Ezekiel 45 - Introduction

Ezekiel 45:1-17. The portions of land assigned for maintenance to the priests, levites and prince respectively; with the dues which the people shall pay the prince, in return for which he shall provide the ritual

(1) Ezekiel 45:1. The oblation (terumah) of land for maintenance of priests, Levites and prince, and for the city.

(2) Ezekiel 45:9. Regulations as to just standards of weight, measure and coinage.

(3) Ezekiel 45:13. Dues to be paid the prince in respect of his being at the charge of providing the materials of ritual.

In the centre of the country a portion of land shall be measured oft 25,000 long and 20,000 broad. The measure is no doubt cubits, not reeds, though this is stated only in regard to the free place around the sanctuary (Ezekiel 45:2). Length is the measure E. to W., and breadth that from N. to S. This region is to be divided into two parallel strips E. to W., one of 25,000 long and 10,000 broad, which shall be for the priests (Ezekiel 45:4), and another N. of this, of the same length and breadth, which shall be for the Levites (Ezekiel 45:5). Parallel to this on the S. side of the priests" domain, of the same length (25,000) with it and 5000 broad, there shall be a portion of land for the possession of the city. In the midst of it the city shall be situated (Ezekiel 45:6). These three portions thus form a square of 25,000. Finally the land from the E. side of this square to the Jordan, and from the W. side of it to the sea shall be for a possession to the prince (Ezekiel 45:7).