The River From The Temple. The Boundaries Of The Land. Ezekiel 47:1-23

Transcription

1 1 The River From The Temple The Boundaries Of The Land Ezekiel 47:1-23

2 2 The River From the Temple The Boundaries of the Land Text: Ezekiel 47:1-23, 1. The man brought me back to the entrance of the temple, and I saw water coming out from under the threshold of the temple toward the east (for the temple faced east). The water was coming down from under the south side of the temple, south of the altar. 2. He then brought me out through the north gate and led me around the outside to the outer gate facing east, and the water was flowing from the south side. 3. As the man went eastward with a measuring line in his hand, he measured off a thousand cubits and then led me through water that was ankle-deep. 4. He measured off another thousand cubits and led me through water that was knee-deep. He measured off another thousand and led me through water that was up to the waist. 5. He measured off another thousand, but now it was a river that I could not cross, because the water had risen and was deep enough to swim in a river that no one could cross. 6. He asked me, Son of man, do you see this? Then he led me back to the bank of the river. 7. When I arrived there, I saw a great number of trees on each side of the river. 8. He said to me, This water flows toward the eastern region and goes down into the Arabah, where it enters the Sea. When it empties into the Sea, the water there becomes fresh. 9. Swarms of living creatures will live wherever the river flows. There will be large numbers of fish, because this water flows

3 3 there and makes the salt water fresh; so where the river flows everything will live. 10. Fishermen will stand along the shore; from En Gedi to En Eglaim there will be places for spreading nets. The fish will be of many kinds like the fish of the Great Sea. 11. But the swamps and marshes will not become fresh; they will be left for salt. 12. Fruit trees of all kinds will grow on both banks of the river. Their leaves will not wither, nor will their fruit fail. Every month they will bear, because the water from the sanctuary flows to them. Their fruit will serve for food and their leaves for healing. 13. This is what the Sovereign Lord says: These are the boundaries by which you are to divide the land for an inheritance among the twelve tribes of Israel, with two portions for Joseph. 14. You are to divide it equally among them. Because I swore with uplifted hand to give it to your forefathers, this land will become your inheritance. 15. This is to be the boundary of the land: On the north side it will run from the Great Sea by the Hethlon road past Lebo Hamath to Zedad, 16. Berothah and Sibraim (which lies on the border between Damascus and Hamath), as far as Hazer Hatticon, which is on the border of Hauran. 17. The boundary will extend from the sea to Hazar Enan, along the northern border of Damascus, with the border of Hamath to the north. This will be the north boundary. 18. On the east side the boundary will run between Hauran and Damascus, along the Jordan between Gilead and the land of Israel, to the eastern sea and as far as Tamar. This will be the east boundary. 19. On the south side it will run from Tamar as far as the waters of Meribah Kadesh, then along the Wadi of Egypt to the Great Sea. This will be the south boundary.

4 4 20. On the west side, the Great Sea will be the boundary to a point opposite Lebo Hamath. This will be the west boundary. 21. You are to distribute this land among yourselves according to the tribes of Israel. 22. You are to allot it as an inheritance for yourselves and for the aliens who have settled among you and who have children. You are to consider them as native-born Israelites; along with you they are to be allotted an inheritance among the tribes of Israel. 23. In whatever tribe the alien settles, there you are to give him his inheritance, declares the Sovereign Lord. (NIV 1984) Introduction: I. Ancient near eastern people, Hamilton well wrote, placed great importance on a harmonious relationship of deity-people-land. A. God has returned to his temple and has given instruction as to how Israel was to maintain a harmonious relationship with the LORD. (See Hamilton.) B. The LORD s sanctification of the land comes by means of a river that inexplicably deepens without tributaries, flows over and through hills, makes fresh the most salty water on earth, and causes trees perpetually to produce fruit. (See Hamilton.) C. Life on their land, Yahweh and the temple in its midst, would be indescribably and unimaginably wonderful, Hamilton observed, when they returned from exile. II. Fredenburg wrote that:... A. the temple would have a restorative effect in the land (Ezekiel 47:1-12).

