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Ezekiel 48:1-35 King James Version with Strong's Concordance (STRONG)

1 Now these are the names H8034 of the tribes. H7626 From the north H6828 end H7097 to the coast H3027 of the way H1870 of Hethlon, H2855 as one goeth H935 to Hamath, H2574 Hazarenan, H2704 the border H1366 of Damascus H1834 northward, H6828 to the coast H3027 of Hamath; H2574 for these are his sides H6285 east H6921 and west; H3220 a H259 portion for Dan. H1835

2 And by the border H1366 of Dan, H1835 from the east H6921 side H6285 unto the west H3220 side, H6285 a H259 portion for Asher. H836

3 And by the border H1366 of Asher, H836 from the east H6921 side H6285 even unto the west H3220 side, H6285 a H259 portion for Naphtali. H5321

4 And by the border H1366 of Naphtali, H5321 from the east H6921 side H6285 unto the west H3220 side, H6285 a H259 portion for Manasseh. H4519

5 And by the border H1366 of Manasseh, H4519 from the east H6921 side H6285 unto the west H3220 side, H6285 a H259 portion for Ephraim. H669

6 And by the border H1366 of Ephraim, H669 from the east H6921 side H6285 even unto the west H3220 side, H6285 a H259 portion for Reuben. H7205

7 And by the border H1366 of Reuben, H7205 from the east H6921 side H6285 unto the west H3220 side, H6285 a H259 portion for Judah. H3063

8 And by the border H1366 of Judah, H3063 from the east H6921 side H6285 unto the west H3220 side, H6285 shall be the offering H8641 which ye shall offer H7311 of five H2568 and twenty H6242 thousand H505 reeds in breadth, H7341 and in length H753 as one H259 of the other parts, H2506 from the east H6921 side H6285 unto the west H3220 side: H6285 and the sanctuary H4720 shall be in the midst H8432 of it.

9 The oblation H8641 that ye shall offer H7311 unto the LORD H3068 shall be of five H2568 and twenty H6242 thousand H505 in length, H753 and of ten H6235 thousand H505 in breadth. H7341

10 And for them, even for the priests, H3548 shall be this holy H6944 oblation; H8641 toward the north H6828 five H2568 and twenty H6242 thousand H505 in length, and toward the west H3220 ten H6235 thousand H505 in breadth, H7341 and toward the east H6921 ten H6235 thousand H505 in breadth, H7341 and toward the south H5045 five H2568 and twenty H6242 thousand H505 in length: H753 and the sanctuary H4720 of the LORD H3068 shall be in the midst H8432 thereof.

11 It shall be for the priests H3548 that are sanctified H6942 of the sons H1121 of Zadok; H6659 which have kept H8104 my charge, H4931 which went not astray H8582 when the children H1121 of Israel H3478 went astray, H8582 as the Levites H3881 went astray. H8582

12 And this oblation H8642 of the land H776 that is offered H8641 shall be unto them a thing most H6944 holy H6944 by the border H1366 of the Levites. H3881

13 And over against H5980 the border H1366 of the priests H3548 the Levites H3881 shall have five H2568 and twenty H6242 thousand H505 in length, H753 and ten H6235 thousand H505 in breadth: H7341 all the length H753 shall be five H2568 and twenty H6242 thousand, H505 and the breadth H7341 ten H6235 thousand. H505

14 And they shall not sell H4376 of it, neither exchange, H4171 nor alienate H5674 H5674 the firstfruits H7225 of the land: H776 for it is holy H6944 unto the LORD. H3068

15 And the five H2568 thousand, H505 that are left H3498 in the breadth H7341 over against H6440 the five H2568 and twenty H6242 thousand, H505 shall be a profane H2455 place for the city, H5892 for dwelling, H4186 and for suburbs: H4054 and the city H5892 shall be in the midst H8432 thereof.

16 And these shall be the measures H4060 thereof; the north H6828 side H6285 four H702 thousand H505 and five H2568 hundred, H3967 and the south H5045 side H6285 four H702 thousand H505 and five H2568 hundred, H3967 and on the east H6921 side H6285 four H702 thousand H505 and five H2568 hundred, H3967 and the west H3220 side H6285 four H702 thousand H505 and five H2568 H2568 hundred. H3967

17 And the suburbs H4054 of the city H5892 shall be toward the north H6828 two hundred H3967 and fifty, H2572 and toward the south H5045 two hundred H3967 and fifty, H2572 and toward the east H6921 two hundred H3967 and fifty, H2572 and toward the west H3220 two hundred H3967 and fifty. H2572

