Vision of the Man with a Measuring Rod

40 In the (A)twenty-fifth year of our exile, at the beginning of the year, on the tenth of the month, in the fourteenth year after the (B)city was [a]taken, on this very day the (C)hand of the Lord was upon me and He brought me there. In the (D)visions of God He brought me into the land of Israel and set me on a very (E)high mountain, and on it (F)to the south there was something like a (G)structure of a city. So He brought me there; and behold, there was a man whose appearance was like the appearance of (H)bronze, with a (I)thread of flax and a (J)measuring [b]rod in his hand; and he was standing in the gateway. And the man said to me, “(K)Son of man, (L)see with your eyes, hear with your ears, and [c]pay attention to all that I am going to show you; for you have been brought here in order to show it to you. (M)Declare to the house of Israel all that you see.”

Measurements Relating to the Temple

And behold, there was a (N)wall on the outside of the [d]temple all around, and in the man’s hand was a measuring rod of six [e]cubits, [f]each of which was a [g]cubit and a hand width. So he measured the thickness of the [h]wall, one rod; and the height, one rod. Then he went to the gate which faced (O)east, went up its steps, and measured the threshold of the gate, one rod [i]in width; and the other threshold was one rod [j]in width. The (P)guardroom was one rod long and one rod wide; and there were five cubits between the guardrooms. And the threshold of the gate by the porch of the gate [k]facing inward was one rod. Then he measured the porch of the gate [l]facing inward, one rod. And he measured the porch of the gate, eight cubits; and its side pillars, two cubits. And the porch of the gate was [m]faced inward. 10 The guardrooms of the gate toward the east numbered three on each side; the three of them had the same measurement. The side pillars also had the same measurement on each side. 11 And he measured the width of the [n]gateway, ten cubits, and the length of the gate, thirteen cubits. 12 There was a [o]barrier wall one cubit wide in front of the guardrooms on each side; and the guardrooms were six cubits square on each side. 13 And he measured the gate from the roof of the one guardroom to the roof of the other, a width of twenty-five cubits, from one door to the door opposite. 14 He made the side pillars sixty cubits high; the gate extended all around to the side pillar of the (Q)courtyard. 15 And from the front of the entrance gate to the front of the inner porch of the gate was fifty cubits. 16 And there were [p](R)shuttered windows looking toward the guardrooms, and toward their side pillars within the gate all around, and likewise for the porches. And there were windows all around inside; and on each side pillar were (S)palm tree decorations.

17 Then he brought me into the (T)outer courtyard, and behold, there were (U)chambers and a stone pavement made for the courtyard all around; thirty chambers [q]faced the pavement. 18 And the pavement (that is, the lower pavement) was by the [r]side of the gates, corresponding to the length of the gates. 19 Then he measured the width from the front of the (V)lower gate to the front of the exterior of the inner courtyard, a (W)hundred cubits on the east and on the north.

20 And as for the (X)gate of the outer courtyard which faced north, he measured its length and its width. 21 [s]It had three (Y)guardrooms on each side; and its (Z)side pillars and its porches [t]had the same measurement as the first gate. Its length was (AA)fifty cubits, and the width (AB)twenty-five cubits. 22 Its (AC)windows, its porches, and its palm tree decorations had the same measurements as the (AD)gate which faced east; and [u]it was reached by seven (AE)steps, and its [v]porch was in front of them. 23 The inner courtyard had a gate opposite the gate on the north as well as the gate on the east; and he measured a (AF)hundred cubits from gate to gate.

24 Then he led me toward the south, and behold, there was a (AG)gate toward the south; and he measured its (AH)side pillars and its porches according to [w]those same measurements. 25 [x]The gate and its porches had (AI)windows all around like [y]those other windows; the length was (AJ)fifty cubits and the width, twenty-five cubits. 26 There were seven (AK)steps going up to it, and its porches were in front of them; and it had (AL)palm tree decorations on its side pillars, one on each side. 27 The inner courtyard had a gate toward the (AM)south; and he measured from gate to gate toward the south, a (AN)hundred cubits.

28 Then he brought me to the inner courtyard by the south gate; and he measured the south gate (AO)according to those same measurements. 29 Its (AP)guardrooms also, its side pillars, and its (AQ)porches were according to those same measurements. And [z]the gate and its porches had (AR)windows all around; it was (AS)fifty cubits long and twenty-five cubits wide. 30 There were (AT)porches all around, twenty-five cubits long and five cubits wide. 31 And its porches were toward the outer courtyard; and (AU)palm tree decorations were on its side pillars, and its stairway had eight (AV)steps.

