Ezekiel 48

The Allotment of the Land and the Gates of the City

1And
Or “Now”
these are the names of the tribes: At the end of the north, ⌞along the way to Hethlon⌟
Literally “to the side of the way of Hethlon”
from Lebo-hamath to Hazar Enan on the boundary of Damascus ⌞beside Hamath northward⌟,
Literally “northward to the side of Hamat,”
there will be one portion for Dan from the eastern border to the ⌞west⌟.
Literally “sea”
2And next to the territory of Dan, from ⌞the eastern border⌟
Literally “the side of the east
up to ⌞the western border⌟,
Literally “the side of the sea/west”
one portion for Asher.
3And next to the territory of Asher, from ⌞the eastern border⌟
Literally “the side of the east”
and up to ⌞the western border⌟,
Literally “the side of the west/sea”
one portion for Naphtali.
4And next to the territory of Naphtali, from ⌞the eastern border⌟
Literally “the side of the east”
up to ⌞the western border⌟,
Literally “the side of the sea/west”
one portion for Manasseh.
5And next to the territory of Manasseh, from ⌞the eastern border⌟
Literally “the side of the east”
up to ⌞the western border⌟,
Literally “the side of the sea/west”
one portion for Ephraim.
6And next to the territory of Ephraim, from ⌞the eastern border⌟
Literally “the side of the east”
and up to ⌞the western border⌟,
Literally “the side of the sea/west
one portion for Reuben.
7And next to the territory of Reuben, from ⌞the eastern border⌟
Literally “the side of the east
up to ⌞the western border⌟,
Literally “the side of the sea/west
one portion for Judah.

8And next to the territory of Judah, from ⌞the eastern border⌟
Literally “the side of the east
up to ⌞the western border⌟,
Literally “the side of the sea/west
shall be located the contribution that you set apart, twenty-five thousand cubits
That is, 8.33 miles
in width, and its length just like one of the portions from ⌞the eastern border⌟
Literally “the side of the east
up to ⌞the western border⌟,
Literally “the side of the sea/west
and the sanctuary shall be in the midst of it.
9The contribution that you shall set apart for Yahweh, its length shall be twenty-five thousand cubits,
That is, 8.33 miles
and its width ten thousand cubits.
That is, 3.5 miles; cf. 48:13 and 45:1
10And to these shall be ⌞the holy district⌟:
Literally “the contribution of the holiness”
to the priests northwards twenty-five thousand cubits,
That is, 8.33 miles
and westwards its width ten thousand cubits,
That is, 3.5 miles
and eastwards its width ten thousand cubits,
That is, 3.5 miles
and southwards its length twenty-five thousand cubits,
That is, 8.33 miles
and the sanctuary of Yahweh shall be in the midst of it.
11To the priests, the ones being consecrated from the descendants
Or “sons”
of Zadok, who took care of my service and who ⌞did not go astray⌟
Literally “who not they went astray”
⌞when the Israelites went astray⌟,
Literally “at going astray the children of Israel”
⌞just as⌟
Literally “as that”
the Levites went astray.
12And it will be for them a special gift from the contribution of the land ⌞as a most holy object⌟
Literally “as a holiness of holinesses”
next to the territory of the Levites.
13And the Levites ⌞alongside⌟
Literally “to corresponding”
the territory of the priests shall have twenty-five thousand cubits
That is, 8.33 miles
in length and in width ten thousand cubits,
That is, 3.5 miles
its ⌞full length⌟,
Literally “all/every of its length ….”
twenty-five thousand cubits
That is, 8.33 miles
and its full width, ten thousand cubits.
That is, 3.5 miles
14And they shall not sell any part from it, and shall not exchange, and shall not transfer the best of the land, for it is holy to Yahweh.

