand cubits by twenty-five thousand cubits, foursquare. You shall set apart the holy district with the property of the city.

21 (S)“The rest shall belong to the prince, on one side and on the other of the holy district and of the city’s property, next to the twenty-five thousand cubits of the holy district as far as the eastern border, and westward next to the twenty-five thousand as far as the western border, adjacent to the tribal portions; it shall belong to the prince. It shall be the holy district, (T)and the sanctuary of the [a]temple shall be in the center. 22 Moreover, apart from the possession of the Levites and the possession of the city which are in the midst of what belongs to the prince, the area between the border of Judah and the border of (U)Benjamin shall belong to the prince.

23 “As for the rest of the tribes, from the east side to the west, Benjamin shall have one section; 24 by the border of Benjamin, from the east side to the west, (V)Simeon shall have one section; 25 by the border of Simeon, from the east side to the west, (W)Issachar shall have one section; 26 by the border of Issachar, from the east side to the west, (X)Zebulun shall have one section; 27 by the border of Zebulun, from the east side to the west, (Y)Gad shall have one section; 28 by the border of Gad, on the south side, toward the [b]South, the border shall be from Tamar to (Z)the waters of [c]Meribah by Kadesh, along the brook to the (AA)Great Sea. 29 (AB)This is the land which you shall divide by lot as an inheritance among the tribes of Israel, and these are their portions,” says the Lord God.

The Gates of the City and Its Name

30 “These are the exits of the city. On the north side, measuring four thousand five hundred cubits 31 (AC)(the gates of the city shall be named after the tribes of Israel), the three gates northward: one gate for Reuben, one gate for Judah, and one gate for Levi; 32 on the east side, four thousand five hundred cubits, three gates: one gate for Joseph, one gate for Benjamin, and one gate for Dan; 33 on the south side, measuring four thousand five hundred cubits, three gates: one gate for Simeon, one gate for Issachar, and one gate for Zebulun; 34 on the west side, four thousand five hundred cubits with their three gates: one gate for Gad, one gate for Asher, and one gate for Naphtali. 35 All the way around shall be eighteen thousand cubits; (AD)and the name of the city from that day shall be: (AE)THE[d] LORD IS THERE.”

Footnotes

  1. Ezekiel 48:21 Lit. house
  2. Ezekiel 48:28 Heb. Negev
  3. Ezekiel 48:28 Lit. Strife
  4. Ezekiel 48:35 Heb. YHWH Shammah