18 And the residue H3498 in length H753 over against H5980 the oblation H8641 of the holy H6944 portion shall be ten H6235 thousand H505 eastward, H6921 and ten H6235 thousand H505 westward: H3220 and it shall be over against H5980 the oblation H8641 of the holy H6944 portion; and the increase H8393 thereof shall be for food H3899 unto them that serve H5647 the city. H5892

19 And they that serve H5647 the city H5892 shall serve H5647 it out of all the tribes H7626 of Israel. H3478

20 All the oblation H8641 shall be five H2568 and twenty H6242 thousand H505 by five H2568 and twenty H6242 thousand: H505 ye shall offer H7311 the holy H6944 oblation H8641 foursquare, H7243 with the possession H272 of the city. H5892

21 And the residue H3498 shall be for the prince, H5387 on the one side and on the other of the holy H6944 oblation, H8641 and of the possession H272 of the city, H5892 over against H6440 the five H2568 and twenty H6242 thousand H505 of the oblation H8641 toward the east H6921 border, H1366 and westward H3220 over against H6440 the five H2568 and twenty H6242 thousand H505 toward the west H3220 border, H1366 over against H5980 the portions H2506 for the prince: H5387 and it shall be the holy H6944 oblation; H8641 and the sanctuary H4720 of the house H1004 shall be in the midst H8432 thereof.

22 Moreover from the possession H272 of the Levites, H3881 and from the possession H272 of the city, H5892 being in the midst H8432 of that which is the prince's, H5387 between the border H1366 of Judah H3063 and the border H1366 of Benjamin, H1144 shall be for the prince. H5387

23 As for the rest H3499 of the tribes, H7626 from the east H6921 side H6285 unto the west H3220 side, H6285 Benjamin H1144 shall have a H259 portion.

24 And by the border H1366 of Benjamin, H1144 from the east H6921 side H6285 unto the west H3220 side, H6285 Simeon H8095 shall have a H259 portion.

25 And by the border H1366 of Simeon, H8095 from the east H6921 side H6285 unto the west H3220 side, H6285 Issachar H3485 a H259 portion.

26 And by the border H1366 of Issachar, H3485 from the east H6921 side H6285 unto the west H3220 side, H6285 Zebulun H2074 a H259 portion.

27 And by the border H1366 of Zebulun, H2074 from the east H6921 side H6285 unto the west H3220 side, H6285 Gad H1410 a H259 portion.

28 And by the border H1366 of Gad, H1410 at the south H5045 side H6285 southward, H8486 the border H1366 shall be even from Tamar H8559 unto the waters H4325 of strife H4808 H4809 in Kadesh, H6946 and to the river H5158 toward the great H1419 sea. H3220

29 This is the land H776 which ye shall divide H5307 by lot unto the tribes H7626 of Israel H3478 for inheritance, H5159 and these are their portions, H4256 saith H5002 the Lord H136 GOD. H3069

30 And these are the goings out H8444 of the city H5892 on the north H6828 side, H6285 four H702 thousand H505 and five H2568 hundred H3967 measures. H4060

31 And the gates H8179 of the city H5892 shall be after the names H8034 of the tribes H7626 of Israel: H3478 three H7969 gates H8179 northward; H6828 one H259 gate H8179 of Reuben, H7205 one H259 gate H8179 of Judah, H3063 one H259 gate H8179 of Levi. H3878

32 And at the east H6921 side H6285 four H702 thousand H505 and five H2568 hundred: H3967 and three H7969 gates; H8179 and one H259 gate H8179 of Joseph, H3130 one H259 gate H8179 of Benjamin, H1144 one H259 gate H8179 of Dan. H1835

33 And at the south H5045 side H6285 four H702 thousand H505 and five H2568 hundred H3967 measures: H4060 and three H7969 gates; H8179 one H259 gate H8179 of Simeon, H8095 one H259 gate H8179 of Issachar, H3485 one H259 gate H8179 of Zebulun. H2074

34 At the west H3220 side H6285 four H702 thousand H505 and five H2568 hundred, H3967 with their three H7969 gates; H8179 one H259 gate H8179 of Gad, H1410 one H259 gate H8179 of Asher, H836 one H259 gate H8179 of Naphtali. H5321

35 It was round about H5439 eighteen H8083 H6240 thousand H505 measures: and the name H8034 of the city H5892 from that day H3117 shall be, The LORD is there. H3074

Worthy.Bible » Commentaries » Matthew Henry Commentary » Commentary on Ezekiel 48

Commentary on Ezekiel 48 Matthew Henry Commentary


Chapter 48

In this chapter we have particular directions given for the distribution of the land, of which we had the metes and bounds assigned in the foregoing chapter.

