Ezekiel 47:13-23
New English Translation
Boundaries for the Land
13 This is what the Sovereign Lord says: “Here[a] are the borders[b] you will observe as you allot the land to the twelve tribes of Israel. (Joseph will have two portions.)[c] 14 You must divide it equally just as I vowed to give it to your forefathers;[d] this land will be assigned as your inheritance.[e]
15 “This will be the border of the land:[f] 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,[g] 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.[h] 23 In whatever tribe the resident foreigner lives, there you will give him his inheritance,” declares the Sovereign Lord.
Read full chapterFootnotes
- Ezekiel 47:13 tc This translation follows the reading זֶה (zeh) instead of גֵּה (geh), a nonexistent word, as supported by the LXX.
- Ezekiel 47:13 tn Or “territory”; see D. I. Block, Ezekiel (NICOT), 2:715.
- 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).
- Ezekiel 47:14 sn Gen 15:9-21.
- Ezekiel 47:14 tn Heb “will fall to you as an inheritance.”
- Ezekiel 47:15 sn The measurements resemble those in Num 34:1-2.
- 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.
- 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.
Ezekiel 47:13-23
Christian Standard Bible
The Borders of the Land
13 This is what the Lord God says: “This is[a] the border you will use to divide the land(A) as an inheritance for the twelve tribes of Israel. Joseph will receive two shares.(B) 14 You will inherit it in equal portions, since I swore[b] to give it to your ancestors.(C) So this land will fall to you as an inheritance.
15 This is to be the border of the land:
On the north side(D) it will extend from the Mediterranean Sea by way of Hethlon and Lebo-hamath to Zedad,[c] 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(E) 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.[d] This will be the eastern side.
19 On the south side it will run from Tamar to the Waters of Meribath-kadesh,[e] and on to the Brook of Egypt(F) as far as the Mediterranean Sea.(G) 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.(H) 22 You will allot it as an inheritance for yourselves and for the aliens residing among you,(I) who have fathered children among you. You will treat them[f] 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.
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