Ezekiel 48

The direction of the new land of inheritance amongst the twelve tribes of Israel, so that the place (whereof there was first mention made chapter 45) which was set apart for the sanctuary, the priests, Levites, city, and the prince, came to be divided between the seven northern, and the five southern tribes, verse 1 &c. the measure, and gates of the new city, with the names of the gates, and of the city, 30

1. Now these are the names of tribes: [so as they one next to another shall have their inheritance] from the end northward, at the side [Hebrews hand: so immediately again] of Hethlon, were one cometh to Hamath, [here beginneth the description of the first portion, which Dan should possess] Hezar-Enan, in border of Damascus, north-ward at the side of Hamath, (he(Dan, as appeareth by the sequel] shall also have the east (and) west-corner) [That is , that which lieth from the aforefaid north border, between the east and west-border in breadth. So, in the sequel. Hebrews the sea-corner. So, in the sequel. The south corner is not mentioned, except in the holy separate portion and in general of all Israel, (after Gad, Verse 28.) which some hold to be token of the spreading forth of the kingdom of Christ unto the ends of the earth] Dan(shall have) one (line). [That is portion. This is here and verse 23 inserted to fill up the sense, from chapter 43.13.And must be like-wise so understood in the sequel. Here and in the sequel, as also above chapter 47.14. appeareth again a manifest difference between the former old canal, and this new spiritual Israel. For before the inheritance was unequal, here is equality in the fellowship of the saints and spiritual children of Abraham, every tribe having as much as any (notwithstanding some particular difference in the placing) and are quite other waies placed then they were before. Also the order of naming or reckoning up of the tribes (which beginneth in the North at the meanest and formerly most sinful tribe of Dan) is worthy our observation. In Revelations 7.5 &c. Dan is left out: see there]

2. And by the border of Dan, from the east-corner unto the west-corner, Affer one.

3. And the border of Affer, from the east-corner unto the west-corner, Naphtali one.

4. And by the border of Naphtali, from the East-corner unto the West-corner unto the West-corner, Manasseh one.

5. And by the border of Manasseh, from the east-corner unto the west-corner, Ephraim one.

6. And by the border of Ephraim, from the East-corner unto the West-corner, Reuben one.

7. And the border of Reuben, from the East-corner unto the West-corner, Juda one.

8. And by the border of Juda, from the East-corner unto the West-corner shall be the heave-offering, [See above chapter 45.1,2, c. with the annotate. There] which ye shall offer, five and twenty thousand and (measuring reeds) in breadth, and the length as of one of the (other) parts, from the East-corner unto the west-corner and the sanctuary will be in the midst of it.

9. The heave-offering which ye shall offer unto the LORD shall be the length of five and twenty thousand, and breadth of ten thousand.

10. Ant therein shall be the holy heave-offering for the priests, northward (the length) of five and twenty thousand and west-ward the breadth of ten thousand, and east-ward the breadth of ten thousand and south-ward the length of five and twenty thousand: And the sanctuary of the Lord shall be in the midst thereof.

11. It shall be for the priests, that are sanctified, [Hebrews that is &c. that is, everyone that is consecrate] of the children of Zadok, which have kept my watch: which w.nt not astray when the children of Israel went astray; like as the other Levites went astray. [Or, when, &c. that is, when the (other) Levites went astray.]

12. And that which is offered of the heave-offering of the land shall be unto them a holiness [See Leviticus 2; on verse 3.] by the border of the Leviticus.

13. Moreover, the Levites shall have over against the border of the priests, the length of five and twenty thousand, and breadth of ten thousand: the whole length shall be five and twenty thousand and the breadth ten thousand.

14. And they shall not fell of it, neither change, nor alienate the firstlings of the land: [That is, that which is given and consecrated to God, as the first-fruits of the land were wont be consecrated to him] for it is a holiness unto the LORD.

15. But the five thousand, (that is) that which is left in the breadth before [Hebrews at the face] the five and twenty thousand the same shall be profane, for the city, for dwelling, and for suburbs: [That is, it shall be a common place for a common and civil use, being profane in comparison of the other place, that was in a special manner consecrated and set apart for the service of God, and for the consecrated persons. Compare Deuteronomy 20 on verse 6 and Jeremiah 31:5. This might serve here to show the difference that there is between Ecclesiastical or spiritual, and secular or civil things. Otherwise the city is also taken, as signifying the heavenly Jerusalem, or the Church: as below verse 31, &c and verse 35. And elsewhere often: and in that sense it is called the holy city, Revelations 21.2, &c. unless we should take it so, as that this city (that is, the church) shall be on earth in these places that were before unclean and profane. See Jeremiah 31 on verse 40. But compare above chapter 42.20. With annotate.] And the city shall be in the city thereof.

16. And these shall be the measures of thereof; the north-corner four thousand and five hundred (measuring reeds: and the south corner four thousand and five hundred: and on the east-corner four thousand and five hundred; and the west-corner four thousand and five hundred.