  • I. The portions of the twelve tribes, seven to the north of the sanctuary (v. 1-7) and five to the south (v. 23-29).
  • II. The allotment of land for the sanctuary, and the priests (v. 8-11), for the Levites (v. 12-14), for the city (v. 15-20), and for the prince (v. 21, 22). Much of this we had before, ch. 45.
  • III. A plan of the city, its gates, and the new name given to it (v. 30-35), which seals up, and concludes, the vision and prophecy of this book.

Eze 48:1-30

We have here a very short and ready way taken for the dividing of the land among the twelve tribes, not so tedious and so far about as the way that was taken in Joshua's time; for in the distribution of spiritual and heavenly blessings there is not that danger of murmuring and quarrelling that there is in the participation of the temporal blessings. When God gave to the labourers every one his penny those that were uneasy at it were soon put to silence with, May I not do what I will with my own? And such is the equal distribution here among the tribes. In this distribution of the land we may observe,

  • 1. That it differs very much from the division of it in Joshua's time, and agrees not with the order of their birth, nor with that of their blessing by Jacob or Moses. Simeon here is not divided in Jacob, nor is Zebulun a haven of ships, a plain intimation that it is not so much to be understood literally as spiritually, though the mystery of it is very much hidden from us. In gospel times old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new. The Israel of God is cast into a new method.
  • 2. That the tribe of Dan, which was last provided for in the first division of Canaan (Jos. 19:40), is first provided for here, v. 1. Thus in the gospel the last shall be first, Mt. 19:30. God, in the dispensation of his grace, does not follow the same method that he does in the disposals of his providence. But Dan had now his portion thereabouts where he had only one city before, northward, on the border of Damascus, and furthest of all from the sanctuary, because that tribe had revolted to idolatry.
  • 3. That all the ten tribes that were carried away by the king of Assyria, as well as the two tribes that were long afterwards carried to Babylon, have their allotment in this visionary land, which some think had its accomplishment in the particular persons and families of those tribes who returned with Judah and Benjamin, of which we find many instances in Ezra and Nehemiah; and it is probable that there were returns of many more afterwards at several times, which are not recorded; and the Jews having Galilee, and other parts, that had been the possessions of the ten tribes, put into their hands, in common with them, they enjoyed them. Grotius says, If the ten tribes had repented and returned to God, as the chief fathers of Judah and Benjamin did, and the priests and Levites (Ezra 1:5), they would have fared as those two tribes did, but they forfeited the benefit of this glorious prophecy by sin. However, we believe it has its designed accomplishment in the establishment and enlargement of the gospel church, and the happy settlement of all those who are Israelites indeed in the sure and sweet enjoyment of the privileges of the new covenant, in which there is enough for all and enough for each.
  • 4. That every tribe in this visionary distribution had its particular lot assigned it by a divine appointment; for it was never the intention of the gospel to pluck up the hedge of property and lay all in common; it was in a way of charity, not of legal right, that the first Christians had all things common (Acts 2:44), and many precepts of the gospel suppose that every man should know his own. We must not only acknowledge, but acquiesce in, the hand of God appointing us our lot, and be well pleased with it, believing it fittest for us. He shall choose our inheritance for us, Ps. 47:4.
  • 5. That the tribes lay contiguous. By the border of one tribe was the portion of another, all in a row, in exact order, so that, like stones in an arch, they fixed, and strengthened, and wedged in one another. Behold how good and how pleasant a thing it is for brethren thus to dwell together! It was a figure of the communion of churches and saints under the gospel-government; thus, though they are many, yet they are one, and should hold together in holy love and mutual assistance.
  • 6. That the lot of Reuben, which before lay at a distance beyond Jordan, now lies next to Judah, and next but one to the sanctuary; for the scandal he lay under, for which he was told he should not excel, began by this time to wear off. What has turned to the reproach of any person or people ought not to be remembered for ever, but should at length be kindly forgotten.
  • 7. That the sanctuary was in the midst of them. There were seven tribes to the north of it and the Levites, the prince's, and the city's portion, with that of five tribes more, to the south of it; so that it was, as it ought to be, in the heart of the kingdom, that it might diffuse its benign influences to the whole, and might be the centre of their unity. The tribes that lay most remote from each other would meet there in a mutual acquaintance and fellowship. Those of the same parish or congregation, though dispersed, and having no occasion otherwise to know each other, yet by meeting statedly to worship God together should have their hearts knit to each other in holy love.