15And ⌞the remaining part⌟
Literally “the being a part left over”
of five thousand cubits
That is, 1.75 miles
in the width ⌞by⌟
Literally “in front of”
twenty-five thousand cubits,
That is, 8.33 miles
is unholy;
Or “common”
it is for the city as dwelling and as pastureland; and the city will be located ⌞in the middle of it⌟.
Literally “will be the city in its middle”
16And these shall be its measurements: on its side to the north, four thousand five hundred cubits;
That is, 1.5 miles
and on its side to the south, four thousand five hundred cubits;
That is, 1.5 miles
and on ⌞the eastern side⌟,
Literally “from the side of the east”
four thousand five hundred cubits;
That is, 1.5 miles
and on ⌞the western side⌟,
Literally “and the side of the sea/west + directive”
four thousand five hundred cubits.
That is, 1.5 miles
17And a pastureland shall be for the city northwards, two hundred and fifty cubits,
That is, 150 yards
southwards two hundred and fifty cubits,
That is, 150 yards
and eastwards two hundred and fifty cubits,
That is, 150 yards
and westwards two hundred and fifty cubits.
That is, 150 yards
18And the rest in its length ⌞alongside⌟
Literally “to corresponding”
⌞the holy district⌟,
Literally “the contribution of the holiness”
ten thousand cubits
That is, 3.5 miles
eastwards and ten thousand
That is, 3.5 miles
westwards; and it shall be ⌞alongside⌟
Literally “to corresponding”
⌞the holy district⌟
Literally “the contribution of the holiness”
and its yield
According to the reading tradition (Qere); cf. BHS
shall be as food for the workers of the city.
19And the workers of the city from all the tribes of Israel shall cultivate it. 20All of the contribution, twenty-five thousand by twenty five thousand cubits
That is, 8.33 square miles
square, you shall set apart as ⌞the holy district⌟
Literally “the contribution of the holiness”
along with the property of the city.
21And the rest shall be to
Or “for”
the prince, ⌞on both sides⌟
Literally “from this and from this”
⌞of the holy district⌟
Literally “of the contribution of the holiness”
and of the property of the city ⌞extending from⌟
Literally “to in front of”
twenty-five thousand cubits of the contribution up to the boundary of the east, and westwards ⌞extending⌟
Literally “to in front of”
twenty-five thousand cubits
That is, 8.33 miles
to the boundary of the sea ⌞alongside⌟
Literally “to corresponding”
the tribal portions. They shall be for the prince, and it shall be ⌞the holy district⌟,
Literally “the contribution of the holiness”
and the sanctuary of the temple
Or “house”
will be in its middle.
22And also the property of the Levites and the property of the city will be in the midst of the property which is for the prince; between the territory of Judah and between the territory of Benjamin the land will be for the prince.

23And for the remainder of the tribes: From the side on the east up to the side on the west, Benjamin one portion; 24and next to the territory of Benjamin, from the side on the east up to the side of the sea, Simeon one portion; 25and next to the territory of Simeon, from the side of the east up to the side of the sea, Issachar one portion; 26and next to the territory of Issachar, from the side of the east up to the side of the sea, Zebulun one portion; 27and next to the territory of Zebulun, from the side of the east up to the side of the sea, Gad one portion; 28and next to the territory of Gad, to the side of the south, ⌞southward⌟;
Literally “south”
and the territory will be from Tamar to the waters of Meribath Kadesh, toward the wadi,
That is, the Wadi of Egypt
on to the Great Sea.
That is, the Mediterranean
29This is the land that you shall allot as an inheritance to the tribes of Israel, and these are their portions,” ⌞declares⌟
Literally “declaration of”
the Lord Yahweh.

30And these shall be the exits of the city: From
Or “on” or “along”
⌞the north side⌟,
Literally “the side of the north”
four thousand and five hundred cubits
That is, 1.5 miles
by measurement.
31And the gates of the city shall be according to the names of the tribes of Israel: three gates to the north, the gate of Reuben, one; the gate of Judah, one; the gate of Levi, one. 32And on the east side, four thousand five hundred cubits,
That is, 1.5 miles
and three gates, and so the gate of Joseph, one; the gate of Benjamin, one; the gate of Dan, one.
33And on the south side, four thousand five hundred cubits
That is, 1.5 miles
by measurement, and so three gates, the gate of Simeon, one; the gate of Issachar, one; the gate of Zebulun, one.
34And on the west
Or “sea”
side, four thousand five hundred cubits,
That is, 1.5 miles
and their gates three, the gate of Gad, one; the gate of Asher, one; the gate of Naphtali, one.
35All around the city is eighteen thousand cubits,
That is, 6 miles
and the name of the city from that day is “Yahweh Is There”!

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