Ezekiel 36-48

Christian Standard Bible

Restoration of Israel’s Mountains

36 “Son of man, prophesy to the mountains of Israel and say, ‘Mountains of Israel, hear the word of the Lord.^{(A) 2} This is what the Lord God says: Because the enemy has said about you, “Aha!^(B) The ancient heights^(C) have become our possession,”’ ³ therefore, prophesy and say, ‘This is what the Lord God says: Because they have made you desolate and have trampled you from every side, so that you became a possession for the rest of the nations and an object of people’s gossip and slander,^{(D) 4} therefore, mountains of Israel, hear the word of the Lord God. This is what the Lord God says to the mountains and hills, to the ravines and valleys, to the desolate ruins and abandoned cities, which have become plunder^(E) and a mockery to the rest of the nations all around.

⁵ “‘This is what the Lord God says: Certainly in my burning zeal I speak against the rest of the nations and all of Edom,^(F) who took^[a] my land as their own possession with wholehearted rejoicing and utter contempt^(G) so that its pastureland became^[b] plunder. ⁶ Therefore, prophesy concerning Israel’s land, and say to the mountains and hills, to the ravines and valleys: This is what the Lord God says: Look, I speak in my burning zeal^(H) because you have endured the insults of the nations. ⁷ Therefore, this is what the Lord God says: I swear^[c] that the nations all around you will endure their own insults.^(I)

⁸ “‘You, mountains of Israel, will produce your branches^(J) and bear your fruit for my people Israel, since their arrival is near. ⁹ Look! I am on your side; I will turn toward you,^(K) and you will be tilled and sown. ¹⁰ I will fill you with people, with the whole house of Israel in its entirety.^(L) The cities will be inhabited and the ruins rebuilt. ¹¹ I will fill you with people and animals,^(M) and they will increase and be fruitful. I will make you inhabited as you once were and make you better off than you were before. Then you will know that I am the Lord.^{(N) 12} I will cause people, my people Israel, to walk on you; they will possess you,^(O) and you will be their inheritance. You will no longer deprive them of their children.

¹³ “‘This is what the Lord God says: Because some are saying to you, “You devour people and deprive your nation of children,”^{(P) 14} therefore, you will no longer devour people and deprive your nation of children.^[d] This is the declaration of the Lord God. ¹⁵ I will no longer allow the insults of the nations to be heard against you, and you will not have to endure the reproach of the peoples anymore;^(Q) you will no longer cause your nation to stumble.^[e] This is the declaration of the Lord God.’”

Restoration of Israel’s People

¹⁶ The word of the Lord came to me: ¹⁷ “Son of man, while the house of Israel lived in their land, they defiled it with their conduct and actions.^(R) Their behavior before me was like menstrual impurity.^{(S) 18} So I poured out my wrath^(T) on them because of the blood they had shed on the land, and because they had defiled it with their idols. ¹⁹ I dispersed them among the nations, and they were scattered among the countries.^(U) I judged them according to their conduct and actions.^{(V) 20} When they came to the nations where they went, they profaned my holy name,^(W) because it was said about them, ‘These are the people of the Lord, yet they had to leave his land in exile.’ ²¹ Then I had concern for my holy name,^(X) which the house of Israel profaned among the nations where they went.

²² “Therefore, say to the house of Israel, ‘This is what the Lord God says: It is not for your sake that I will act,^(Y) house of Israel, but for my holy name,^(Z) which you profaned among the nations where you went. ²³ I will honor the holiness of my great name, which has been profaned among the nations—the name you have profaned among them. The nations will know that I am the Lord—this is the declaration of the Lord God—when I demonstrate my holiness through you in their sight.^(AA)

²⁴ “‘For I will take you from the nations and gather you from all the countries, and will bring you into your own land.^{(AB) 25} I will also sprinkle clean water on you, and you will be clean.^(AC) I will cleanse you from all your impurities and all your idols.^{(AD) 26} I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit within you;^(AE) I will remove your heart of stone^[f] and give you a heart of flesh.^{(AF) 27} I will place my Spirit within you^(AG) and cause you to follow my statutes and carefully observe my ordinances.^{(AH) 28} You will live in the land that I gave your ancestors;^(AI) you will be my people, and I will be your God.^{(AJ) 29} I will save you from all your uncleanness. I will summon the grain and make it plentiful, and I will not bring famine on you.^{(AK) 30} I will also make the fruit of the trees and the produce of the field plentiful, so that you will no longer experience reproach among the nations on account of famine.

³¹ “‘You will remember your evil ways and your deeds that were not good,^(AL) and you will loathe yourselves for your iniquities and detestable practices.^{(AM) 32} It is not for your sake that I will act^(AN)—this is the declaration of the Lord God—let this be known to you. Be ashamed and humiliated because of your ways, house of Israel!

³³ “‘This is what the Lord God says: On the day I cleanse you from all your iniquities, I will cause the cities to be inhabited, and the ruins will be rebuilt.^{(AO) 34} The desolate land will be cultivated instead of lying desolate in the sight of everyone who passes by. ³⁵ They will say, “This land that was desolate has become like the garden of Eden.^(AP) The cities that were once ruined, desolate, and demolished are now fortified and inhabited.” ³⁶ Then the nations that remain around you will know that I, the Lord, have rebuilt what was demolished and have replanted what was desolate. I, the Lord, have spoken and I will do it.^(AQ)

³⁷ “‘This is what the Lord God says: I will respond to the house of Israel and do this for them:^(AR) I will multiply them in number like a flock.^{[g] 38} So the ruined cities will be filled with a flock of people, just as Jerusalem^(AS) is filled with a flock of sheep for sacrifice^[h] during its appointed festivals. Then they will know that I am the Lord.’”

The Valley of Dry Bones

37 The hand of the Lord was on me,^(AT) and he brought me out by his Spirit^(AU) and set me down in the middle of the valley; it was full of bones. ² He led me all around them. There were a great many of them on the surface of the valley, and they were very dry. ³ Then he said to me, “Son of man, can these bones live?”

I replied, “Lord God, only you know.”^(AV)

⁴ He said to me, “Prophesy concerning these bones and say to them: Dry bones, hear the word of the Lord! ⁵ This is what the Lord God says to these bones: I will cause breath to enter you, and you will live.^{(AW) 6} I will put tendons on you, make flesh grow on you, and cover you with skin. I will put breath in you so that you come to life. Then you will know that I am the Lord.”^(AX)

⁷ So I prophesied as I had been commanded. While I was prophesying, there was a noise, a rattling sound, and the bones came together, bone to bone. ⁸ As I looked, tendons appeared on them, flesh grew, and skin covered them, but there was no breath in them. ⁹ He said to me, “Prophesy to the breath,^[i] prophesy, son of man. Say to it: This is what the Lord God says: Breath, come from the four winds and breathe into these slain so that they may live!” ^{(AY) 10} So I prophesied as he commanded me; the breath entered them,^(AZ) and they came to life and stood on their feet, a vast army.

