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Water from the Temple

47 Then he brought me back to the entrance of the temple. I noticed[a] that water was flowing from under the threshold of the temple toward the east (for the temple faced east). The water was flowing down from under the right side of the temple, from south of the altar. He led me out by way of the north gate and brought me around the outside of the outer gate that faces toward the east; I noticed[b] that the water was trickling out from the south side.

When the man went out toward the east with a measuring line in his hand, he measured 1,750 feet,[c] and then he led me through water, which was ankle deep. Again he measured 1,750 feet and led me through the water, which was now knee deep. Once more he measured 1,750 feet and led me through the water, which was waist deep. Again he measured 1,750 feet, and it was a river 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, “Son of man, have you seen this?”

Then he led me back to the bank of the river. When I had returned, I noticed[d] a vast number of trees on the banks of the river, on both sides. He said to me, “These waters go out toward the eastern region and flow down into the rift valley; when they enter the Dead Sea,[e] where the sea is stagnant,[f] the waters become fresh.[g] Every living creature that swarms where the river[h] flows will live; there will be many fish, for these waters flow there. It will become fresh,[i] and everything will live where the river flows. 10 Fishermen will stand beside it; from En Gedi to En Eglaim they will spread nets. They will catch many kinds of fish, like the fish of the Great Sea.[j] 11 But its swamps and its marshes will not become fresh; they will remain salty. 12 On both sides of the river’s banks, every kind of tree will grow for food. Their leaves will not wither nor will their fruit fail, but they will bear fruit every month, because their water source flows from the sanctuary. Their fruit will be for food and their leaves for healing.”[k]

Boundaries for the Land

13 This is what the Sovereign Lord says: “Here[l] are the borders[m] you will observe as you allot the land to the twelve tribes of Israel. (Joseph will have two portions.)[n] 14 You must divide it equally just as I vowed to give it to your forefathers;[o] this land will be assigned as your inheritance.[p]

15 “This will be the border of the land:[q] On the north side, from the Great Sea by way of Hethlon to the entrance of Zedad; 16 Hamath, Berothah, Sibraim, which is between the border of Damascus and the border of Hamath, as far as Hazer Hattikon, which is on the border of Hauran. 17 The border will run from the sea to Hazar Enan, at the border of Damascus, and on the north is the border of Hamath. This is the north side. 18 On the east side, between Hauran and Damascus, and between Gilead and the land of Israel, will be the Jordan. You will measure from the border to the eastern sea. This is the east side. 19 On the south side it will run from Tamar to the waters of Meribah Kadesh, the river,[r] to the Great Sea. This is the south side. 20 On the west side the Great Sea will be the boundary to a point opposite Lebo Hamath. This is the west side.

21 “This is how you will divide this land for yourselves among the tribes of Israel. 22 You must allot it as an inheritance among yourselves and for the resident foreigners who live among you, who have fathered sons among you. You must treat them as native-born among the people of Israel; they will be allotted an inheritance with you among the tribes of Israel.[s] 23 In whatever tribe the resident foreigner lives, there you will give him his inheritance,” declares the Sovereign Lord.

