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The River of Yahweh’s House

47 Then he brought me back to the (A)door of the house; and behold, (B)water was flowing from under the threshold of the house toward the east, for the house faced east. And the water was flowing down from under, from the right side of the house, from south of the altar. He brought me out by way of the north gate and led me around by way of the outside to the outer gate by way of the gate that faces east. And behold, water was trickling from the south side.

When the man went out toward the east with a line in his hand, he measured [a]one thousand cubits, and he had me pass through the water, water reaching the ankles. Again he measured one thousand and had me pass through the water, water reaching the knees. Again he measured one thousand and had me pass through the water, water reaching the loins. Again he measured one thousand; and it was a river that I could not pass through, for the water had become high—enough water to swim in, a (C)river that could not be passed through. And he said to me, “Son of man, have you (D)seen this?” Then he led and returned me back to the bank of the river. When I had returned, now behold, on the bank of the river there were very many (E)trees on the one side and on the other. Then he said to me, “These waters go out toward the eastern region and go down into the (F)Arabah; then they go toward the sea, being made to flow out to the (G)sea, and the waters of the sea [b]will be healed. And it will be that every living creature, which swarms in every place where the [c]river goes, will live. And there will be very many fish, for these waters go there and the other waters [d]are healed; so (H)everything will live where the river goes. 10 And it will be that (I)fishermen will stand beside it; from (J)Engedi to Eneglaim there will be a place for the (K)spreading of nets. Their fish will be according to their kinds, like the fish of the (L)Great Sea, (M)very many. 11 But its marshes and swamps will not be [e]healed; they will be [f]left for (N)salt. 12 (O)And by the river on its bank, on one side and on the other, will grow all kinds of (P)trees for food. Their (Q)leaves will not wither, and their fruit will not [g]fail. They will bear every month because their water flows out from the sanctuary, and their fruit will be for food and their (R)leaves for healing.”

Apportionment of the Land

13 Thus says Lord Yahweh, “This shall be the (S)boundary by which you shall apportion the land for an inheritance among the twelve tribes of Israel; Joseph shall have two (T)portions. 14 You shall then apportion it for an inheritance, each one [h]equally with the other; for I [i](U)swore to give it to your fathers, and this land shall fall to you [j]as an inheritance.

15 “This shall be the boundary of the land: on the (V)north side, from the Great Sea by the way of Hethlon, to the entrance of [k](W)Zedad; 16 [l](X)Hamath, Berothah, Sibraim, which is between the border of (Y)Damascus and the border of Hamath; Hazer-hatticon, which is by the border of Hauran. 17 And the boundary shall be from the sea to (Z)Hazar-enan at the border of Damascus, and on the north toward the north is the border of Hamath. This is the north side.

18 “And the (AA)east side, from between Hauran, Damascus, (AB)Gilead, and the land of Israel, shall be the (AC)Jordan; from the north border to the eastern sea you shall measure. This is the east side.

19 “And the (AD)south side toward the south shall extend from (AE)Tamar as far as the waters of (AF)Meribath-kadesh, to the (AG)brook of Egypt and to the (AH)Great Sea. This is the south side toward the south.

20 “And the (AI)west side shall be the Great Sea, from the south border to a point opposite [m](AJ)Lebo-hamath. This is the west side.

21 “So you shall divide this land among yourselves according to the tribes of Israel. 22 And it will be that you shall divide it by (AK)lot for an inheritance among yourselves and among the (AL)sojourners who sojourn in your midst, who bring forth sons in your midst. And they shall be to you as the native-born among the sons of Israel. They shall be allotted an (AM)inheritance with you among the tribes of Israel. 23 And it will be that in the tribe with which the sojourner sojourns, there you shall give him his inheritance,” declares Lord Yahweh.