¹¹ Then he said to me, “Son of man, these bones are the whole house of Israel.^(BA) Look how they say, ‘Our bones are dried up,^(BB) and our hope has perished;^(BC) we are cut off.’^{(BD) 12} Therefore, prophesy and say to them, ‘This is what the Lord God says: I am going to open your graves and bring you up from them,^(BE) my people, and lead you into the land of Israel. ¹³ You will know that I am the Lord, my people, when I open your graves and bring you up from them.^{(BF) 14} I will put my Spirit in you,^(BG) and you will live, and I will settle you in your own land. Then you will know that I am the Lord. I have spoken, and I will do it.^(BH) This is the declaration of the Lord.’”

The Reunification of Israel

¹⁵ The word of the Lord came to me: ¹⁶ “Son of man, take a single stick and write on it:^(BI) Belonging to Judah and the Israelites associated with him. Then take another stick and write on it: Belonging to Joseph—the stick of Ephraim—and all the house of Israel associated with him.^{(BJ) 17} Then join them together into a single stick so that they become one in your hand.^{(BK) 18} When your people ask you, ‘Won’t you explain to us what you mean by these things?’—^{(BL) 19} tell them, ‘This is what the Lord God says: I am going to take the stick of Joseph, which is in the hand of Ephraim, and the tribes of Israel associated with him, and put them together with the stick of Judah. I will make them into a single stick so that they become one in my hand.’

²⁰ “When the sticks you have written on are in your hand and in full view of the people,^{(BM) 21} tell them, ‘This is what the Lord God says: I am going to take the Israelites out of the nations where they have gone.^(BN) I will gather them from all around and bring them into their own land. ²² I will make them one nation in the land,^(BO) on the mountains of Israel, and one king will rule over all of them.^(BP) They will no longer be two nations and will no longer be divided into two kingdoms. ²³ They will not defile themselves anymore with their idols,^(BQ) their abhorrent things, and all their transgressions.^(BR) I will save them from all their apostasies by which^[j] they sinned,^(BS) and I will cleanse them. Then they will be my people, and I will be their God.^{(BT) 24} My servant David will be king over them, and there will be one shepherd for all of them.^(BU) They will follow my ordinances, and keep my statutes and obey them.^(BV)

²⁵ “‘They will live in the land that I gave to my servant Jacob,^(BW) where your ancestors lived. They will live in it forever with their children and grandchildren, and my servant David will be their prince forever.^{(BX) 26} I will make a covenant of peace with them;^(BY) it will be a permanent covenant^(BZ) with them. I will establish and multiply them and will set my sanctuary among them forever. ²⁷ My dwelling place will be with them;^(CA) I will be their God, and they will be my people.^{(CB) 28} When my sanctuary is among them forever, the nations will know that I, the Lord, sanctify Israel.’”^(CC)

The Defeat of Gog

38 The word of the Lord came to me: ² “Son of man, face Gog, of the land of Magog,^(CD) the chief prince of^[k] Meshech and Tubal.^(CE) Prophesy against him ³ and say, ‘This is what the Lord God says: Look, I am against you, Gog, chief prince of Meshech and Tubal. ⁴ I will turn you around, put hooks in your jaws,^(CF) and bring you out with all your army, including horses and riders,^(CG) who are all splendidly dressed, a huge assembly armed with large and small shields, all of them brandishing swords. ⁵ Persia,^(CH) Cush, and Put are with them, all of them with shields and helmets; ⁶ Gomer^(CI) with all its troops; and Beth-togarmah^(CJ) from the remotest parts of the north along with all its troops—many peoples are with you.

⁷ “‘Be prepared and get yourself ready, you and your whole assembly that has been mobilized around you; you will be their guard. ⁸ After a long time you will be summoned. In the last years you will enter a land that has been restored from war^[l] and regathered from many peoples to the mountains of Israel, which had long been a ruin.^(CK) They were brought out from the peoples, and all of them now live securely. ⁹ You, all of your troops, and many peoples with you will advance, coming like a thunderstorm; you will be like a cloud covering the land.

¹⁰ “‘This is what the Lord God says: On that day, thoughts will arise in your mind, and you will devise an evil plan. ¹¹ You will say, “I will advance against a land of open villages; I will come against a tranquil people who are living securely,^(CL) all of them living without walls and without bars or gates”^(CM)— ¹² in order to seize spoil and carry off plunder,^(CN) to turn your hand against ruins now inhabited and against a people gathered from the nations, who have been acquiring cattle and possessions and who live at the center of the world. ¹³ Sheba^(CO) and Dedan^(CP) and the merchants of Tarshish^(CQ) with all its rulers^[m] will ask you, “Have you come to seize spoil? Have you mobilized your assembly to carry off plunder, to make off with silver and gold, to take cattle and possessions, to seize plenty of spoil?”’

¹⁴ “Therefore prophesy, son of man, and say to Gog, ‘This is what the Lord God says: On that day when my people Israel are dwelling securely,^(CR) will you not know this ¹⁵ and come from your place in the remotest parts of the north^(CS)—you and many peoples with you, who are all riding horses—a huge assembly, a powerful army? ¹⁶ You will advance against my people Israel like a cloud covering the land. It will happen in the last days, Gog, that I will bring you against my land so that the nations may know me, when I demonstrate my holiness through you in their sight.^(CT)

¹⁷ “‘This is what the Lord God says: Are you the one I spoke about in former times through my servants, the prophets of Israel, who for years prophesied in those times that I would bring you against them? ¹⁸ Now on that day, the day when Gog comes against the land of Israel—this is the declaration of the Lord God—my wrath will flare up.^{[n] 19} I swear in my zeal and fiery wrath:^(CU) On that day there will be a great earthquake in the land of Israel. ²⁰ The fish of the sea, the birds of the sky, the animals of the field, every creature that crawls on the ground, and every human being on the face of the earth will tremble before me. The mountains will be demolished, the cliffs will collapse, and every wall will fall to the ground. ²¹ I will call for a sword against him on all my mountains—this is the declaration of the Lord God—and every man’s sword will be against his brother.^{(CV) 22} I will execute judgment on him with plague and bloodshed. I will pour out torrential rain, hailstones, fire, and burning sulfur on him, as well as his troops and the many peoples who are with him.^{(CW) 23} I will display my greatness and holiness, and I will reveal myself in the sight of many nations.^(CX) Then they will know that I am the Lord.’