32 Then he brought me into the (AW)inner courtyard toward the east. And he measured the gate (AX)according to those same measurements. 33 Its (AY)guardrooms also, its side pillars, and its porches were according to those same measurements. And [aa]the gate and its porches had (AZ)windows all around; it was (BA)fifty cubits long and twenty-five cubits wide. 34 Its (BB)porches were toward the outer courtyard; and (BC)palm tree decorations were on its side pillars, on each side, and its stairway had eight (BD)steps.

35 Then he brought me to the (BE)north gate; and he measured it according to those same measurements, 36 with its (BF)guardrooms, its side pillars, and its (BG)porches. And [ab]the gate had (BH)windows all around; the length was (BI)fifty cubits and the width twenty-five cubits. 37 And its side pillars were toward the outer courtyard; and (BJ)palm tree decorations were on its side pillars, on each side, and its stairway had eight (BK)steps.

38 A (BL)chamber with its doorway was by the side pillars at the gates; there they (BM)rinse the burnt offering. 39 And in the porch of the gate were two (BN)tables on each side, on which to slaughter the (BO)burnt offering, the sin offering, and the guilt offering. 40 On the outer [ac]side, [ad]as one went up to the [ae]gateway toward the north, were two tables; and on the other [af]side of the porch of the gate were two tables. 41 Four (BP)tables were on each side [ag]next to the gate; eight tables on which they slaughter sacrifices. 42 For the burnt offering there were four (BQ)tables of (BR)cut stone, a cubit and a half long, a cubit and a half wide, and one cubit high, on which they set the utensils with which they slaughter the (BS)burnt offering and the sacrifice. 43 And the double [ah]hooks, [ai]one hand width in length, were installed [aj]in the house all around; and on the tables was the flesh of the offering.

44 From the outside to the (BT)inner gate were [ak](BU)chambers for the (BV)singers in the inner courtyard, one of which was at the [al]side of the north gate, with [am]its front toward the south, and one at the [an]side of the [ao]south gate facing north. 45 Then he said to me, “This is the (BW)chamber which faces south, intended for the priests who [ap]are (BX)responsible for the [aq]temple; 46 but the (BY)chamber which faces north is for the priests who [ar]are (BZ)responsible for the altar. They are the (CA)sons of Zadok, who from the sons of Levi (CB)come near to the Lord to serve Him.” 47 He measured the courtyard, a perfect square, a (CC)hundred cubits long and a hundred cubits wide; and the altar was in front of the [as]temple.

48 Then he brought me to the (CD)porch of the [at]temple and measured each side pillar of the porch, five cubits on each side; and the width of the gate was three cubits on each side. 49 The length of the porch was twenty cubits, and the width eleven cubits; and at the (CE)stairway by which it was ascended were (CF)columns belonging to the side pillars, one on each side.

Footnotes

  1. Ezekiel 40:1 Lit struck
  2. Ezekiel 40:3 Lit reed, and so throughout the ch
  3. Ezekiel 40:4 Lit set your heart
  4. Ezekiel 40:5 Lit house
  5. Ezekiel 40:5 I.e., “long” cubits, see note 4
  6. Ezekiel 40:5 Lit by the cubit and
  7. Ezekiel 40:5 A cubit and hand width equals about 21 in. or 53 cm
  8. Ezekiel 40:5 Lit building
  9. Ezekiel 40:6 Or in depth
  10. Ezekiel 40:6 Or in depth
  11. Ezekiel 40:7 Lit from the house
  12. Ezekiel 40:8 Lit from the house
  13. Ezekiel 40:9 Lit from the house
  14. Ezekiel 40:11 Lit entrance of the gate
  15. Ezekiel 40:12 Lit border
  16. Ezekiel 40:16 Or beveled inwards
  17. Ezekiel 40:17 Lit to
  18. Ezekiel 40:18 Lit shoulder
  19. Ezekiel 40:21 Lit Its guardrooms were three
  20. Ezekiel 40:21 Lit were
  21. Ezekiel 40:22 Lit they were going up into it
  22. Ezekiel 40:22 Another reading is porches
  23. Ezekiel 40:24 Lit these measurements, and so throughout the ch
  24. Ezekiel 40:25 Lit It
  25. Ezekiel 40:25 Lit these windows
  26. Ezekiel 40:29 Lit it
  27. Ezekiel 40:33 Lit it
  28. Ezekiel 40:36 Lit it
  29. Ezekiel 40:40 Lit shoulder
  30. Ezekiel 40:40 Lit to the one going up
  31. Ezekiel 40:40 Lit entrance of the gate
  32. Ezekiel 40:40 Lit shoulder
  33. Ezekiel 40:41 Lit to the shoulder of
  34. Ezekiel 40:43 Or ledges
  35. Ezekiel 40:43 About 3 in. or 7.5 cm
  36. Ezekiel 40:43 Or inside
  37. Ezekiel 40:44 LXX two chambers
  38. Ezekiel 40:44 Lit shoulder
  39. Ezekiel 40:44 Lit their
  40. Ezekiel 40:44 Lit shoulder
  41. Ezekiel 40:44 As in LXX; MT east
  42. Ezekiel 40:45 Lit keep the duty of
  43. Ezekiel 40:45 Lit house
  44. Ezekiel 40:46 Lit keep the duty of
  45. Ezekiel 40:47 Lit house
  46. Ezekiel 40:48 Lit house