5 5 1. Zechariah 13:1, On that day a fountain will be opened to the house of David and the inhabitants of Jerusalem, to cleanse them from sin and impurity. (NIV 1984) 2. Zechariah 14:8, On that day living water will flow out from Jerusalem, half to the eastern sea and half to the western sea, in summer and in winter. (NIV 1984) 3. Revelation 22:1-2, Then the angel showed me the river of the water of life, as clear as crystal, flowing from the throne of God and of the Lamb down the middle of the great street of the city. On each side of the river stood the tree of life, bearing twelve crops of fruit, yielding its fruit every month. And the leaves of the tree are for the healing of the nations. (NIV 1984) B. ideal boundaries of the Israelite territory were established (Ezekiel 47:13-23). C. the land would be reapportioned to the tribes (Ezekiel 48:1-29). Commentary: The River From the Temple Ezekiel 47:1, The man brought me back to the entrance of the temple, and I saw water coming out from under the threshold of the temple toward the east (for the temple faced east). The water was coming down from under the south side of the temple, south of the altar. (NIV 1984)

6 6 I. The man brought me back to the entrance of the temple, and... A. The angelic guide brought Ezekiel back from the sacrificial kitchen areas to the entrance of the temple. 1. Ezekiel 46:21-24, He then brought me to the outer court and led me around to its four corners, and I saw in each corner another court. In the four corners of the outer court were enclosed courts, forty cubits long and thirty cubits wide; each of the courts in the four corners was the same size. Around the inside of each of the four courts was a ledge of stone, with places for fire built all around under the ledge. He said to me, These are the kitchens where those who minister at the temple will cook the sacrifices of the people. (NIV 1984) B. Ezekiel, having seen the entire court of the people, is escorted back by the north gate into the courts of the priests. (Clarke) II. I saw water coming out from under the threshold (porch) of the temple toward the east (for the temple faced east). A. Water came out from under the threshold of the temple door which faced east. B. From the gate of the temple, Ezekiel saw water which flowed under the threshold of the east gate. (Clarke) 1. Ezekiel 40:48-49, He brought me to the portico of the temple and measured the jambs of the portico; they were five cubits wide on either side. The width of the entrance was fourteen cubits and its projecting walls were three cubits wide on either

7 7 side. The portico was twenty cubits wide, and twelve cubits from front to back. It was reached by a flight of stairs, and there were pillars on each side of the jambs. (NIV 1984) 2. Ezekiel 9:3, Now the glory of the God of Israel went up from above the cherubim, where it had been, and moved to the threshold of the temple. Then the Lord called to the man clothed in linen who had the writing kit at his side (NIV 1984) C. The flowing of this river of water from the temple reminds us of the waters of Shiloah. (See The Pulpit Commentary.) 1. Isaiah 8:6, Because this people has rejected the gently flowing waters of Shiloah and rejoices over Rezin and the son of Remaliah, (NIV 1984) 2. Psalm 46:4, There is a river whose streams make glad the city of God, the holy place where the Most High dwells (NIV 1984) 3. Joel 3:18, In that day the mountains will drip new wine, and the hills will flow with milk; all the ravines of Judah will run with water. A fountain will flow out of the Lord s house and will water the valley of acacias. (NIV 1984) 4. The Valley of Shittim or the Acacia Valley was located on the borders of Moab east of the Jordan River. It was here the Israelites on their journey from Egypt grievously sinned. (See The Pulpit Commentary.)