The Disposal of Gog

39 “As for you, son of man, prophesy against Gog and say, ‘This is what the Lord God says: Look, I am against you, Gog, chief prince of^[o] Meshech and Tubal.^{(CY) 2} I will turn you around, drive you on,^(CZ) and lead you up from the remotest parts of the north. I will bring you against the mountains of Israel. ³ Then I will knock your bow from your left hand and make your arrows drop from your right hand. ⁴ You, all your troops, and the peoples who are with you will fall on the mountains of Israel. I will give you as food to every kind of predatory bird and to the wild animals. ⁵ You will fall on the open field,^(DA) for I have spoken. This is the declaration of the Lord God.

⁶ “‘I will send fire against Magog^(DB) and those who live securely on the coasts and islands. Then they will know that I am the Lord. ⁷ So I will make my holy name known among my people Israel and will no longer allow it to be profaned. Then the nations will know that I am the Lord, the Holy One in Israel.^{(DC) 8} Yes, it is coming, and it will happen. This is the declaration of the Lord God. This is the day I have spoken about.

⁹ “‘Then the inhabitants of Israel’s cities will go out, kindle fires, and burn the weapons—the small and large shields, the bows and arrows, the clubs and spears. For seven years they will use them to make fires. ¹⁰ They will not gather wood from the countryside or cut it down from the forests, for they will use the weapons to make fires. They will take the loot from those who looted them and plunder those who plundered them.^(DD) This is the declaration of the Lord God.

¹¹ “‘Now on that day I will give Gog a burial place there in Israel—the Travelers’ Valley^[p] east of the Sea. It will block those who travel through, for Gog and all his hordes will be buried there. So it will be called Hordes of Gog^[q] Valley. ¹² The house of Israel will spend seven months burying them in order to cleanse the land.^{(DE) 13} All the people of the land will bury them and their fame will spread^(DF) on the day I display my glory.^(DG) This is the declaration of the Lord God.

¹⁴ “‘They will appoint men on a full-time basis to pass through the land and bury the invaders^[r] who remain on the surface of the ground, in order to cleanse it. They will make their search at the end of the seven months. ¹⁵ When they pass through the land and one of them sees a human bone, he will set up a marker next to it until the buriers have buried it in Hordes of Gog Valley. ¹⁶ There will even be a city named Hamonah^[s] there. So they will cleanse the land.’

¹⁷ “Son of man, this is what the Lord God says: Tell every kind of bird and all the wild animals, ‘Assemble and come! Gather from all around to my sacrificial feast that I am slaughtering for you, a great feast on the mountains of Israel;^(DH) you will eat flesh and drink blood. ¹⁸ You will eat the flesh of mighty men and drink the blood of the earth’s princes: rams, lambs, male goats, and all the fattened bulls of Bashan. ¹⁹ You will eat fat until you are satisfied^(DI) and drink blood until you are drunk, at my sacrificial feast that I have prepared for you. ²⁰ At my table you will eat your fill of horses and riders, of mighty men and all the warriors. This is the declaration of the Lord God.’

Israel’s Restoration to God

²¹ “I will display my glory among the nations,^(DJ) and all the nations will see the judgment I have executed and the hand I have laid on them. ²² From that day forward the house of Israel will know that I am the Lord their God. ²³ And the nations will know that the house of Israel went into exile on account of their iniquity, because they dealt unfaithfully with me.^(DK) Therefore, I hid my face from them and handed them over to their enemies, so that they all fell by the sword. ²⁴ I dealt with them according to their uncleanness and transgressions, and I hid my face from them.

²⁵ “So this is what the Lord God says: Now I will restore the fortunes of Jacob^(DL) and have compassion on the whole house of Israel,^(DM) and I will be jealous for my holy name. ²⁶ They will feel remorse for^[t][u] their disgrace^(DN) and all the unfaithfulness they committed against me, when they live securely in their land with no one to frighten them. ²⁷ When I bring them back from the peoples and gather them from the countries of their enemies, I will demonstrate my holiness through them in the sight of many nations.^{(DO) 28} They will know that I am the Lord their God when I regather them to their own land after having exiled them among the nations. I will leave none of them behind.^{[v] 29} I will no longer hide my face from them, for I will pour out my Spirit on the house of Israel.”^(DP) This is the declaration of the Lord God.

The New Temple

40 In the twenty-fifth year of our exile, at the beginning of the year, on the tenth day of the month in the fourteenth year after Jerusalem had been captured,^(DQ) on that very day the Lord’s hand was on me,^(DR) and he brought me there. ² In visions of God^(DS) he took me to the land of Israel and set me down on a very high mountain.^(DT) On its southern slope was a structure resembling a city. ³ He brought me there, and I saw a man whose appearance was like bronze,^(DU) with a linen cord and a measuring rod in his hand.^(DV) He was standing by the city gate. ⁴ He spoke to me: “Son of man, look with your eyes, listen with your ears,^(DW) and pay attention to everything I am going to show you, for you have been brought here so that I might show it to you. Report everything you see to the house of Israel.”^(DX)

The Wall and Outer Gates

⁵ Now there was a wall surrounding the outside of the temple.^(DY) The measuring rod in the man’s hand was six units of twenty-one inches;^[w] each unit was the standard length plus three inches.^[x] He measured the thickness of the wall structure; it was 10½ feet,^[y] and its height was the same. ⁶ Then he came to the gate that faced east and climbed its steps.^(DZ) He measured the threshold of the gate; it was 10½ feet deep—one threshold was 10½ feet deep. ⁷ Each recess was 10½ feet long and 10½ feet deep, and there was a space of 8¾ feet^[z] between the recesses. The inner threshold of the gate on the temple side next to the gate’s portico was 10½ feet. ⁸ Next he measured the gate’s portico; ⁹ it^[aa] was 14 feet,^[ab] and its jambs were 3½ feet.^[ac] The gate’s portico was on the temple side.

¹⁰ There were three recesses on each side of the east gate, each with the same measurements, and the jambs on either side also had the same measurements. ¹¹ Then he measured the width of the gate’s entrance; it was 17½ feet,^[ad] while the width^[ae] of the gate was 22¾ feet.^{[af] 12} There was a barrier of 21 inches^[ag] in front of the recesses on both sides, and the recesses on each side were 10½ feet^[ah] square. ¹³ Then he measured the gate from the roof of one recess to the roof of the opposite one; the distance was 43¾ feet.^[ai] The openings of the recesses faced each other. ¹⁴ Next, he measured the porch—105 feet.^{[aj][ak] 15} The distance from the front of the gate at the entrance to the front of the gate’s portico on the inside was 87½ feet.^{[al] 16} The recesses and their jambs had beveled windows all around the inside of the gate.^(EA) The porticoes also had windows all around on the inside. Each jamb was decorated with palm trees.^(EB)

¹⁷ Then he brought me into the outer court,^(EC) and there were chambers and a paved surface laid out all around the court.^(ED) Thirty chambers faced the pavement, ¹⁸ which flanked the courtyard’s gates and corresponded to the length of the gates; this was the lower pavement. ¹⁹ Then he measured the distance from the front of the lower gate to the exterior front of the inner court; it was 175 feet.^[am] This was the east; next the north is described.