17. Now the suburbs of the city shall be north-ward two hundred and fifty and south-ward two hundred and fifty, and east-ward hundred and fifty, and west-ward two hundred and fifty.

18. And the residue in length over against the holy heave-offering of holiness. So in the sequel] shall be ten thousand east-ward, and ten thousand west-wards; and it shall be over against the holy heave-offering: and the increase thereof shall be for maintenance [Hebrews bread; that is, maintenance, and livelihood] for them that serve the city.

19. And that serve [Hebrews serveth] the city, shall serve it out all the tribes of Israel. {Others, shall till, or manure, maintain the (remaining part :) or shall out of all the tribes of Israel serve the same (Israel) that is, they that serve in the city shall be helpful and serviceable unto all other Israelites in dispatching of the business: or they shall take those ministers out of all the tribes.

20. The whole heave-offering shall be of five and twenty thousand (measuring reeds) with five and twenty thousand: [To wit, 25000 reeds in length, and so many reed in breadth. Compare the phrase with above chapter 45.2] ye shall offer the holy heave-offering four squares, with the possession of the city. [That is, the city (according to the exposition of some) being therein also comprehended. Concerning the four-square ness, we may compare this with Revelation 21:16. Others, ye shall offer the fourth part of the holy heave-offering for the possession of the city: taking the place of the sanctuary for the fifth part, of the priests for the second, of the Levites for the third and of the city for the church.]

21. And the residue shall be the prince, on this (side) and on that side of the holy heave-offering and of the possession of the city, before [Hebrews towards, or at, before the face. So, in the sequel] this five and twenty thousand (measuring reeds) of the heave-offering, unto the east and west-border, before the five and twenty thousand and west border, over against the (other) [or fore mentioned] portions (that) shall be for the prince: and holy heave-offering, [others over against the portions of the prince, and it shall be an holy heave-offering, &c] and the sanctuary of the house shall e I the midst thereof.

22. Now from the possession of the Levites, and from the possession of the city, being in the midst of that which shall be the princes: (that which) is between the border of Benjamin, shall be the prince.

23. Moreover, concerning the rest of the tribes: from the east-corner unto the west-corner, Benjamin one (line.)

24. And by the border of Benjamin from the East Corner, Simeon one.

25. And by the border of Simeon, from the east-corner unto the west-corner, Issachar one.

26. And by the border of Issachar, from the east-corner unto the west-corner, Zebulon one.

27. And the border of Zebulon, from the east-corner unto the west-corner, Gad one.

28. Now the border of Gad, at the south-corner south-ward; [Or toward Tem in, see of this place, and the next following above chapter 47 on verse 19] there shall be the border from Thamar, (towards) the water of strife of Kades, (so on) towards the brook, unto the great sea:

29. This is the land which ye shall cause to fall for inheritance, [In the Hebrews the phase is somewhat obscure, and seemeth to be cleared by another, used above chapter 45.1 and 47. 14, 22. which is also here for clearness fake put in the text. Hebrews properly from the inheritance, or for the inheritance sake, which may be understood, either of dividing the common inheritance of every whole tube unto the particular person thereunto belonging, or casting the lot upon the particular inheritances, the meaning being all one. Others, from the brook (Sichor) that is, from the border of Egypt] for the tribes of Israel: and those shall be their [the tribes] portions, faith the Lord LORD.

30. Moreover, these shall be the goings out of the city; [See above verse 16 where it seemeth to be expounded, what we are here to understand by this goings out, to wit, the whole compass of the four parts of the city, from which they went according to the several respective gates, as far as every part reached, at whose utmost end were the gates. Others understand by the goings out, the gates themselves] from the north-corner, four thousand and five hundred measures. [That is, measuring reeds. See above chapter40.5]

31. And the gates of the city shall be according to the names of the tribes of Israel: [whereby maybe understood, that there shall be an open entrance unto the church of God or into Jerusalem, not onely for the elect of Israel, but also for the elect of the Gentiles, or of all nations from the four corners of the world, as followeth. Compare Malachi 1:11. Matthew 8:11. Luke 13:29. Revelations 21.12,13,14,21,25. likewise 7.9,10] three gates northward: one gate of Reuben, one gate of Juda, one gate of Levi.

32. And at the east-corner, four thousand and five hundred (measures) and three gate: namely, one gate of Joseph, one gate of Benjamin, and one gate of Dan.

33. The south-corner also four thousand and five hundred measures, and three gates: one gate of Simeon, one gate of Issachar, one gate of Zebulon.

34. The West-corner [Hebrews corner of the sea, as above often] four thousand and five hundred: their gates three, one gate of God, one gate Asher, one gate of Naphthali.

35. Round about eighteen thousand: and the name of the city from (that) day shall be. The LORD is THERE. [And consequently, health and salvation. Hebrews JEHOVAH SCHAMMA. See. Jeremiah 3 .17. Joel 3:21. Zachariah 2.10,11. Revelation 21:3,22. and 22.3,4 c.]