Footnotes

  1. Ezekiel 47:1 tn The word הִנֵּה (hinneh, traditionally “behold”) indicates becoming aware of something and has been translated here as a verb.
  2. Ezekiel 47:2 tn The word הִנֵּה (hinneh, traditionally “behold”) indicates becoming aware of something and has been translated here as a verb.
  3. Ezekiel 47:3 tn Heb “1,000 cubits” (i.e., 525 meters); this phrase occurs three times in the next two verses.
  4. Ezekiel 47:7 tn The word הִנֵּה (hinneh, traditionally “behold”) indicates becoming aware of something and has been translated here as a verb.
  5. Ezekiel 47:8 tn Heb “the sea,” referring to the Dead Sea. This has been specified in the translation for clarity.
  6. Ezekiel 47:8 tn Heb “to the sea, those which are brought out.” The reading makes no sense. The text is best emended to read “filthy” (i.e., stagnant). See L. C. Allen, Ezekiel (WBC), 2:273.
  7. Ezekiel 47:8 tn Heb “the waters become healed.”
  8. Ezekiel 47:9 tn Heb “two rivers,” perhaps under the influence of Zech 14:8. The translation follows the LXX and other ancient versions in reading the singular, which is demanded by the context (see vv. 5-7, 9b, 12).
  9. Ezekiel 47:9 tn Heb “will be healed.”
  10. Ezekiel 47:10 sn The Great Sea refers to the Mediterranean Sea (also in vv. 15, 19, 20).
  11. Ezekiel 47:12 sn See Rev 22:1-2.
  12. Ezekiel 47:13 tc This translation follows the reading זֶה (zeh) instead of גֵּה (geh), a nonexistent word, as supported by the LXX.
  13. Ezekiel 47:13 tn Or “territory”; see D. I. Block, Ezekiel (NICOT), 2:715.
  14. Ezekiel 47:13 tc The grammar is awkward, though the presence of these words is supported by the versions. L. C. Allen (Ezekiel [WBC], 2:274) suggests that it is an explanatory gloss.sn One portion for Ephraim, the other for Manasseh (Gen 48:17-20).
  15. Ezekiel 47:14 sn Gen 15:9-21.
  16. Ezekiel 47:14 tn Heb “will fall to you as an inheritance.”
  17. Ezekiel 47:15 sn The measurements resemble those in Num 34:1-2.
  18. Ezekiel 47:19 tn Or “valley.” The syntax is difficult. Some translate “to the river,” others “from the river”; in either case the preposition is supplied for the sake of English.
  19. Ezekiel 47:22 sn A similar attitude toward non-Israelites is found in Isa 56:3-8. There the term is נֵכָר (nekar, “foreigner”) and specifically the descendant (בֶּן, ben) of a nekar who becomes a follower of the Lord. Likewise the resident foreigner גֵּר (ger) in this verse is one who has given allegiance to the Lord (see notes at Exod 12:19 and Deut 29:11). What is new for the resident foreigner (גֵּר, ger) in this prophecy is having an inheritance in Israel. Previously the resident foreigner could own a house but not land.

River of the Temple, Division of the Land and Its Boundaries

47 And he brought me back to the doorway of the temple and, look! There was water coming out from under the threshold of the temple eastward, because the face of the temple was eastwards; and the water was coming down from under the south side of the temple, from south of the altar. And he brought me out by the way of the north gate and he led me around by the way leading to the outside of the outer gate[a] by way of the gate facing east, and look, there was water trickling from the south side. As the man went eastward a measuring line was in his hand, and he measured a thousand cubits.[b] And he led me through on into the water; it was ankle deep.[c] And he measured a thousand cubits,[d] and he brought me over into the waters and it was knee deep.[e] And he measured a thousand cubits,[f] and he brought me over into the waters and it was waist deep.[g] And he measured a thousand cubits,[h] and it became a stream that I was not able to cross, because the water rose, waters a person could swim in,[i] and became a stream that could not be crossed. And he asked me, “Son of man,[j] did you see this?” And he made me go, and he brought me back along the bank of the stream.

When I returned,[k] then look! On the bank of the river were many trees on both sides.[l] And he said to me, “These waters are going out to the eastern region, and they go down to the Jordan Valley,[m] and they come to the sea[n] and flow into the sea where they issue out,[o] and the waters in the sea will be healed.[p] And then every living creature with which it teems,[q] to every place the waters come[r] it will live; and very many fish will live because these waters came there, and so the water will be healed[s] and everything will be alive everywhere that[t] the stream will come.[u] 10 And then fishers[v] from En Gedi and on up to En Eglaim will stand beside it, a sea-girt drying yard for nets; their fish for the dragnets will be of every kind,[w] like the fish of the great sea,[x] and very many. 11 But its marshes and its swamps will not be cured, for they were given for salt. 12 And along the stream will go up on its banks from both sides[y] every tree producing food;[z] its leaf will not wither and it will not cease producing its fruit. Every month[aa] it will bear early fruit, for its waters are going out from the sanctuary, and its fruit will be as food, and its leaf for healing.”