²⁰ He measured the gate of the outer court facing north, both its length and width. ²¹ Its three recesses on each side, its jambs, and its portico had the same measurements as the first gate: 87½ feet long and 43¾ feet wide. ²² Its windows, portico, and palm trees had the same measurements as those of the gate that faced east. Seven steps led up to the gate, and its portico was ahead of them. ²³ The inner court had a gate facing the north gate, like the one on the east. He measured the distance from gate to gate; it was 175 feet.

²⁴ He brought me to the south side, and there was also a gate on the south. He measured its jambs and portico; they had the same measurements as the others. ²⁵ Both the gate and its portico had windows all around, like the other windows. It was 87½ feet long and 43¾ feet wide. ²⁶ Its stairway had seven steps, and its portico was ahead of them. It had palm trees on its jambs, one on each side. ²⁷ The inner court had a gate on the south. He measured from gate to gate on the south; it was 175 feet.

The Inner Gates

²⁸ Then he brought me to the inner court through the south gate. When he measured the south gate, it had the same measurements as the others. ²⁹ Its recesses, jambs, and portico had the same measurements as the others. Both it and its portico had windows all around. It was 87½ feet long and 43¾ feet wide. ³⁰ (There were porticoes all around, 43¾ feet long and 8¾ feet wide.^[an]) ³¹ Its portico faced the outer court, and its jambs were decorated with palm trees. Its stairway had eight steps.

³² Then he brought me to the inner court on the east side. When he measured the gate, it had the same measurements as the others. ³³ Its recesses, jambs, and portico had the same measurements as the others. Both it and its portico had windows all around. It was 87½ feet long and 43¾ feet wide. ³⁴ Its portico faced the outer court, and its jambs were decorated with palm trees on each side. Its stairway had eight steps.

³⁵ Then he brought me to the north gate.^(EE) When he measured it, it had the same measurements as the others, ³⁶ as did its recesses, jambs, and portico. It also had windows all around. It was 87½ feet long and 43¾ feet wide. ³⁷ Its portico^[ao] faced the outer court, and its jambs were decorated with palm trees on each side. Its stairway had eight steps.

Rooms for Preparing Sacrifices

³⁸ There was a chamber whose door opened into the gate’s portico.^[ap] The burnt offering was to be washed there.^{(EF) 39} Inside the gate’s portico there were two tables on each side, on which to slaughter the burnt offering, sin offering,^(EG) and guilt offering.^{(EH) 40} Outside, as one approaches the entrance of the north gate, there were two tables on one side and two more tables on the other side of the gate’s portico. ⁴¹ So there were four tables inside the gate and four outside, eight tables in all on which the slaughtering was to be done. ⁴² There were also four tables of cut stone for the burnt offering,^(EI) each 31½ inches^[aq] long, 31½ inches wide, and 21 inches high. The utensils used to slaughter the burnt offerings and other sacrifices were placed on them. ⁴³ There were three-inch^[ar] hooks^[as] fastened all around the inside of the room, and the flesh of the offering was to be laid on the tables.

Rooms for Singers and Priests

⁴⁴ Outside the inner gate, within the inner court, there were chambers for the singers:^[at](EJ) one^[au] beside the north gate, facing south, and another beside the south^[av] gate, facing north. ⁴⁵ Then the man said to me, “This chamber that faces south is for the priests who keep charge of the temple.^{(EK) 46} The chamber that faces north is for the priests who keep charge of the altar. These are the sons of Zadok,^(EL) the ones from the sons of Levi who may approach the Lord to serve him.”^{(EM) 47} Next he measured the court. It was square, 175 feet long and 175 feet wide. The altar^(EN) was in front of the temple.

⁴⁸ Then he brought me to the portico of the temple and measured the jambs of the portico; they were 8¾ feet thick on each side. The width of the gate was 24½ feet,^[aw] and the side walls of the gate were^[ax] 5¼ feet^[ay] wide on each side. ⁴⁹ The portico was 35 feet^[az] across and 21^[ba] feet^[bb] deep, and 10 steps led^[bc] up to it.^(EO) There were pillars by the jambs, one on each side.^(EP)

Inside the Temple

41 Next he brought me into the great hall and measured the jambs;^(EQ) on each side the width of the jamb was 10½ feet.^{[bd][be] 2} The width of the entrance was 17½ feet,^[bf] and the side walls of the entrance were 8¾ feet^[bg] wide on each side. He also measured the length of the great hall, 70 feet,^[bh] and the width, 35 feet.^{[bi](ER) 3} He went inside the next room and measured the jambs at the entrance;^(ES) they were 3½ feet^[bj] wide. The entrance was 10½ feet wide, and the width of the entrance’s side walls on each side^[bk] was 12¼ feet.^{[bl] 4} He then measured the length of the room adjacent to the great hall, 35 feet, and the width, 35 feet.^(ET) And he said to me, “This is the most holy place.”^(EU)

Outside the Temple

⁵ Then he measured the wall of the temple; it was 10½ feet thick. The width of the side rooms all around the temple was 7 feet.^{[bm](EV) 6} The side rooms were arranged one above another in three stories of thirty rooms each.^[bn] There were ledges on the wall of the temple all around to serve as supports for the side rooms, so that the supports would not be in the temple wall itself.^{(EW) 7} The side rooms surrounding the temple widened at each successive story, for the structure surrounding the temple went up by stages. This was the reason for the temple’s broadness as it rose. And so, one would go up from the lowest story to the highest by means of the middle one.^[bo](EX)

⁸ I saw that the temple had a raised platform surrounding it; this foundation for the side rooms was 10½ feet high.^{[bp](EY) 9} The thickness of the outer wall of the side rooms was 8¾ feet. The free space between the side rooms of the temple ¹⁰ and the outer chambers was 35 feet wide all around the temple.^{(EZ) 11} The side rooms opened into the free space, one entrance toward the north and another to the south. The area of free space was 8¾ feet wide all around.

¹² Now the building that faced the temple yard toward the west was 122½ feet^[bq] wide. The wall of the building was 8¾ feet thick on all sides, and the building’s length was 157½ feet.^[br]

¹³ Then the man measured the temple; it was 175 feet^[bs] long.^(FA) In addition, the temple yard and the building, including its walls, were 175 feet long. ¹⁴ The width of the front of the temple along with the temple yard to the east was 175 feet. ¹⁵ Next he measured the length of the building facing the temple yard to the west, with its galleries^[bt] on each side;^(FB) it was 175 feet.