8 8 a. Numbers 25:1, While Israel was staying in Shittim, the men began to indulge in sexual immorality with Moabite women, (NIV 1984) b. Numbers 33:49, There on the plains of Moab they camped along the Jordan from Beth Jeshimoth to Abel Shittim. (NIV 1984) III. The water was coming down from under the south side of the temple, south of the altar. A. The water ran on the south side of the temple, south of the altar in the inner court, through the outer court, and out of the temple on the south side of the outer gate facing east. (See Fredenburg.) B. The water was flowing down from under the right side of the temple, from south of the altar. (NET Bible) C. The water passed to the south of the altar of burntofferings on the right of the temple, ran from the west to the east, that they might fall into the brook Kidron, and thence be carried into the Dead Sea. (Clarke) 1. Joel 3:18, In that day the mountains will drip new wine, and the hills will flow with milk; all the ravines of Judah will run with water. A fountain will flow out of the Lord s house and will water the valley of acacias. (NIV 1984) 2. Zechariah 14:8, On that day living water will flow out from Jerusalem, half to the eastern sea and half to the western sea, in summer and in winter. (NIV 1984)

9 9 D. The water went down, descended, because the temple was built on higher ground than the inner court. (The Pulpit Commentary) E. Water, according to The Pulpit Commentary, issued: 1. from under the threshold of the house, or from the right side or shoulder of the house; that is, from the corner where the south wall of the porch and the east wall of the temple joined, or... a. Ezekiel 41:1, Then the man brought me to the outer sanctuary and measured the jambs; the width of the jambs was six cubits on each side. (NIV 1984) 3. from the south side of the altar which stood exactly in front of the temple porch. a. Ezekiel 40:47, Then he measured the court: It was square a hundred cubits long and a hundred cubits wide. And the altar was in front of the temple. (NIV 1984) 2 Kings 47:2, He then brought me out through the north gate and led me around the outside to the outer gate facing east, and the water was flowing from the south side. (NIV 1984) I. He then brought me out through the north gate and led me around the outside to the outer gate facing east, and... A. The man led Ezekiel out the north gate of the temple, around the outside of the temple compound to the outer gate facing east. (Fredenburg)

10 10 B. Ezekiel could not leave through the inner east gate because it was shut on the six working days of each week nor through the outer east gate because it was always closed. (See The Pulpit Commentary.) 1. Ezekiel 46:1, This is what the Sovereign Lord says: The gate of the inner court facing east is to be shut on the six working days, but on the Sabbath day and on the day of the New Moon it is to be opened. (NIV 1984) 2. Ezekiel 44:1, Then the man brought me back to the outer gate of the sanctuary, the one facing east, and it was shut. (NIV 1984) C. From outside the outer east gate Ezekiel observed the flow (trickle) of water from the temple. D. The right side in this verse referred to the right side or shoulder, the corner where the east wall of the temple and the south wall of the gate joined. (The Pulpit Commentary) II. the water was flowing from the south side. A. From his location, Ezekiel could see the water flowing from the south side of the temple compound. B. The NET Bible reads trickling out in place of flowing from as in the NIV and Clarke suggested oozed, dropped out or drop by drop would convey the small amount of water that began this wondrous river. C. Compare the phraseology of Ezekiel 47:1-12 with Revelation 22:1-6, Clarke advised.

11 11 1. Revelation 22:1-6, Then the angel showed me the river of the water of life, as clear as crystal, flowing from the throne of God and of the Lamb down the middle of the great street of the city. On each side of the river stood the tree of life, bearing twelve crops of fruit, yielding its fruit every month. And the leaves of the tree are for the healing of the nations. No longer will there be any curse. The throne of God and of the Lamb will be in the city, and his servants will serve him. They will see his face, and his name will be on their foreheads. There will be no more night. They will not need the light of a lamp or the light of the sun, for the Lord God will give them light. And they will reign for ever and ever. The angel said to me, These words are trustworthy and true. The Lord, the God of the spirits of the prophets, sent his angel to show his servants the things that must soon take place. (NIV 1984) Ezekiel 47:3, As the man went eastward with a measuring line in his hand, he measured off a thousand cubits and then led me through water that was ankle-deep. (NIV 1984) I. As the man went eastward with a measuring line in his hand, he measured off a thousand cubits and... A. When the man went out toward the east with a measuring line in his hand, he measured 1,750 feet, and... (NET Bible) 1. A thousand (1,000) cubits was approximately 1/3 mile. II. then led me through water that was ankle-deep.