The Temple Area Restored

40 In the twenty-fifth year of our exile, at the beginning of the year, on the tenth of the month, in the fourteenth year after the fall of the city(A)—on that very day the hand of the Lord was on me(B) and he took me there. In visions(C) of God he took me to the land of Israel and set me on a very high mountain,(D) on whose south side were some buildings that looked like a city. He took me there, and I saw a man whose appearance was like bronze;(E) he was standing in the gateway with a linen cord and a measuring rod(F) in his hand. The man said to me, “Son of man, look carefully and listen closely and pay attention to everything I am going to show you,(G) for that is why you have been brought here. Tell(H) the people of Israel everything you see.(I)

The East Gate to the Outer Court

I saw a wall completely surrounding the temple area. The length of the measuring rod in the man’s hand was six long cubits,[a] each of which was a cubit and a handbreadth. He measured(J) the wall; it was one measuring rod thick and one rod high.

Then he went to the east gate.(K) He climbed its steps and measured the threshold of the gate; it was one rod deep. The alcoves(L) for the guards were one rod long and one rod wide, and the projecting walls between the alcoves were five cubits[b] thick. And the threshold of the gate next to the portico facing the temple was one rod deep.

Then he measured the portico of the gateway; it[c] was eight cubits[d] deep and its jambs were two cubits[e] thick. The portico of the gateway faced the temple.

10 Inside the east gate were three alcoves on each side; the three had the same measurements, and the faces of the projecting walls on each side had the same measurements. 11 Then he measured the width of the entrance of the gateway; it was ten cubits and its length was thirteen cubits.[f] 12 In front of each alcove was a wall one cubit high, and the alcoves were six cubits square. 13 Then he measured the gateway from the top of the rear wall of one alcove to the top of the opposite one; the distance was twenty-five cubits[g] from one parapet opening to the opposite one. 14 He measured along the faces of the projecting walls all around the inside of the gateway—sixty cubits.[h] The measurement was up to the portico[i] facing the courtyard.[j](M) 15 The distance from the entrance of the gateway to the far end of its portico was fifty cubits.[k] 16 The alcoves and the projecting walls inside the gateway were surmounted by narrow parapet openings all around, as was the portico; the openings all around faced inward. The faces of the projecting walls were decorated with palm trees.(N)

The Outer Court

17 Then he brought me into the outer court.(O) There I saw some rooms and a pavement that had been constructed all around the court; there were thirty rooms(P) along the pavement.(Q) 18 It abutted the sides of the gateways and was as wide as they were long; this was the lower pavement. 19 Then he measured the distance from the inside of the lower gateway to the outside of the inner court;(R) it was a hundred cubits[l](S) on the east side as well as on the north.

