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.
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- 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
Legacy Standard Bible
Apportionment of the Land
13 Thus says Lord Yahweh, “This shall be the (A)boundary by which you shall apportion the land for an inheritance among the twelve tribes of Israel; Joseph shall have two (B)portions. 14 You shall then apportion it for an inheritance, each one [a]equally with the other; for I [b](C)swore to give it to your fathers, and this land shall fall to you [c]as an inheritance.
15 “This shall be the boundary of the land: on the (D)north side, from the Great Sea by the way of Hethlon, to the entrance of [d](E)Zedad; 16 [e](F)Hamath, Berothah, Sibraim, which is between the border of (G)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 (H)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 (I)east side, from between Hauran, Damascus, (J)Gilead, and the land of Israel, shall be the (K)Jordan; from the north border to the eastern sea you shall measure. This is the east side.
19 “And the (L)south side toward the south shall extend from (M)Tamar as far as the waters of (N)Meribath-kadesh, to the (O)brook of Egypt and to the (P)Great Sea. This is the south side toward the south.
20 “And the (Q)west side shall be the Great Sea, from the south border to a point opposite [f](R)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 (S)lot for an inheritance among yourselves and among the (T)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 (U)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.
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- Ezekiel 47:14 Lit like his brother
- Ezekiel 47:14 Lit lifted up My hand
- Ezekiel 47:14 Lit in
- Ezekiel 47:15 Or Hamath
- Ezekiel 47:16 Or Zedad
- Ezekiel 47:20 Or the entrance of Hamath
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