12 12 A. To this point the stream does not appear to be significant. (See Fredenburg.) B. Water at the temple was only deep enough to wet the soles of Ezekiel s feet. Now the water had increased to ankledepth. (The Pulpit Commentary) Ezekiel 47:4, He measured off another thousand cubits and led me through water that was knee-deep. He measured off another thousand and led me through water that was up to the waist. (NIV 1984) I. He measured off another thousand cubits and led me through water that was knee-deep. A. The depth of the water had now increased markedly. In 1,750 feet or a thousand (1,000) cubits the water s depth had increased by ankle deep to knee deep. 1. Remember, the temple was built on a very high mountain. II. He measured off another thousand and led me through water that was up to the waist. A. Another one thousand (1,000) cubits (1,750 feet, NET Bible) brought Ezekiel to water that was waist deep. B. The water increased in depth as Ezekiel made his way downstream. Ezekiel 47:5, He measured off another thousand, but now it was a river that I could not cross, because the water had risen

13 13 and was deep enough to swim in a river that no one could cross. (NIV 1984) I. He measured off another thousand, but now it was a river that I could not cross,... A. Another one thousand cubits (1,750 feet, NET Bible), four thousand cubits (7,000 feet) from the temple, the water had become a river that Ezekiel could not cross. II. because the water had risen and was deep enough to swim in a river that no one could cross. A. The river was deep enough to swim in, but so wide no one could swim across it. B. Ezekiel must have been totally bewildered by all he saw! (See Fredenburg.) C. The Pulpit Commentary states, That Ezekiel s river broadened and deepened suddenly and apparently without receiving into it any tributaries. Ezekiel 47:6, He asked me, Son of man, do you see this? Then he led me back to the bank of the river. (NIV 1984) I. He asked me, Son of man, do you see this? A. God centered Ezekiel s attention on the bank of the river. 1. By asking Ezekiel,... do you see this?, focused his attention on the river bank. II. Then he led me back to the bank of the river.

14 14 A. Ezekiel s angelic guide took him back to the bank of the river after Ezekiel had evidently tested the depth of the river. (The Pulpit Commentary) Ezekiel 47:7, When I arrived there, I saw a great number of trees on each side of the river. (NIV 1984) I. When I arrived there, I saw a great number of trees on each side of the river. A. Amazingly, on each side of the river was a great number of trees. Ezekiel 47:8, He said to me, This water flows toward the eastern region and goes down into the Arabah, where it enters the Sea. When it empties into the Sea, the water there becomes fresh. (NIV 1984) I. He said to me, This water flows toward the eastern region and goes down into the Arabah, where it enters the Sea. A. The Arabah was a major region of the land of Israel referring usually to the entire valley region between Mount Hermon in the north through the Dead Sea and on to the Red Sea, a distance of 240 miles long and varying in width from 6 to 25 miles. (Youngblood, Nelson s New Illustrated Bible Dictionary) B. The river flowed east into the Arabah where it entered the Dead Sea, Salt Sea, where the sea is stagnant. (NET Bible) 1. The Pulpit Commentary suggested this point of entrance into the Arabah may have been in the area of Jericho.