Footnotes

  1. Ezekiel 47:3 Approx. 500 yd. or 450 m
  2. Ezekiel 47:8 Fresh
  3. Ezekiel 47:9 Lit two rivers
  4. Ezekiel 47:9 Fresh
  5. Ezekiel 47:11 Fresh
  6. Ezekiel 47:11 Lit given
  7. Ezekiel 47:12 Lit come to an end
  8. Ezekiel 47:14 Lit like his brother
  9. Ezekiel 47:14 Lit lifted up My hand
  10. Ezekiel 47:14 Lit in
  11. Ezekiel 47:15 Or Hamath
  12. Ezekiel 47:16 Or Zedad
  13. Ezekiel 47:20 Or the entrance of Hamath

Water Flowing from the Temple

47 Then he brought me back to the entrance of the temple; there water was flowing from below the entryway of the temple toward the east (for the temple faced east), and the water was flowing down from below the south side of the temple, south of the altar.(A) Then he brought me out by way of the north gate and led me around on the outside to the outer gate that faces toward the east,[a] and the water was trickling out on the south side.(B)

Going on eastward with a cord in his hand, the man measured one thousand cubits and then led me through the water, and it was ankle-deep.(C) Again he measured one thousand and led me through the water, and it was knee-deep. Again he measured one thousand and led me through the water, and it was up to the waist. Again he measured one thousand, and it was a river that I could not cross, for the water had risen; it was deep enough to swim in, a river that could not be crossed. He said to me, “Mortal, have you seen this?”

Then he led me back along the bank of the river.(D) As I came back, I saw on the bank of the river a great many trees on the one side and on the other.(E) He said to me, “This water flows toward the eastern region and goes down into the Arabah, and when it enters the sea, the sea of stagnant waters, the water will become fresh.(F) Wherever the river goes,[b] every living creature that swarms will live, and there will be very many fish once these waters reach there. It will become fresh, and everything will live where the river goes. 10 People will stand fishing beside the sea[c] from En-gedi to En-eglaim; it will be a place for the spreading of nets; its fish will be of a great many kinds, like the fish of the Great Sea.(G) 11 But its swamps and marshes will not become fresh; they are to be left for salt. 12 On the banks, on both sides of the river, there will grow all kinds of trees for food. Their leaves will not wither nor their fruit fail, but they will bear fresh fruit every month, because the water for them flows from the sanctuary. Their fruit will be for food and their leaves for healing.”(H)

The New Boundaries of the Land

13 Thus says the Lord God: These are the boundaries by which you shall divide the land for inheritance among the twelve tribes of Israel. Joseph shall have two portions.(I) 14 You shall divide it equally; I swore to give it to your ancestors, and this land shall fall to you as your inheritance.(J)

15 This shall be the boundary of the land: On the north side, from the Great Sea by way of Hethlon to Lebo-hamath and on to Zedad,[d](K) 16 Berothah, Sibraim (which lies between the border of Damascus and the border of Hamath), as far as Hazer-hatticon, which is on the border of Hauran.(L) 17 So the boundary shall run from the sea to Hazar-enon, which is north of the border of Damascus, with the border of Hamath to the north.[e] This shall be the north side.(M)

18 On the east side, between Hauran and Damascus; along the Jordan between Gilead and the land of Israel; to the eastern sea and as far as Tamar.[f] This shall be the east side.(N)

19 On the south side, it shall run from Tamar as far as the waters of Meribath-kadesh, from there along the Wadi of Egypt[g] to the Great Sea. This shall be the south side.(O)

20 On the west side, the Great Sea shall be the boundary to a point opposite Lebo-hamath. This shall be the west side.(P)

21 So you shall divide this land among you according to the tribes of Israel. 22 You shall allot it as an inheritance for yourselves and for the aliens who reside among you and have fathered children among you. They shall be to you as native-born of Israel; with you they shall be allotted an inheritance among the tribes of Israel.(Q) 23 In whatever tribe aliens reside, there you shall assign them their inheritance, says the Lord God.

Footnotes

  1. 47.2 Meaning of Heb uncertain
  2. 47.9 Gk Syr Vg Tg: Heb the two rivers go
  3. 47.10 Heb it
  4. 47.15 Gk: Heb Lebo-zedad, Hamath
  5. 47.17 Meaning of Heb uncertain
  6. 47.18 Compare Syr: Heb you shall measure
  7. 47.19 Heb lacks of Egypt