The North Gate

20 Then he measured the length and width of the north gate, leading into the outer court. 21 Its alcoves(T)—three on each side—its projecting walls and its portico(U) had the same measurements as those of the first gateway. It was fifty cubits long and twenty-five cubits wide. 22 Its openings, its portico(V) and its palm tree decorations had the same measurements as those of the gate facing east. Seven steps led up to it, with its portico opposite them.(W) 23 There was a gate to the inner court facing the north gate, just as there was on the east. He measured from one gate to the opposite one; it was a hundred cubits.(X)

The South Gate

24 Then he led me to the south side and I saw the south gate. He measured its jambs and its portico, and they had the same measurements(Y) as the others. 25 The gateway and its portico had narrow openings all around, like the openings of the others. It was fifty cubits long and twenty-five cubits wide.(Z) 26 Seven steps led up to it, with its portico opposite them; it had palm tree decorations on the faces of the projecting walls on each side.(AA) 27 The inner court(AB) also had a gate facing south, and he measured from this gate to the outer gate on the south side; it was a hundred cubits.(AC)

The Gates to the Inner Court

28 Then he brought me into the inner court through the south gate, and he measured the south gate; it had the same measurements(AD) as the others. 29 Its alcoves,(AE) its projecting walls and its portico had the same measurements as the others. The gateway and its portico had openings all around. It was fifty cubits long and twenty-five cubits wide.(AF) 30 (The porticoes(AG) of the gateways around the inner court were twenty-five cubits wide and five cubits deep.) 31 Its portico(AH) faced the outer court; palm trees decorated its jambs, and eight steps led up to it.(AI)

32 Then he brought me to the inner court on the east side, and he measured the gateway; it had the same measurements(AJ) as the others. 33 Its alcoves,(AK) its projecting walls and its portico had the same measurements as the others. The gateway and its portico had openings all around. It was fifty cubits long and twenty-five cubits wide. 34 Its portico(AL) faced the outer court; palm trees decorated the jambs on either side, and eight steps led up to it.

35 Then he brought me to the north gate(AM) and measured it. It had the same measurements(AN) as the others, 36 as did its alcoves,(AO) its projecting walls and its portico, and it had openings all around. It was fifty cubits long and twenty-five cubits wide. 37 Its portico[m](AP) faced the outer court; palm trees decorated the jambs on either side, and eight steps led up to it.(AQ)

The Rooms for Preparing Sacrifices

38 A room with a doorway was by the portico in each of the inner gateways, where the burnt offerings(AR) were washed. 39 In the portico of the gateway were two tables on each side, on which the burnt offerings,(AS) sin offerings[n](AT) and guilt offerings(AU) were slaughtered.(AV) 40 By the outside wall of the portico of the gateway, near the steps at the entrance of the north gateway were two tables, and on the other side of the steps were two tables. 41 So there were four tables on one side of the gateway and four on the other—eight tables in all—on which the sacrifices were slaughtered. 42 There were also four tables of dressed stone(AW) for the burnt offerings, each a cubit and a half long, a cubit and a half wide and a cubit high.[o] On them were placed the utensils for slaughtering the burnt offerings and the other sacrifices.(AX) 43 And double-pronged hooks, each a handbreadth[p] long, were attached to the wall all around. The tables were for the flesh of the offerings.

The Rooms for the Priests

44 Outside the inner gate, within the inner court, were two rooms, one[q] at the side of the north gate and facing south, and another at the side of the south[r] gate and facing north. 45 He said to me, “The room facing south is for the priests who guard the temple,(AY) 46 and the room facing north(AZ) is for the priests who guard the altar.(BA) These are the sons of Zadok,(BB) who are the only Levites who may draw near to the Lord to minister before him.(BC)

47 Then he measured the court: It was square—a hundred cubits long and a hundred cubits wide. And the altar was in front of the temple.(BD)

The New Temple

48 He brought me to the portico of the temple(BE) and measured the jambs of the portico; they were five cubits wide on either side. The width of the entrance was fourteen cubits[s] and its projecting walls were[t] three cubits[u] wide on either side. 49 The portico(BF) was twenty cubits[v] wide, and twelve[w] cubits[x] from front to back. It was reached by a flight of stairs,[y] and there were pillars(BG) on each side of the jambs.