  • 8. That where the sanctuary was the priests were: For them, even for the priests, shall this holy oblation be, v. 10. As, on the one hand, this denotes honour and comfort to ministers, that what is given for their support and maintenance is reckoned a holy oblation to the Lord, so it intimates their duty, which is that, since they are appointed and maintained for the service of the sanctuary, they ought to attend continually to this very thing, to reside on their cures. Those that live upon the altar must serve at the altar, not take the wages to themselves and devolve the work upon others; but how can they serve the altar, his altar they live upon, if they do not live near it?
  • 9. Those priests had the priests' share of these lands that had approved themselves faithful to God in times of trial (v. 11): It shall be for the sons of Zadok, who, it seems, had signalized themselves in some critical juncture, and went not astray when the children of Israel, and the other Levites, went astray. God will put honour upon those who keep their integrity in times of general apostasy, and he has special favours in reserve for them. Those are swimming upwards, and so they will find at last, that are swimming against the stream.
  • 10. The land which was appropriated to the ministers of the sanctuary might by no means be alienated. It was in the nature of the first-fruits of the land, and was therefore holy to the Lord; and, though the priests and Levites had both the use of it and the inheritance of it to them and their heirs, yet they might not sell it nor exchange it, v. 14. It is sacrilege to convert that to other uses which is dedicated to God.
  • 11. The land allotted for the city and its suburbs is called a profane place (v. 15), or common; not but that the city was a holy city above other cities, for the Lord was there, but, in comparison with the sanctuary, it was a profane place. Yet it is too often true in the worst sense that great cities, even those which, like this, have the sanctuary near them, are profane places, and it ought to be deeply lamented. It was the complaint of old, From Jerusalem has profaneness gone forth into all the land, Jer. 23:15.
  • 12. The city is made to be exactly square, and the suburbs extending themselves equally on all sides, as the Levites' cities did in the first division of the land (v. 16, 17), which, never being literally fulfilled in any city, intimates that it is to be understood spiritually of the beauty and stability of the gospel church, that city of the living God, which is formed according to the wisdom and counsel of God, and is made firm and immovable by his promise.
  • 13. Whereas, before, the inhabitants of Jerusalem were principally of Judah and Benjamin, in whose tribe it lay, now the head city lies not in the particular lot of any of the tribes, but those that serve the city, and bear office in it, shall serve it out of all the tribes of Israel, v. 19. The most eminent men must be picked out of all the tribes of Israel for the service of the city, because many eyes were upon it, and there was great resort to it from all parts of the nation and from other nations. Those that live in the city are said to serve the city, for, wherever we are, we must study to be serviceable to the place, some way or other, according as our capacity is. They must not come out of the tribes of Israel to the city to take their ease, and enjoy their pleasures, but to serve the city, to do all the good they can there, and in so doing they would have a good influence upon the country too.
  • 14. Care was taken that those who applied themselves to public business in the city, as well as in the sanctuary, should have an honourable comfortable maintenance; lands are appointed, the increase whereof shall be food unto those that serve the city, v. 18. Who goes a warfare at his own charges? Magistrates, that attend the service of the state, as well as ministers, that attend the service of the church, should have all due encouragement and support in so doing; and for this cause pay we tribute also.
  • 15. The prince had a lot for himself, suited to the dignity of his high station (v. 21); we took an account of it before, ch. 45. He was seated near the sanctuary, where the testimony of Israel was, and near the city, where the thrones of judgment were, that he might be a protection to both and might see the that duty of both was carefully and faithfully done; and herein he was a minister of God for good to the whole community. Christ is the church's prince, that defends it on every side, and creates a defense; nay, he is himself a defence upon all its glory and encompasses it with his favour.
  • 16. As Judah had his lot next the sanctuary on one side, so Benjamin had, of all the tribes, his lot nearest to it on the other side, which honour was reserved for those who adhered to the house of David and the temple at Jerusalem when the other ten tribes went astray from both. It is enough if treachery and apostasy, upon repentance, he pardoned, but constancy and fidelity shall be rewarded and preferred.

