Ezekiel Chapter 48

At a Glance

  • Ezekiel 48 completes the temple-centered vision by detailing the final distribution of the tribes around the restored sanctuary, emphasizing a balanced, inclusive, and sacred geography.
  • Historical & Literary Context.
  • As the culmination of the temple vision (chapters 40–48), Ezekiel 48 binds together geography, priestly succession, and civic life in a single, comprehensive blueprint.
  • - Sacred Geography and Unity: A cohesive map that centers life on the sanctuary and the divine presence.
  • - Priesthood and Accessibility: Zadokite priests’ special status highlights faithful ministry and reverent worship.

Chapter Overview

Ezekiel 48 completes the temple-centered vision by detailing the final distribution of the tribes around the restored sanctuary, emphasizing a balanced, inclusive, and sacred geography. The chapter enumerates the tribal allotments, culminating in a central sanctuary and a continuous, holy oblation around the city and temple complex. It designates a distinct portion for the sanctuary, the priests (especially the Zadokites), and the Levites, while ensuring the tribe portions reflect a settled, organized pattern that preserves unity and order. The layout reinforces communal identity around the sanctuary’s center, with each tribe assigned a precise place yet all moving toward a shared holy purpose. The chapter’s final emphasis is on the city as a dwelling place for the divine presence among a holy people, with the sanctuary as the focal point of life, worship, and justice. The overall arc capstones the restoration vision: a transformed people living under God’s rule with sacred space and righteous leadership at the heart of daily life.

Historical & Literary Context

As the culmination of the temple vision (chapters 40–48), Ezekiel 48 binds together geography, priestly succession, and civic life in a single, comprehensive blueprint. The chapter’s structure—lists of tribal portions, priestly allocations, and a central sanctuary—reflects ancient Near Eastern patterns of sacred space inhabited by a trusted, covenant people. The literary aim is to provide theological and practical guidance for a community reformed by divine presence, one that experiences identity and continuity through proper worship, governance, and land use. Ezekiel’s language remains ceremonial and visionary, but the message is deeply pastoral: restore a people by anchoring life around the holy center.

Key Themes

- Sacred Geography and Unity: A cohesive map that centers life on the sanctuary and the divine presence.

- Priesthood and Accessibility: Zadokite priests’ special status highlights faithful ministry and reverent worship.

- Collective Identity: Tribal allotments fused around a shared holy purpose; unity under God’s rule.

- Holiness and Justice: A life ordered by righteousness, with a divine-centered social order.

Modern Application

- Shared worship, shared space: Modern faith communities can reflect a centralized, worship-focused approach to life, ensuring institutional arrangements support holiness and justice.

- Leadership accountability: Zadokite priestly fidelity offers a model for leadership integrity and covenantal faithfulness.

- Community unity: Emphasizing common purpose around a sacred center guides congregations toward humble, unified mission.

- Ezekiel 40–43 (Temple structure)

- Leviticus 21–22 (Priestly purity and service)

- Acts 2:42–47 (Communal life anchored in teaching, fellowship, breaking of bread, and prayers)

- Revelation 21–22 (New Jerusalem center and sanctified city)

- Jesus (fulfillment of temple, presence, and unity)

- Moses (covenant leadership and safeguarding holiness)

- Paul (church as temple of the Spirit, unity in diversity)

Chapter Text

1

Now these are the names of the tribes. From the north end to the coast of the way of Hethlon, as one goeth to Hamath, Hazarenan, the border of Damascus northward, to the coast of Hamath; for these are his sides east and west; a portion for Dan.

2

And by the border of Dan, from the east side unto the west side, a portion for Asher.

3

And by the border of Asher, from the east side even unto the west side, a portion for Naphtali.

4

And by the border of Naphtali, from the east side unto the west side, a portion for Manasseh.

5

And by the border of Manasseh, from the east side unto the west side, a portion for Ephraim.

6

And by the border of Ephraim, from the east side even unto the west side, a portion for Reuben.

