Ezekiel 48:10-34

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.
11 This will be for the consecrated priests, the Zadokites, who were faithful in serving me and did not go astray as the Levites did when the Israelites went astray.
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.
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.
15 “The remaining area, 5,000 cubits[a] 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,[b] the south side 4,500 cubits, the east side 4,500 cubits, and the west side 4,500 cubits.
17 The pastureland for the city will be 250 cubits[c] 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.
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.
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 will have one portion; it will extend from the east side to the west side.
24 “Simeon will have one portion; it will border the territory of Benjamin from east to west.
25 “Issachar will have one portion; it will border the territory of Simeon from east to west.
26 “Zebulun will have one portion; it will border the territory of Issachar from east to west.
27 “Gad 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 to the waters of Meribah Kadesh, then along the Wadi of Egypt to the Mediterranean Sea.
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.

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.

Ezekiel 48:10-34 Meaning and Commentary

INTRODUCTION TO EZEKIEL 48

In this chapter an account is given of the portions of the twelve tribes in the land of Israel; seven to the north of the sanctuary, Dan, Asher, Naphtali, Manasseh, Ephraim, Reuben, and Judah, Eze 48:1-7, between which and Benjamin lay the holy portion of the land, for the sanctuary and the priests of it, and for the Levites, and for the city and its suburbs, and for the prince, Eze 48:8-22 then the portions of the other five tribes to the south of the sanctuary, Benjamin, Simeon, Issachar, Zebulun, and Gad, Eze 48:23-29, after which the city is described by its outlets, north, east, south, and west; by its twelve gates, three at each point; by its circumference and by its name, Eze 48:30-35.

Cross References 18

  • 1. ver 21; S Ezekiel 45:3-4
  • 2. S 2 Samuel 8:17
  • 3. S Leviticus 8:35
  • 4. Ezekiel 14:11; S Ezekiel 44:15
  • 5. Ezekiel 45:5
  • 6. S Leviticus 25:34; Leviticus 27:10,28
  • 7. Revelation 21:16
  • 8. Ezekiel 45:6
  • 9. ver 8,10; Ezekiel 45:7
  • 10. Joshua 18:11-28
  • 11. S Genesis 29:33; Joshua 19:1-9
  • 12. Joshua 19:17-23
  • 13. Joshua 19:10-16
  • 14. Joshua 13:24-28
  • 15. S Genesis 14:7
  • 16. S Numbers 34:6; Ezekiel 47:19
  • 17. S Ezekiel 45:1
  • 18. S 2 Chronicles 4:4; Revelation 21:12-13

Footnotes 3

  • [a]. That is, about 1 2/3 miles or about 2.7 kilometers
  • [b]. That is, about 1 1/2 miles or about 2.4 kilometers; also in verses 30, 32, 33 and 34
  • [c]. That is, about 440 feet or about 135 meters
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