Eze 48:31-35

We have here a further account of the city that should be built for the metropolis of this glorious land, and to be the receptacle of those who would come from all parts to worship in the sanctuary adjoining. It is nowhere called Jerusalem, nor is the land which we have had such a particular account of the dividing of any where called the land of Canaan; for the old names are forgotten, to intimate that the old things are done away, behold all things have become new. Now, concerning this city, observe here,

  • 1. The measures of its out-lets, and the grounds belonging to it, for its several conveniences; each way its appurtenances extended 4500 measures 18,000 in all, v. 35. But what these measures were is uncertain. It is never said, in all this chapter, whether so many reeds (as our translation determines by inserting that word, v. 8, each reed containing six cubits and span, ch. 40:5, and why should the measurer appear with the measuring reed in his hand of that length if he did not measure with that, except where it is expressly said he measured by cubits?) or whether, as others think, it is so many cubits, because those are mentioned ch. 45:2 and ch. 47:3. Yet that makes me incline rather to think that where cubits are not mentioned must be intended so many lengths of the measuring reed. But those who understand it of so many cubits are not agreed whether it be meant of the common cubit, which was half a yard, or the geometrical cubit, which, for better expedition, is supposed to be mostly used in surveying lands, which, some say, contained six cubits, others about three cubits and a half, so making 1000 cubits the same with 1000 paces, that is, an English mile. But our being left at this uncertainty is an intimation that these things are to be understood spiritually, and that what is principally meant is that there is an exact and just proportion observed by Infinite Wisdom in modelling the gospel church, which though now we cannot discern we shall when we come to heaven.
  • 2. The number of its gates. It had twelve gates in all, three on each side, which was very agreeable when it lay four square; and these twelve gates were inscribed to the twelve tribes. Because the city was to be served out of all the tribes of Israel (v. 19) it was fit that each tribe should have its gate; and, Levi being here taken in, to keep to the number twelve Ephraim and Manasseh are made one in Joseph, v. 32. On the north side were the gates of Reuben, Judah, and Levi (v. 31), on the east the gates of Joseph, Benjamin, and Dan (v. 32), on the south the gates of Simeon, Issachar, and Zebulun (v. 33), and on the west the gates of Gad, Asher, and Naphtali, v. 34. Conformable to this, in St. John's vision, the new Jerusalem (for so the holy city is called there, though not here) has twelve gates, three on a side, and on them are written the names of the twelve tribes of the children of Israel, Rev. 21:12, 13. Note, Into the church of Christ, both militant and triumphant, there is a free access by faith for all that come of every tribe, from every quarter. Christ has opened the kingdom of heaven for all believers. Whoever will may come and take of the water of life, of the tree of life, freely.
  • 3. The name given to this city: From that day, when it shall be newly-erected according to this model, the name of it shall be, not, as before, Jerusalem-The vision of peace, but which is the original of that, and more than equivalent to it, Jehovah Shammah-The Lord is there, v. 35. This intimated,
    • (1.) That the captives, after their return, should have manifest tokens of God's presence with them and his residence among them, both in his ordinances and his providences. They shall have no occasion to ask, as their fathers did, Is the Lord among us, or is he not? for they shall see and say that he is with them of a truth. And then, though their troubles were many and threatening, they were like the bush which burned but was not consumed, because the Lord was there. But when God departed from their temple, when he said, Migremus hinc-Let us go hence, their house was soon left unto them desolate. Being no longer his, it was not much longer theirs.
    • (2.) That the gospel-church should likewise have the presence of God in it, though not in the Shechinah, as of old, yet in a token of it no less sure, that of his Spirit. Where the gospel is faithfully preached, gospel ordinances are duly administered, and God is worshipped in the name of Jesus Christ only, it may truly be said, The Lord is there; for faithful is he that has said, and he will be as good as his word, Lo, I am with you always even unto the end of the world. The Lord is there in his church, to rule and govern it, to protect and defend it, and graciously to accept and own his sincere worshippers, and to be nigh unto them in all that they call upon him for. This should engage us to keep close to the communion of saints, for the Lord is there; and then whither shall we go to better ourselves? Nay, it is true of every good Christian; he dwells in God, and God in him; whatever soul has in it a living principle of grace, it may be truly said, The Lord is There.
    • (3.) That the glory and happiness of heaven should consist chiefly in this, that the Lord is there. St. John's representation of that blessed state does indeed far exceed this in many respects. That is all gold, and pearls, and precious stones; it is much larger than this, and much brighter, for it needs not the light of the sun. But, in making the presence of God the principal matter of its bliss, they both agree. There the happiness of the glorified saints is made to be that God himself shall be with them (Rev. 21:3), that he who sits on the throne shall dwell among them, Rev. 7:15. And here it is made to crown the bliss of this holy city that the Lord is there. Let us therefore give all diligence to make sure to ourselves a place in that city, that we may be for ever with the Lord.