7

And by the border of Reuben, from the east side unto the west side, a portion for Judah.

8

And by the border of Judah, from the east side unto the west side, shall be the offering which ye shall offer of five and twenty thousand reeds in breadth, and in length as one of the other parts, from the east side unto the west side: and the sanctuary shall be in the midst of it.

9

The oblation that ye shall offer unto the LORD shall be of five and twenty thousand in length, and of ten thousand in breadth.

10

And for them, even for the priests, shall be this holy oblation; toward the north five and twenty thousand in length, and toward the west ten thousand in breadth, and toward the east ten thousand in breadth, and toward the south five and twenty thousand in length: and the sanctuary of the LORD shall be in the midst thereof.

11

It shall be for the priests that are sanctified of the sons of Zadok; which have kept my charge, which went not astray when the children of Israel went astray, as the Levites went astray.

12

And this oblation of the land that is offered shall be unto them a thing most holy by the border of the Levites.

13

And over against the border of the priests the Levites shall have five and twenty thousand in length, and ten thousand in breadth: all the length shall be five and twenty thousand, and the breadth ten thousand.

14

And they shall not sell of it, neither exchange, nor alienate the firstfruits of the land: for it is holy unto the LORD.

15

And the five thousand, that are left in the breadth over against the five and twenty thousand, shall be a profane place for the city, for dwelling, and for suburbs: and the city shall be in the midst thereof.

16

And these shall be the measures thereof; the north side four thousand and five hundred, and the south side four thousand and five hundred, and on the east side four thousand and five hundred, and the west side four thousand and five hundred.

17

And the suburbs of the city shall be toward the north two hundred and fifty, and toward the south two hundred and fifty, and toward the east two hundred and fifty, and toward the west two hundred and fifty.

18

And the residue in length over against the oblation of the holy portion shall be ten thousand eastward, and ten thousand westward: and it shall be over against the oblation of the holy portion; and the increase thereof shall be for food unto them that serve the city.

19

And they that serve the city shall serve it out of all the tribes of Israel.

20

All the oblation shall be five and twenty thousand by five and twenty thousand: ye shall offer the holy oblation foursquare, with the possession of the city.

21

And the residue shall be for the prince, on the one side and on the other of the holy oblation, and of the possession of the city, over against the five and twenty thousand of the oblation toward the east border, and westward over against the five and twenty thousand toward the west border, over against the portions for the prince: and it shall be the holy oblation; and the sanctuary of the house shall be in the midst thereof.

22

Moreover from the possession of the Levites, and from the possession of the city, being in the midst of that which is the prince’s, between the border of Judah and the border of Benjamin, shall be for the prince.

23

As for the rest of the tribes, from the east side unto the west side, Benjamin shall have a portion.

24

And by the border of Benjamin, from the east side unto the west side, Simeon shall have a portion.

25

And by the border of Simeon, from the east side unto the west side, Issachar a portion.

26

And by the border of Issachar, from the east side unto the west side, Zebulun a portion.

27

And by the border of Zebulun, from the east side unto the west side, Gad a portion.

28

And by the border of Gad, at the south side southward, the border shall be even from Tamar unto the waters of strife in Kadesh, and to the river toward the great sea.

29

This is the land which ye shall divide by lot unto the tribes of Israel for inheritance, and these are their portions, saith the Lord GOD.

30

And these are the goings out of the city on the north side, four thousand and five hundred measures.

31

And the gates of the city shall be after the names of the tribes of Israel: three gates northward; one gate of Reuben, one gate of Judah, one gate of Levi.

32

And at the east side four thousand and five hundred: and three gates; and one gate of Joseph, one gate of Benjamin, one gate of Dan.

33

And at the south side four thousand and five hundred measures: and three gates; one gate of Simeon, one gate of Issachar, one gate of Zebulun.

34

At the west side four thousand and five hundred, with their three gates; one gate of Gad, one gate of Asher, one gate of Naphtali.

35

It was round about eighteen thousand measures: and the name of the city from that day shall be, The LORD is there.

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