15 15 a. Joshua 22:10-11, When they came to Geliloth near the Jordan in the land of Canaan, the Reubenites, the Gadites and the half-tribe of Manasseh built an imposing altar there by the Jordan. 11 And when the Israelites heard that they had built the altar on the border of Canaan at Geliloth near the Jordan on the Israelite side, (NIV 1984) b. Genesis 13:10, When they came to Geliloth near the Jordan in the land of Canaan, the Reubenites, the Gadites and the half-tribe of Manasseh built an imposing altar there by the Jordan. 11 And when the Israelites heard that they had built the altar on the border of Canaan at Geliloth near the Jordan on the Israelite side, (NIV 1984) II. When it empties into the Sea, the water there becomes fresh. A. The Sea here is the Dead Sea also known as the Salt Sea or the river or Sea of the Arabah. 1. Deuteronomy 3:17, Its western border was the Jordan in the Arabah, from Kinnereth to the Sea of the Arabah (the Salt Sea), below the slopes of Pisgah. (NIV 1984) 2. Deuteronomy 4:49, and included all the Arabah east of the Jordan, as far as the Sea of the Arabah, below the slopes of Pisgah. (NIV 1984) 3. Amos 6:14, For the Lord God Almighty declares, I will stir up a nation against you, O house of Israel, that will oppress you all the way from Lebo Hamath to the valley of the Arabah. (NIV 1984)

16 16 B. The river entered the Dead Sea and made the Salt Sea s brine (dead waters) fresh water (the waters are healed. (See Fredenburg.) 1. Exodus 15:23, 25, When they came to Marah, they could not drink its water because it was bitter. (That is why the place is called Marah.) Then Moses cried out to the Lord, and the Lord showed him a piece of wood. He threw it into the water, and the water became sweet. There the Lord made a decree and a law for them, and there he tested them. (NIV 1984) 2. 2 Kings 2:22, And the water has remained wholesome to this day, according to the word Elisha had spoken. (NIV 1984) C. The sea is called Dead, because there is in it no green plant, no waterfowl, no fish, no shell. If the Jordan carry fish into it, they die. There exists within the waters of the Dead Sea no living thing, not even a trace of animal or vegetable life. (The Pulpit Commentary) Ezekiel 47:9, Swarms of living creatures will live wherever the river flows. There will be large numbers of fish, because this water flows there and makes the salt water fresh; so where the river flows everything will live. (NIV 1984) I. Swarms of living creatures will live wherever the river flows. A. In the lifeless waters of the Dead Sea, now fresh water, swarms of living creatures lived! 1. Genesis 1:20-21, And God said, Let the water teem with living creatures, and let birds fly above

17 17 the earth across the expanse of the sky. So God created the great creatures of the sea and every living and moving thing with which the water teems, according to their kinds, and every winged bird according to its kind. And God saw that it was good. (NIV 1984) 2. Genesis 7:21, Every living thing that moved on the earth perished birds, livestock, wild animals, all the creatures that swarm over the earth, and all mankind. (NIV 1984) II. There will be large numbers of fish, because this water flows there and makes the salt water fresh;... A. This infusion of abundant life into the sea that once was dead, but was now healed was the result of this river of life which flowed from the temple of God. III. so where the river flows everything will live. A. Because where the river flows, everything will live, it behooves us to stay where the river of God s blessings flows. Ezekiel 47:10, Fishermen will stand along the shore; from En Gedi to En Eglaim there will be places for spreading nets. The fish will be of many kinds like the fish of the Great Sea. (NIV 1984) I. Fishermen will stand along the shore; from En Gedi to En Eglaim there will be places for spreading nets. A. En Gedi (spring or fountain of a kid) was an oasis on the barren western shore of the Dead Sea about 35 miles southeast of Jerusalem in the rugged wilderness of Judah.

18 18 En Gedi was watered with a hot spring yielding an abundance of fresh water. (Youngblood, Nelson s New Illustrated Bible Dictionary) B. En Eglaim (spring or fountain of two calves) was a place on the southeastern coast of the Dead Sea near Zoar. (Youngblood, Nelson s New Illustrated Bible Dictionary) The Pulpit Commentary places En Eglaim at the northern extremity of the Dead Sea. 1. Isaiah 15:8, Their outcry echoes along the border of Moab; their wailing reaches as far as Eglaim, their lamentation as far as Beer Elim. (NIV 1984) C. On the shore of the Dead Sea fishermen stood at En Gedi on the central western shore of the Dead Sea and at En Eglaim perhaps located on the central eastern shore. (See Fredenburg.) II. The fish will be of many kinds like the fish of the Great Sea. A. The Great Sea is the Mediterranean Sea. B. In the Dead Sea now made fresh huge numbers and great varieties of fish would live such as would be found in the Mediterranean Sea and such as would be native to many lands, countries of the world. Ezekiel 47:11, But the swamps and marshes will not become fresh; they will be left for salt. (NIV 1984) I. But the swamps and marshes will not become fresh; they will be left for salt.

