Ezekiel 48:1-7

D. The Apportionment of the Land 48:1-35

Now that the boundaries of the promised land have been spelled out, the prophet deals with the division of that land among the tribes. The whole territory west of Jordan is to be divided into twelve parallel portions running from east to west. No mention is made of the width of these tribal areas.[543]

[543] The Rabbis gave the width of these portions as 25,000 reeds. They equaled the dimensions of the sanctified portion with those of a tribal tract.

1. The seven northern tribes (48:1-7)

TRANSLATION

(1) Now these are the names of the tribes: From the north end, beside the way of Hethion to the entrance of Hamath, Hazarenan at the border of Damascus, northward beside Hamath, (and they shall have their sides east and west,) Dan, one portion. (2) And by the border of Dan, from the east side unto the west side, Asher, one portion. (3) And by the border of Asher, from the east side even unto the west side, Naphtali, one portion. (4) And by the border of Naphtali, from the east side unto the west side, Manasseh, one portion. (5) And by the border of Manasseh, from the east side unto the west side, Ephraim, one portion. (6) And by the border of Ephraim, from the east side even unto the west side, Reuben, one portion. (7) And by the border of Reuben, from the east side unto the west side, Judah, one portion.

COMMENTS

Seven tribes are assigned territories north of the holy portion of the land, i.e., the Temple area and domains of the priests, Levites and prince. From north to south, these seven tribes are (1) Dan, (2) Asher, (3) Naphtali, (4) Manasseh, (5) Ephraim. (6) Reuben, and (7) Judah. The three tribes farthest away from the sanctuary are those descended from Jacob's concubines.[544] Judah, because of the Messianic blessing of Genesis 49:8-12, was given the honor of inheritance nearer to the sanctuary.

[544] Dan and Naphtah were born to Rachel's maid Bilhah and Asher to Leah's maid Zilpah (Genesis 30:5-13).