Interior Wooden Structures

The interior of the great hall and the porticoes of the court— ¹⁶ the thresholds, the beveled windows,^(FC) and the balconies all around with their three levels opposite the threshold—were overlaid with wood on all sides.^(FD) They were paneled from the ground to the windows (but the windows were covered), ¹⁷ reaching to the top of the entrance, and as far as the inner temple and on the outside. On every wall all around, on the inside and outside, was a pattern ¹⁸ carved with cherubim and palm trees.^(FE) There was a palm tree between each pair of cherubim.^(FF) Each cherub had two faces: ¹⁹ a human face turned toward the palm tree on one side,^(FG) and a lion’s face turned toward it on the other. They were carved throughout the temple on all sides. ²⁰ Cherubim and palm trees were carved from the ground to the top of the entrance and on the wall of the great hall.

²¹ The doorposts of the great hall were square,^(FH) and the front of the sanctuary had the same appearance. ²² The altar was^[bu] made of wood, 5¼ feet^[bv] high and 3½ feet long.^[bw] It had corners, and its length^[bx] and sides were of wood.^(FI) The man told me, “This is the table that stands before the Lord.”^(FJ)

²³ The great hall and the sanctuary each had a double door,^{(FK) 24} and each of the doors had two swinging panels.^(FL) There were two panels for one door and two for the other. ²⁵ Cherubim and palm trees were carved on the doors of the great hall like those carved on the walls. There was a wooden canopy^[by](FM) outside, in front of the portico. ²⁶ There were beveled windows and palm trees on both sides,^(FN) on the side walls of the portico, the side rooms of the temple, and the canopies.^[bz]

The Priests’ Chambers

42 Then the man led me out by way of the north gate into the outer court.^(FO) He brought me to the group of chambers opposite the temple yard and opposite the building^(FP) to the north. ² Along the length of the chambers, which was 175 feet,^[ca](FQ) there was an entrance on the north; the width was 87½ feet.^{[cb] 3} Opposite the 35 foot space^[cc] belonging to the inner court and opposite the paved surface^(FR) belonging to the outer court, the structure rose gallery by gallery^(FS) in three tiers. ⁴ In front of the chambers was a walkway toward the inside,^(FT) 17½ feet^[cd] wide and 175 feet long,^[ce] and their entrances were on the north. ⁵ The upper chambers were narrower because the galleries took away more space from them than from the lower and middle stories of the building. ⁶ For they were arranged in three stories and had no pillars like the pillars of the courts;^(FU) therefore the upper chambers were set back from the ground more than the lower and middle stories. ⁷ A wall on the outside ran in front of the chambers, parallel to them, toward the outer court; it was 87½ feet long. ⁸ For the chambers on the outer court were 87½ feet long, while those facing the great hall were 175 feet long.^{(FV) 9} At the base of these chambers there was an entryway on the east side as one enters them from the outer court.^(FW)

¹⁰ In the thickness of the wall of the court toward the south,^[cf] there were chambers facing the temple yard^(FX) and the western building, ¹¹ with a passageway in front of them, just like the chambers that faced north.^(FY) Their length and width, as well as all their exits, measurements, and entrances, were identical. ¹² The entrance at the beginning of the passageway, the way in front of the corresponding^[cg] wall as one enters on the east side, was similar to the entrances of the chambers that were on the south side.

¹³ Then the man said to me, “The northern and southern chambers that face the courtyard are the holy chambers where the priests who approach the Lord will eat^(FZ) the most holy offerings.^(GA) There they will deposit the most holy offerings—the grain offerings, sin offerings, and guilt offerings—for the place is holy.^{(GB) 14} Once the priests have entered, they are not to go out from the holy area to the outer court until they have removed the clothes they minister in, for these are holy.^(GC) They are to put on other clothes before they approach the public area.”^(GD)

Outside Dimensions of the Temple Complex

¹⁵ When he finished measuring inside the temple complex, he led me out by way of the gate that faced east and measured all around the complex.^(GE)

²⁰ He measured the temple complex on all four sides. It had a wall all around it,^(GF) 875 feet long and 875 feet^(GG) wide, to separate the holy from the common.^(GH)

Return of the Lord’s Glory

43 He led me to the gate,^(GI) the one that faces east, ² and I saw the glory of the God of Israel^(GJ) coming from the east.^(GK) His voice sounded like the roar of a huge torrent,^(GL) and the earth shone with his glory.^{(GM) 3} The vision I saw^(GN) was like the one I had seen when he^[cl] came to destroy the city,^(GO) and like the ones I had seen by the Chebar Canal.^(GP) I fell facedown.^{(GQ) 4} The glory of the Lord entered the temple by way of the gate that faced east.^{(GR) 5} Then the Spirit lifted me up^(GS) and brought me to the inner court, and the glory of the Lord filled the temple.^(GT)

⁶ While the man was standing beside me, I heard someone speaking to me from the temple.^{(GU) 7} He said to me, “Son of man, this is the place of my throne and the place for the soles of my feet,^(GV) where I will dwell among the Israelites forever.^(GW) The house of Israel and their kings will no longer defile my holy name by their religious prostitution and by the corpses^[cm](GX) of their kings at their high places.^{[cn](GY) 8} Whenever they placed their threshold next to my threshold and their doorposts beside my doorposts, with only a wall between me and them, they were defiling my holy name by the detestable acts they committed.^(GZ) So I destroyed them in my anger. ⁹ Now let them remove their prostitution and the corpses^(HA) of their kings far from me, and I will dwell among them forever.^(HB)

¹⁰ “As for you, son of man, describe the temple to the house of Israel,^(HC) so that they may be ashamed of their iniquities.^(HD) Let them measure its pattern,^{(HE) 11} and they will be ashamed of all that they have done. Reveal^[co] the design of the temple to them—its layout with its exits and entrances^(HF)—its complete design along with all its statutes, design specifications, and laws. Write it down in their sight^(HG) so that they may observe its complete design and all its statutes and may carry them out.^{(HH) 12} This is the law of the temple: All its surrounding territory on top of the mountain^(HI) will be especially holy. Yes, this is the law of the temple.