19 19 A. Wherever the Temple river flowed there was abundant life. Only the swamps and marshes around the sea would remain too salty for living organisms, Hamilton wrote. 1. Job 8:16, He is like a well-watered plant in the sunshine, spreading its shoots over the garden; (NIV 1984) 2. Job 40:21, Under the lotus plants he lies, hidden among the reeds in the marsh. (NIV 1984) 3. Isaiah 30:14, It will break in pieces like pottery, shattered so mercilessly that among its pieces not a fragment will be found for taking coals from a hearth or scooping water out of a cistern. (NIV 1984) B. Fredenburg noted that salt was a valuable commodity and a supply was left. 1. The Pulpit Commentary, however, reads,... the manifest intention of the prophet was to indicate a limitation to the life-giving influence of the river, and to signify that places and persons unvisited by its healing stream would be abandoned to incurable destruction. 2. Salt, in Scripture, rarely expressed the idea of blessings, but frequently of judgment. a. Deuteronomy 29:23, The whole land will be a burning waste of salt and sulfur nothing planted, nothing sprouting, no vegetation growing on it. It will be like the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah, Admah and Zeboiim,

20 20 which the Lord overthrew in fierce anger. (NIV 1984) b. Psalm 107:33-34, He turned rivers into a desert, flowing springs into thirsty ground, and fruitful land into a salt waste, because of the wickedness of those who lived there. (NIV 1984) c. Jeremiah 17:6, He will be like a bush in the wastelands; he will not see prosperity when it comes. He will dwell in the parched places of the desert, in a salt land where no one lives. (NIV 1984) d. Zephaniah 2:9, Therefore, as surely as I live, declares the Lord Almighty, the God of Israel, surely Moab will become like Sodom, the Ammonites like Gomorrah a place of weeds and salt pits, a wasteland forever. The remnant of my people will plunder them; the survivors of my nation will inherit their land. (NIV 1984) 3. However, please note the following references: a. Matthew 5:13, You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled by men. (NIV 1984) b. Mark 9:49-50, Everyone will be salted with fire. Salt is good, but if it loses its saltiness, how can you make it salty again? Have salt in

21 21 yourselves, and be at peace with each other. (NIV 1984) c. Luke 14:34, Salt is good, but if it loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again? NIV 1984) d. Colossians 4:6, Let your conversation be always full of grace, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how to answer everyone. (NIV 1984) Ezekiel 47:12, Fruit trees of all kinds will grow on both banks of the river. Their leaves will not wither, nor will their fruit fail. Every month they will bear, because the water from the sanctuary flows to them. Their fruit will serve for food and their leaves for healing. (NIV 1984) I. Fruit trees of all kinds will grow on both banks of the river. A. The abundant fruit trees would provide healthy nourishment for the people. B. Many different kinds of fruit trees bearing a great variety of edible fruit would grow on both banks of the river. 1. Leviticus 19:23, When you enter the land and plant any kind of fruit tree, regard its fruit as forbidden.[a] For three years you are to consider it forbidden[b]; it must not be eaten. (NIV 1984) II. Their leaves will not wither, nor will their fruit fail. A. These were evergreen trees which bore fruit every month.