Footnotes

  1. Ezekiel 40:5 That is, about 11 feet or about 3.2 meters; also in verse 12. The long cubit of about 21 inches or about 53 centimeters is the basic unit of measurement of length throughout chapters 40–48.
  2. Ezekiel 40:7 That is, about 8 3/4 feet or about 2.7 meters; also in verse 48
  3. Ezekiel 40:9 Many Hebrew manuscripts, Septuagint, Vulgate and Syriac; most Hebrew manuscripts gateway facing the temple; it was one rod deep. Then he measured the portico of the gateway; it
  4. Ezekiel 40:9 That is, about 14 feet or about 4.2 meters
  5. Ezekiel 40:9 That is, about 3 1/2 feet or about 1 meter
  6. Ezekiel 40:11 That is, about 18 feet wide and 23 feet long or about 5.3 meters wide and 6.9 meters long
  7. Ezekiel 40:13 That is, about 44 feet or about 13 meters; also in verses 21, 25, 29, 30, 33 and 36
  8. Ezekiel 40:14 That is, about 105 feet or about 32 meters
  9. Ezekiel 40:14 Septuagint; Hebrew projecting wall
  10. Ezekiel 40:14 The meaning of the Hebrew for this verse is uncertain.
  11. Ezekiel 40:15 That is, about 88 feet or about 27 meters; also in verses 21, 25, 29, 33 and 36
  12. Ezekiel 40:19 That is, about 175 feet or about 53 meters; also in verses 23, 27 and 47
  13. Ezekiel 40:37 Septuagint (see also verses 31 and 34); Hebrew jambs
  14. Ezekiel 40:39 Or purification offerings
  15. Ezekiel 40:42 That is, about 2 2/3 feet long and wide and 21 inches high or about 80 centimeters long and wide and 53 centimeters high
  16. Ezekiel 40:43 That is, about 3 1/2 inches or about 9 centimeters
  17. Ezekiel 40:44 Septuagint; Hebrew were rooms for singers, which were
  18. Ezekiel 40:44 Septuagint; Hebrew east
  19. Ezekiel 40:48 That is, about 25 feet or about 7.4 meters
  20. Ezekiel 40:48 Septuagint; Hebrew entrance was
  21. Ezekiel 40:48 That is, about 5 1/4 feet or about 1.6 meters
  22. Ezekiel 40:49 That is, about 35 feet or about 11 meters
  23. Ezekiel 40:49 Septuagint; Hebrew eleven
  24. Ezekiel 40:49 That is, about 21 feet or about 6.4 meters
  25. Ezekiel 40:49 Hebrew; Septuagint Ten steps led up to it

Division of the Land

48 “Now (A)these are the names of the tribes: from the northern extremity, [a]beside the way of Hethlon to [b]Lebo-hamath, as far as Hazar-enan at the border of Damascus, toward the north [c]beside Hamath, [d]running from east to west, (B)Dan, one portion. Beside the border of Dan, from the east side to the west side, (C)Asher, one portion. Beside the border of Asher, from the east side to the west side, (D)Naphtali, one portion. Beside the border of Naphtali, from the east side to the west side, (E)Manasseh, one portion. Beside the border of Manasseh, from the east side to the west side, (F)Ephraim, one portion. Beside the border of Ephraim, from the east side to the west side, (G)Reuben, one portion. Beside the border of Reuben, from the east side to the west side, (H)Judah, one portion.

“And beside the border of Judah, from the east side to the west side, shall be the [e]allotment which you shall [f]set apart, twenty-five thousand [g]cubits in width, and in length like one of the portions, from the east side to the west side; and the (I)sanctuary shall be in the middle of it. The allotment that you shall set apart to the Lord shall be twenty-five thousand cubits in length and ten thousand in width.

Portion for the Priests

10 The holy allotment shall be for these, namely for the (J)priests, toward the north twenty-five thousand cubits in length, toward the west ten thousand in width, toward the east ten thousand in width, and toward the south twenty-five thousand in length; and the sanctuary of the Lord shall be in its midst. 11 It shall be for the priests who are sanctified of the (K)sons of Zadok, who have [h]taken the responsibility I gave them, who did not go astray when the sons of Israel went astray as the (L)Levites went astray. 12 It shall be an allotment to them from the allotment of the land, a most holy reserve, by the border of the Levites. 13 And alongside the border of the priests, the Levites shall have twenty-five thousand cubits in length and ten thousand in width. The entire length shall be twenty-five thousand cubits and the width ten thousand. 14 Moreover, they (M)shall not sell or exchange any of it, or allow this [i]choice portion of land to pass to others; for it is holy to the Lord.