The Altar

¹³ “These are the measurements of the altar^(HJ) in units of length (each unit being the standard length plus three inches):^[cp](HK) The gutter is 21 inches^[cq] deep and 21 inches wide, with a rim of nine inches^[cr] around its edge. This is the base^[cs] of the altar. ¹⁴ The distance from the gutter on the ground to the lower ledge is 3½ feet,^[ct] and the width of the ledge is 21 inches. There are 7 feet^[cu] from the small ledge to the large ledge, whose width is also 21 inches. ¹⁵ The altar hearth^[cv] is 7 feet high, and four horns^(HL) project upward from the hearth. ¹⁶ The hearth is square, 21 feet^[cw] long by 21 feet wide.^{(HM) 17} The ledge is 24½ feet^[cx] long by 24½ feet wide, with four equal sides.^(HN) The rim all around it is 10½ inches,^[cy] and its gutter is 21 inches all around it. The altar’s steps face east.”^(HO)

¹⁸ Then he said to me, “Son of man,^(HP) this is what the Lord God says: These are the statutes for the altar on the day it is constructed, so that burnt offerings^(HQ) may be sacrificed on it and blood may be splattered on it:^{(HR) 19} You are to give a bull from the herd^(HS) as a sin offering^(HT) to the Levitical priests who are from the offspring of Zadok,^(HU) who approach me in order to serve me.”^(HV) This is the declaration of the Lord God. ²⁰ “You are to take some of its blood and apply it to the four horns^(HW) of the altar, the four corners of the ledge, and all around the rim. In this way you will purify the altar and make atonement for it.^{(HX) 21} Then you are to take away the bull for the sin offering, and it must be burned outside the sanctuary in the place appointed for the temple.^(HY)

²² “On the second day you are to present an unblemished male goat as a sin offering. They will purify the altar just as they did with the bull. ²³ When you have finished the purification, you are to present a young, unblemished bull^(HZ) and an unblemished ram from the flock.^{(IA) 24} You are to present them before the Lord; the priests will throw salt on them and sacrifice them as a burnt offering to the Lord.^{(IB) 25} You will offer a goat for a sin offering each day for seven days.^(IC) A young bull and a ram from the flock, both unblemished, are also to be offered. ²⁶ For seven days the priests are to make atonement for the altar and cleanse it. In this way they will consecrate it^{[cz] 27} and complete the days of purification. Then on the eighth day^(ID) and afterward, the priests will offer your burnt offerings and fellowship offerings on the altar, and I will accept you.”^(IE) This is the declaration of the Lord God.

The Prince’s Privilege

44 The man then brought me back toward the sanctuary’s outer gate that faced east, and it was closed. ² The Lord said to me, “This gate will remain closed. It will not be opened, and no one will enter through it, because the Lord, the God of Israel, has entered through it.^(IF) Therefore it will remain closed. ³ The prince himself will sit in the gate to eat a meal before the Lord.^(IG) He is to enter by way of the portico^(IH) of the gate and go out the same way.”

⁴ Then the man brought me by way of the north gate to the front of the temple. I looked, and the glory of the Lord filled his temple.^(II) And I fell facedown.^{(IJ) 5} The Lord said to me, “Son of man, pay attention;^(IK) look with your eyes and listen with your ears to everything I tell you about all the statutes and laws of the Lord’s temple.^(IL) Take careful note of the entrance of the temple along with all the exits of the sanctuary.

The Levites’ Duties and Privileges

⁶ “Say to the rebellious people,^(IM) the house of Israel, ‘This is what the Lord God says: I have had enough^(IN) of all your detestable practices, house of Israel. ⁷ When you brought in foreigners,^(IO) uncircumcised in both heart and flesh,^(IP) to occupy my sanctuary, you defiled my temple while you offered my food—the fat and the blood. You^[da] broke my covenant by all your detestable practices. ⁸ You have not kept charge of my holy things^(IQ) but have appointed others to keep charge of my sanctuary for you.’

⁹ “This is what the Lord God says: No foreigner, uncircumcised in heart and flesh, may enter my sanctuary, not even a foreigner who is among the Israelites. ¹⁰ Surely the Levites who wandered away from me when Israel went astray, and who strayed from me after their idols,^(IR) will bear the consequences of their iniquity.^{(IS) 11} Yet they will occupy my sanctuary, serving as guards at the temple gates^(IT) and ministering at the temple. They will slaughter the burnt offerings^(IU) and other sacrifices for the people and will stand before them to serve them.^{(IV) 12} Because they ministered to the house of Israel before their idols and became a sinful stumbling block to them, therefore I swore an oath^[db] against them”^(IW)—this is the declaration of the Lord God—“that they would bear the consequences of their iniquity. ¹³ They must not approach me to serve me as priests^(IX) or come near any of my holy things or the most holy things. They will bear their disgrace and the consequences of the detestable acts they committed. ¹⁴ Yet I will make them responsible for the duties of the temple^(IY)—for all its work and everything done in it.

The Priests’ Duties and Privileges

¹⁵ “But the Levitical priests descended from Zadok,^(IZ) who kept charge of my sanctuary when the Israelites went astray from me, will approach me to serve me. They will stand before me to offer me fat and blood.” This is the declaration of the Lord God. ¹⁶ “They are the ones who may enter my sanctuary^(JA) and approach my table to serve me.^(JB) They will keep my mandate. ¹⁷ When they enter the gates of the inner court they are to wear linen garments;^(JC) they must not have on them anything made of wool when they minister at the gates of the inner court and within it. ¹⁸ They are to wear linen turbans on their heads and linen undergarments around their waists.^(JD) They are not to put on anything that makes them sweat. ¹⁹ Before they go out to the outer court,^[dc] to the people, they must take off the clothes they have been ministering in, leave them in the holy chambers, and dress in other clothes^(JE) so that they do not transmit holiness to the people through their clothes.^(JF)

²⁰ “They may not shave their heads^(JG) or let their hair grow long,^(JH) but are to carefully trim their hair. ²¹ No priest may drink wine before he enters the inner court.^{(JI) 22} He is not to marry a widow or a divorced woman, but may marry only a virgin from the offspring of the house of Israel,^(JJ) or a widow who is the widow of a priest. ²³ They are to teach my people the difference between the holy and the common, and explain to them the difference between the clean and the unclean.^(JK)

²⁴ “In a dispute, they will officiate as judges and decide the case according to my ordinances.^(JL) They are to observe my laws and statutes regarding all my appointed festivals, and keep my Sabbaths holy.^{(JM) 25} A priest may not come near a dead person so that he becomes defiled.^(JN) However, he may defile himself for a father, a mother, a son, a daughter, a brother, or an unmarried sister. ²⁶ After he is cleansed, he is to count off seven days for himself.^{(JO) 27} On the day he goes into the sanctuary, into the inner court^(JP) to minister in the sanctuary, he is to present his sin offering.” This is the declaration of the Lord God.