22 22 III. Every month they will bear, because the water from the sanctuary flows to them. A. These fruit trees will produce fruit, not once a year, but every month, because the water flows to the trees from the sanctuary. IV. Their fruit will serve for food and their leaves for healing. A. The fruit would provide food and the leaves would be medicinal and would be effective for healing illnesses. 1. Genesis 2:9, And the Lord God made all kinds of trees grow out of the ground trees that were pleasing to the eye and good for food. In the middle of the garden were the tree of life and the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. (NIV 1984) 2. Revelation 22:2, down the middle of the great street of the city. On each side of the river stood the tree of life, bearing twelve crops of fruit, yielding its fruit every month. And the leaves of the tree are for the healing of the nations. (NIV 1984) Note: This portrayal of the wondrous life awaiting the returning exiles is figurative, but teaches concrete lessons. (See Fredenburg.) The Boundaries of the Land Ezekiel 47:13, This is what the Sovereign Lord says: These are the boundaries by which you are to divide the land for an inheritance among the twelve tribes of Israel, with two portions for Joseph. (NIV 1984)

23 23 I. This is what the Sovereign LORD says:... A. From the time of Abraham God had promised his descendants through Isaac a land of their own. (See Fredenburg.) 1. Genesis 12:1-3, The Lord had said to Abram, Leave your country, your people and your father s household and go to the land I will show you. I will make you into a great nation and I will bless you; I will make your name great, and you will be a blessing. I will bless those who bless you, and whoever curses you I will curse; and all peoples on earth will be blessed through you. (NIV 1984) 2. Joshua was instrumental in conquering the land of Canaan and dividing it among the tribes. 3. Having lost the promised land because of their sins, the Sovereign LORD spoke of the day the exiles would be returned to their homeland. (See Fredenburg.) a. Joshua 21:43, 45, So the Lord gave Israel all the land he had sworn to give their forefathers, and they took possession of it and settled there. Not one of all the Lord s good promises to the house of Israel failed; every one was fulfilled. (NIV 1984) B. In the book of Ezekiel, new important topics are introduced with the phrase, This is what the Sovereign LORD says: Ezekiel 43:18, Then he said to me, Son of man, this is what the Sovereign Lord says: These will be the regulations for sacrificing burnt offerings and

24 24 sprinkling blood upon the altar when it is built: (NIV 1984) 2. Ezekiel 44:9, This is what the Sovereign Lord says: No foreigner uncircumcised in heart and flesh is to enter my sanctuary, not even the foreigners who live among the Israelites. (NIV 1984) 3. Ezekiel 45:9, This is what the Sovereign Lord says: You have gone far enough, O princes of Israel! Give up your violence and oppression and do what is just and right. Stop dispossessing my people, declares the Sovereign Lord. (NIV 1984) 4. Ezekiel 46:1, 16, This is what the Sovereign Lord says: The gate of the inner court facing east is to be shut on the six working days, but on the Sabbath day and on the day of the New Moon it is to be opened. This is what the Sovereign Lord says: If the prince makes a gift from his inheritance to one of his sons, it will also belong to his descendants; it is to be their property by inheritance. (NIV 1984) 5. Ezekiel 47:13, This is what the Sovereign Lord says: These are the boundaries by which you are to divide the land for an inheritance among the twelve tribes of Israel, with two portions for Joseph. NIV 1984) II. These are the boundaries by which you are to divide the land for an inheritance among the twelve tribes of Israel,... A. Ezekiel 47:13-48:29 instructs Israel as to how to parcel their property properly which reminds the reader of Joshua (See Hamilton.)