13 Thus says the Lord Yahweh: “This is the boundary by which you shall distribute the land for the twelve[ab] tribes of Israel: Two shares shall be for Joseph. 14 And you must take possession of it, each one a share like his brother, of this land which I swore[ac] to give it to your fathers, and so this land shall fall to you as an inheritance. 15 And[ad] this is the boundary of the land: On the north side,[ae] from the great sea by the way of Hethlon until you come to Zedad,[af] 16 Hamath[ag] to Berothath to Sibraim, which is[ah] between the boundary of Damascus and the boundary of Hamath, on to Hazer Hatticon, which is on the boundary of Hauran. 17 And so the boundary will be from the sea[ai] to Hazar Enan at the boundary of Damascus northwards and the boundary of Hamath to the north, and this is the boundary on the side of the north. 18 And the eastern boundary[aj] will be between Hauran and Damascus, and from between Gilead and the land of Israel along the Jordan River from[ak] the boundary on the eastern sea to Tamar. And[al] this is the border on the east.[am] 19 And on the south side the border[an] will run from Tamar up to the waters of Meribot Kadesh and along the wadi[ao] to the Great Sea.[ap] And this is the boundary to the south.[aq] 20 And on the west side[ar] the Great Sea[as] shall be the boundary up to opposite Lebo-Hamath. This is the western boundary.[at]

21 You shall divide this land for yourselves according to the tribes of Israel. 22 And then you shall allocate it as an inheritance for yourselves and for the aliens dwelling as aliens in the midst of you who have children in the midst of you, and so they shall be to you just like full citizens among the Israelites.[au] With you they shall be allotted with an inheritance in the midst of the tribes of Israel. 23 And then in the tribe in which an alien who is with you dwells, there you shall give his inheritance,” declares[av] the Lord Yahweh.

Footnotes

  1. Ezekiel 47:2 Literally “way of the outside to the gate of the outside”
  2. Ezekiel 47:3 Literally “in the cubit”; about 1,750 feet
  3. Ezekiel 47:3 Literally “water of ankles”
  4. Ezekiel 47:4 About 1,750 feet
  5. Ezekiel 47:4 Literally “water of knees”
  6. Ezekiel 47:4 About 1,750 feet
  7. Ezekiel 47:4 Literally “water of waist”
  8. Ezekiel 47:5 About 1,750 feet
  9. Ezekiel 47:5 Literally “water of swimming”
  10. Ezekiel 47:6 Or “mortal,” or “son of humankind”
  11. Ezekiel 47:7 Literally “At my returning”
  12. Ezekiel 47:7 Literally “from this and from this”
  13. Ezekiel 47:8 Literally “Arabah”
  14. Ezekiel 47:8 Clearly refers to the Dead Sea
  15. Ezekiel 47:8 Literally “being brought out/are issued out”
  16. Ezekiel 47:8 Or “made fresh”
  17. Ezekiel 47:9 Or “swarms”
  18. Ezekiel 47:9 Literally “to all of which they come there the water”
  19. Ezekiel 47:9 Or “fresh”
  20. Ezekiel 47:9 Literally “all that”
  21. Ezekiel 47:9 Literally “that it will come there the stream”
  22. Ezekiel 47:10 Or “fishermen”
  23. Ezekiel 47:10 Literally “to the”
  24. Ezekiel 47:10 That is, the Mediterranean
  25. Ezekiel 47:12 Literally “from this and from this”
  26. Ezekiel 47:12 Literally “of food”
  27. Ezekiel 47:12 Literally “for its months”
  28. Ezekiel 47:13 Literally “two ten”
  29. Ezekiel 47:14 Literally “I raised my hand”
  30. Ezekiel 47:15 Or “Bow”
  31. Ezekiel 47:15 Literally “to the side of the north”
  32. Ezekiel 47:15 Literally “to the arriving at Zedad”
  33. Ezekiel 47:16 Or “Lebo-Hamath to Zeded” (cf. NRSV, NJPS)
  34. Ezekiel 47:16 Or “are”
  35. Ezekiel 47:17 That is, the Mediterranean
  36. Ezekiel 47:18 Literally “and the side of the east”
  37. Ezekiel 47:18 Or “to”
  38. Ezekiel 47:18 Or “Now”
  39. Ezekiel 47:18 Literally “and this is the side of the east”
  40. Ezekiel 47:19 Literally “and the side of the south to south”
  41. Ezekiel 47:19 That is, the Wadi of Egypt
  42. Ezekiel 47:19 That is, the Mediterranean
  43. Ezekiel 47:19 Literally “and this is the side of south to the south”
  44. Ezekiel 47:20 Literally “and the side of the west”
  45. Ezekiel 47:20 That is, the Mediterranean
  46. Ezekiel 47:20 Literally “this is the side of the west”
  47. Ezekiel 47:22 Literally “sons/children of Israel”
  48. Ezekiel 47:23 Literally “declaration of”