²⁸ “This will be their inheritance: I am their inheritance.^(JQ) You are to give them no possession in Israel: I am their possession. ²⁹ They will eat the grain offering, the sin offering,^(JR) and the guilt offering. Everything in Israel that is permanently dedicated to the Lord will belong to them.^{(JS) 30} The best of all the firstfruits of every kind and contribution of every kind from all your gifts will belong to the priests.^(JT) You are to give your first batch of dough to the priest^(JU) so that a blessing may rest on your homes.^{(JV) 31} The priests may not eat any bird or animal that died naturally or was mauled by wild beasts.^(JW)

The Sacred Portion of the Land

45 “When you divide the land by lot as an inheritance,^(JX) set aside a donation to the Lord, a holy portion of the land,^(JY) 8⅓ miles^[dd] long and 6⅔ miles^[de] wide. This entire region will be holy. ² In this area there will be a square section^[df] for the sanctuary, 875 by 875 feet,^[dg](JZ) with 87½ feet^[dh] of open space all around it. ³ From this holy portion,^[di] you will measure off an area 8⅓ miles long and 3⅓ miles^[dj] wide, in which the sanctuary, the most holy place,^(KA) will stand.^{[dk] 4} It will be a holy area of the land to be used by the priests who minister in the sanctuary, who approach to serve the Lord.^(KB) It will be a place for their houses, as well as a holy area for the sanctuary. ⁵ There will be another area 8⅓ miles long and 3⅓ miles wide for the Levites who minister in the temple;^(KC) it will be their possession for towns to live in.^[dl]

⁶ “As the property of the city, set aside an area 1⅔ miles^[dm] wide and 8⅓ miles long, adjacent to the holy donation of land.^(KD) It will be for the whole house of Israel. ⁷ And the prince will have the area on each side of the holy donation of land and the city’s property, adjacent to the holy donation and the city’s property, stretching to the west on the west side and to the east on the east side.^(KE) Its length will correspond to one of the tribal portions from the western boundary to the eastern boundary. ⁸ This will be his land as a possession in Israel. My princes will no longer oppress my people^(KF) but give the rest of the land to the house of Israel according to their tribes.

⁹ “This is what the Lord God says: You have gone too far,^[dn](KG) princes of Israel! Put away violence and oppression and do what is just and right.^(KH) Put an end to your evictions of my people.” This is the declaration of the Lord God. ¹⁰ “You are to have honest scales, an honest dry measure,^[do] and an honest liquid measure.^{[dp](KI) 11} The dry measure^[dq] and the liquid measure^[dr] will be uniform, with the liquid measure containing 5½ gallons^[ds] and the dry measure holding half a bushel.^[dt] Their measurement will be a tenth of the standard larger capacity measure.^{[du] 12} The shekel^[dv] will weigh twenty gerahs.^(KJ) Your mina will equal sixty shekels.

The People’s Contribution to the Sacrifices

¹³ “This is the contribution you are to offer: Three quarts^[dw] from six bushels^[dx] of wheat and^[dy] three quarts from six bushels of barley. ¹⁴ The quota of oil in liquid measures^[dz] will be one percent of every^[ea] cor. The cor equals ten liquid measures or one standard larger capacity measure,^[eb] since ten liquid measures equal one standard larger capacity measure. ¹⁵ And the quota from the flock is one animal out of every two hundred from the well-watered pastures of Israel. These are for the grain offerings, burnt offerings, and fellowship offerings, to make atonement for the people.”^(KK) This is the declaration of the Lord God. ¹⁶ “All the people of the land must take part in this contribution for the prince in Israel. ¹⁷ Then the burnt offerings, grain offerings, and drink offerings for the festivals, New Moons, and Sabbaths—for all the appointed times of the house of Israel—will be the prince’s responsibility. He will provide the sin offerings, grain offerings, burnt offerings, and fellowship offerings to make atonement on behalf of the house of Israel.

¹⁸ “This is what the Lord God says: In the first month, on the first day of the month, you are to take a young, unblemished bull and purify the sanctuary. ¹⁹ The priest is to take some of the blood from the sin offering and apply it to the temple doorposts, the four corners of the altar’s ledge, and the doorposts of the gate of the inner court.^{(KL) 20} You are to do the same thing on the seventh day of the month for everyone who sins unintentionally or through ignorance.^(KM) In this way you will make atonement for the temple.

²¹ “In the first month, on the fourteenth day of the month, you are to celebrate the Passover, a festival of seven days during which unleavened bread will be eaten.^{(KN) 22} On that day the prince will provide a bull as a sin offering on behalf of himself and all the people of the land. ²³ During the seven days of the festival, he will provide seven bulls and seven rams without blemish as a burnt offering to the Lord on each of the seven days, along with a male goat each day for a sin offering. ²⁴ He will also provide a grain offering of half a bushel^[ec] per bull and half a bushel per ram, along with a gallon^[ed] of oil for every half bushel. ²⁵ At the festival that begins on the fifteenth day of the seventh month,^[ee](KO) he will provide the same things for seven days—the same sin offerings, burnt offerings, grain offerings, and oil.

Sacrifices at Appointed Times

46 “This is what the Lord God says: The gate of the inner court that faces east is to be closed during the six days of work, but it will be opened on the Sabbath day^(KP) and opened on the day of the New Moon. ² The prince should enter from the outside by way of the gate’s portico and stand at the gate’s doorpost while the priests sacrifice his burnt offerings and fellowship offerings. He will bow in worship at the gate’s threshold and then depart, but the gate is not to be closed until evening. ³ The people of the land will also bow in worship before the Lord at the entrance of that gate on the Sabbaths and New Moons.

⁴ “The burnt offering that the prince presents to the Lord^(KQ) on the Sabbath day is to be six unblemished lambs^(KR) and an unblemished ram. ⁵ The grain offering will be half a bushel^[ef] with the ram,^(KS) and the grain offering with the lambs will be whatever he wants to give, as well as a gallon^[eg] of oil for every half bushel. ⁶ On the day of the New Moon, the burnt offering is to be a young, unblemished bull, as well as six lambs and a ram without blemish. ⁷ He will provide a grain offering of half a bushel with the bull, half a bushel with the ram, and whatever he can afford with the lambs, together with a gallon of oil for every half bushel. ⁸ When the prince enters,^(KT) he is to go in by way of the gate’s portico and go out the same way.

⁹ “When the people of the land come before the Lord at the appointed times,^[eh](KU) whoever enters by way of the north gate to worship is to go out by way of the south gate, and whoever enters by way of the south gate is to go out by way of the north gate. No one may return through the gate by which he entered, but is to go out by the opposite gate. ¹⁰ When the people enter, the prince will enter with them, and when they leave, he will leave. ¹¹ At the festivals and appointed times, the grain offering will be half a bushel with the bull, half a bushel with the ram, and whatever he wants to give with the lambs, along with a gallon of oil for every half bushel.

¹² “When the prince makes a freewill offering, whether a burnt offering or a fellowship offering as a freewill offering to the Lord,^(KV) the gate that faces east is to be opened for him. He is to offer his burnt offering or fellowship offering just as he does on the Sabbath day. Then he will go out, and the gate is to be closed after he leaves.

¹³ “You are to offer an unblemished year-old male lamb as a daily burnt offering to the Lord; you will offer it every morning.^{(KW) 14} You are also to prepare a grain offering every morning along with it: three quarts,^[ei] with one-third of a gallon^[ej] of oil to moisten the fine flour—a grain offering to the Lord. This is a permanent statute to be observed regularly. ¹⁵ They will offer the lamb, the grain offering, and the oil every morning as a regular burnt offering.