15 “The remainder, five thousand cubits in width and twenty-five thousand [j]in length, shall be for (N)common use for the city, for homes and for [k]open spaces; and the city shall be in its midst. 16 And these shall be its measurements: the north side, 4,500 cubits, the south side (O)4,500 cubits, the east side 4,500 cubits, and the west side, 4,500 cubits. 17 The city shall have [l]open spaces: on the north 250 cubits, on the south 250 cubits, on the east 250 cubits, and on the west 250 cubits. 18 The remainder of the length alongside the holy allotment shall be ten thousand cubits toward the east and ten thousand toward the west; and it shall be [m]alongside the holy allotment. And its produce shall be food for the workers of the city. 19 And the workers of the city, out of all the tribes of Israel, shall cultivate it. 20 The whole allotment shall be twenty-five thousand by twenty-five thousand cubits; you shall [n]set apart the holy allotment, a [o]square, with the [p]property of the city.

Portion for the Prince

21 “The (P)remainder shall be for the prince, on the one side and on the other of the holy allotment and of the [q]property of the city; in front of the twenty-five thousand cubits of the allotment toward the east border and westward in front of the twenty-five thousand toward the west border, alongside the portions, it shall be for the prince. And the holy allotment and the sanctuary of the house shall be in the middle of it. 22 And exclusive of the [r]property of the Levites and the [s]property of the city, which are in the middle of that which belongs to the prince, everything between the border of Judah and the border of Benjamin shall belong to the prince.

Portion for Other Tribes

23 “As for the rest of the tribes: from the east side to the west side, (Q)Benjamin, one portion. 24 Beside the border of Benjamin, from the east side to the west side, (R)Simeon, one portion. 25 Beside the border of Simeon, from the east side to the west side, (S)Issachar, one portion. 26 Beside the border of Issachar, from the east side to the west side, (T)Zebulun, one portion. 27 Beside the border of Zebulun, from the east side to the west side, (U)Gad, one portion. 28 And beside the border of Gad, at the south side toward the south, the border shall be from (V)Tamar to the waters of Meribath-kadesh, to the brook of Egypt, to the (W)Great Sea. 29 This is the (X)land which you shall divide by lot to the tribes of Israel for an inheritance, and these are their several portions,” declares the Lord [t]God.

The City Gates

30 “Now these are the exits of the city: on the (Y)north side, 4,500 cubits by measurement, 31 [u]shall be the gates of the city, [v](Z)named for the tribes of Israel, three gates toward the north: the gate of Reuben, one; the gate of Judah, one; and the gate of Levi, one. 32 On the east side, 4,500 cubits, [w]shall be three gates: the gate of Joseph, one; the gate of Benjamin, one; and the gate of Dan, one. 33 On the south side, 4,500 cubits by measurement, [x]shall be three gates: the gate of Simeon, one; the gate of Issachar, one; and the gate of Zebulun, one. 34 On the west side, 4,500 cubits, shall be three gates: the gate of Gad, one; the gate of Asher, one; and the gate of Naphtali, one. 35 The city shall be eighteen thousand cubits all around; and the (AA)name of the city from that day shall be, ‘[y]The (AB)Lord is there.’”

Footnotes

  1. Ezekiel 48:1 Lit at the hand of
  2. Ezekiel 48:1 Or the entrance of Hamath
  3. Ezekiel 48:1 Lit at the hand of
  4. Ezekiel 48:1 Lit and there shall be to it an east and the west side
  5. Ezekiel 48:8 Or contribution, and so throughout the ch
  6. Ezekiel 48:8 Lit raise
  7. Ezekiel 48:8 Each of these cubits equals about 21 in. or 53 cm
  8. Ezekiel 48:11 Lit kept the duty to Me
  9. Ezekiel 48:14 Lit first; or first fruits
  10. Ezekiel 48:15 Lit in front
  11. Ezekiel 48:15 Or pasture land
  12. Ezekiel 48:17 Or pasture land
  13. Ezekiel 48:18 Or exactly as
  14. Ezekiel 48:20 Lit raise
  15. Ezekiel 48:20 Lit fourth
  16. Ezekiel 48:20 Or possession
  17. Ezekiel 48:21 Or possession
  18. Ezekiel 48:22 Or possession
  19. Ezekiel 48:22 Or possession
  20. Ezekiel 48:29 Heb YHWH, usually rendered Lord
  21. Ezekiel 48:31 Lit and the gates
  22. Ezekiel 48:31 Lit according to the names of
  23. Ezekiel 48:32 Lit and three gates
  24. Ezekiel 48:33 Lit and three gates
  25. Ezekiel 48:35 Heb YHWH-shammah

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