Transfer of Royal Lands

¹⁶ “This is what the Lord God says: If the prince gives a gift to each of his sons as their inheritance, it will belong to his sons. It will become their property by inheritance. ¹⁷ But if he gives a gift from his inheritance to one of his servants, it will belong to that servant until the year of freedom,^(KX) when it will revert to the prince. His inheritance belongs only to his sons; it is theirs. ¹⁸ The prince must not take any of the people’s inheritance, evicting them from their property.^(KY) He is to provide an inheritance for his sons from his own property, so that none of my people will be displaced from his own property.”

The Temple Kitchens

¹⁹ Then he brought me through the entrance^(KZ) that was at the side of the gate, into the priests’ holy chambers, which faced north. I saw a place there at the far western end. ²⁰ He said to me, “This is the place where the priests will boil the guilt offering and the sin offering,^(LA) and where they will bake the grain offering,^(LB) so that they do not bring them into the outer court and transmit holiness to the people.” ²¹ Next he brought me into the outer court and led me past its four corners. There was a separate court in each of its corners. ²² In the four corners of the outer court there were enclosed^[ek] courts, 70 feet^[el] long by 52½ feet^[em] wide. All four corner areas had the same dimensions. ²³ There was a stone wall^[en] around the inside of them, around the four of them, with ovens built at the base of the walls on all sides. ²⁴ He said to me, “These are the kitchens where those who minister at the temple will cook the people’s sacrifices.”

The Life-Giving River

47 Then he brought me back to the entrance of the temple and there was water flowing from under the threshold of the temple toward the east, for the temple faced east. The water was coming down from under the south side of the threshold of the temple, south of the altar.^{(LC) 2} Next he brought me out by way of the north gate and led me around the outside to the outer gate that faced east; there the water was trickling from the south side. ³ As the man went out east with a measuring line in his hand,^(LD) he measured off a third of a mile^[eo] and led me through the water. It came up to my ankles. ⁴ Then he measured off a third of a mile and led me through the water. It came up to my knees. He measured off another third of a mile and led me through the water. It came up to my waist. ⁵ Again he measured off a third of a mile, and it was a river that I could not cross on foot. For the water had risen; it was deep enough to swim in, a river that could not be crossed on foot.

⁶ He asked me, “Do you see this, son of man?” Then he led me back to the bank of the river. ⁷ When I had returned, I saw a very large number of trees along both sides of the riverbank.^{(LE) 8} He said to me, “This water flows out to the eastern region and goes down to the Arabah. When it enters the sea, the sea of foul water,^[ep][eq] the water of the sea becomes fresh.^{(LF) 9} Every kind of living creature that swarms will live wherever the river flows,^[er] and there will be a huge number of fish because this water goes there. Since the water will become fresh, there will be life everywhere the river goes. ¹⁰ Fishermen will stand beside it from En-gedi to En-eglaim.^[es] These will become places where nets are spread out to dry. Their fish will consist of many different kinds, like the fish of the Mediterranean Sea.^{(LG) 11} Yet its swamps and marshes will not be healed; they will be left for salt. ¹² All kinds of trees providing food will grow along both banks of the river. Their leaves will not wither, and their fruit will not fail.^(LH) Each month they will bear fresh fruit because the water comes from the sanctuary. Their fruit will be used for eating and their leaves for healing.”^(LI)

The Borders of the Land

¹³ This is what the Lord God says: “This is^[et] the border you will use to divide the land^(LJ) as an inheritance for the twelve tribes of Israel. Joseph will receive two shares.^{(LK) 14} You will inherit it in equal portions, since I swore^[eu] to give it to your ancestors.^(LL) So this land will fall to you as an inheritance.

¹⁵ This is to be the border of the land:

On the north side^(LM) it will extend from the Mediterranean Sea by way of Hethlon and Lebo-hamath to Zedad,^{[ev] 16} Berothah, and Sibraim (which is between the border of Damascus and the border of Hamath), as far as Hazer-hatticon, which is on the border of Hauran. ¹⁷ So the border will run from the sea to Hazar-enon at the border^(LN) of Damascus, with the territory of Hamath to the north. This will be the northern side.

¹⁸ On the east side it will run between Hauran and Damascus, along the Jordan between Gilead and the land of Israel; you will measure from the northern border to the eastern sea.^[ew] This will be the eastern side.

¹⁹ On the south side it will run from Tamar to the Waters of Meribath-kadesh,^[ex] and on to the Brook of Egypt^(LO) as far as the Mediterranean Sea.^(LP) This will be the southern side.

²⁰ On the west side the Mediterranean Sea will be the border, from the southern border up to a point opposite Lebo-hamath. This will be the western side.

²¹ “You are to divide this land among yourselves according to the tribes of Israel.^{(LQ) 22} You will allot it as an inheritance for yourselves and for the aliens residing among you,^(LR) who have fathered children among you. You will treat them^[ey] like native-born Israelites; along with you, they will be allotted an inheritance among the tribes of Israel. ²³ In whatever tribe the alien resides, you will assign his inheritance there.” This is the declaration of the Lord God.

The Tribal Allotments

48 “Now these are the names of the tribes:

⁸ “Next to the territory of Judah, from the east side to the west, will be the portion you donate to the Lord, 8⅓ miles^[ez] wide, and as long as one of the tribal portions from the east side to the west.^(LS) The sanctuary will be in the middle of it.

⁹ “The special portion you donate to the Lord will be 8⅓ miles long and 3⅓ miles^[fa] wide. ¹⁰ This holy donation will be set apart for the priests alone. It will be 8⅓ miles long on the northern side, 3⅓ miles wide on the western side, 3⅓ miles wide on the eastern side, and 8⅓ miles 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^(LT) 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 long and 3⅓ miles wide. The total length will be 8⅓ miles and the width 3⅓ miles.^{(LU) 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.^(LV)

¹⁵ “The remaining area, 1⅔ miles^[fb] wide and 8⅓ miles long, will be for common use by the city,^(LW) for both residential and open space. The city will be in the middle of it. ¹⁶ These are the city’s measurements:

¹⁷ The city’s open space will extend:

¹⁸ “The remainder of the length alongside the holy donation will be 3⅓ miles to the east and 3⅓ miles 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.^{(LX) 20} The entire donation will be 8⅓ miles by 8⅓ miles; 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.^(LY) He will own the land adjacent to the tribal portions, next to the 8⅓ miles of the donation as far as the eastern border and^[fe] next to the 8⅓ miles 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.^(LZ)

²³ “As for the rest of the tribes:

²⁸ Next to the territory of Gad toward the south side, the border will run from Tamar to the Waters^(MA) 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,^(MB) 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:

³⁵ The perimeter of the city will be six miles,^[ff] and the name of the city from that day on will be The Lord Is There.”^(MC)