25 25 1. Ezekiel 48:1-29, These are the tribes, listed by name: At the northern frontier, Dan will have one portion; it will follow the Hethlon road to Lebo Hamath; Hazar Enan and the northern border of Damascus next to Hamath will be part of its border from the east side to the west side. Asher will have one portion; it will border the territory of Dan from east to west. Naphtali will have one portion; it will border the territory of Asher from east to west. Manasseh will have one portion; it will border the territory of Naphtali from east to west. Ephraim will have one portion; it will border the territory of Manasseh from east to west. Reuben will have one portion; it will border the territory of Ephraim from east to west. Judah will have one portion; it will border the territory of Reuben from east to west. Bordering the territory of Judah from east to west will be the portion you are to present as a special gift. It will be 25,000 cubits wide, and its length from east to west will equal one of the tribal portions; the sanctuary will be in the center of it. The special portion you are to offer to the Lord will be 25,000 cubits long and 10,000 cubits[c] wide. This will be the sacred portion for the priests. It will be 25,000 cubits long on the north side, 10,000 cubits wide on the west side, 10,000 cubits wide on the east side and 25,000 cubits long on the south side. In the center of it will be the sanctuary of the Lord. This will be for the consecrated priests, the Zadokites, who were faithful in serving me and did not go astray as the Levites did when the Israelites went astray. It will be a special gift to them from the sacred portion of the land, a most holy portion, bordering the territory of the Levites. Alongside the territory of

26 26 the priests, the Levites will have an allotment 25,000 cubits long and 10,000 cubits wide. Its total length will be 25,000 cubits and its width 10,000 cubits. They must not sell or exchange any of it. This is the best of the land and must not pass into other hands, because it is holy to the Lord. The remaining area, 5,000 cubits wide and 25,000 cubits long, will be for the common use of the city, for houses and for pastureland. The city will be in the center of it and will have these measurements: the north side 4,500 cubits, the south side 4,500 cubits, the east side 4,500 cubits, and the west side 4,500 cubits. The pastureland for the city will be 250 cubits on the north, 250 cubits on the south, 250 cubits on the east, and 250 cubits on the west. What remains of the area, bordering on the sacred portion and running the length of it, will be 10,000 cubits on the east side and 10,000 cubits on the west side. Its produce will supply food for the workers of the city. 19 The workers from the city who farm it will come from all the tribes of Israel. The entire portion will be a square, 25,000 cubits on each side. As a special gift you will set aside the sacred portion, along with the property of the city. What remains on both sides of the area formed by the sacred portion and the city property will belong to the prince. It will extend eastward from the 25,000 cubits of the sacred portion to the eastern border, and westward from the 25,000 cubits to the western border. Both these areas running the length of the tribal portions will belong to the prince, and the sacred portion with the temple sanctuary will be in the center of them. So the property of the Levites and the property of the city will lie in the center of the area that belongs to the prince. The area belonging to the prince will lie

27 27 between the border of Judah and the border of Benjamin. As for the rest of the tribes: Benjamin will have one portion; it will extend from the east side to the west side. Simeon will have one portion; it will border the territory of Benjamin from east to west. Issachar will have one portion; it will border the territory of Simeon from east to west. Zebulun will have one portion; it will border the territory of Issachar from east to west. Gad will have one portion; it will border the territory of Zebulun from east to west. The southern boundary of Gad will run south from Tamar to the waters of Meribah Kadesh, then along the Wadi of Egypt to the Great Sea. This is the land you are to allot as an inheritance to the tribes of Israel, and these will be their portions, declares the Sovereign Lord. (NIV 1984) 2. Genesis 48:8-22, When Israel saw the sons of Joseph, he asked, Who are these? They are the sons God has given me here, Joseph said to his father. Then Israel said, Bring them to me so I may bless them. Now Israel s eyes were failing because of old age, and he could hardly see. So Joseph brought his sons close to him, and his father kissed them and embraced them. Israel said to Joseph, I never expected to see your face again, and now God has allowed me to see your children too. Then Joseph removed them from Israel s knees and bowed down with his face to the ground. And Joseph took both of them, Ephraim on his right toward Israel s left hand and Manasseh on his left toward Israel s right hand, and brought them close to him. But Israel reached out his right hand and put it on Ephraim s head, though he was the

28 28 younger, and crossing his arms, he put his left hand on Manasseh s head, even though Manasseh was the firstborn. Then he blessed Joseph and said, May the God before whom my fathers Abraham and Isaac walked, the God who has been my shepherd all my life to this day, the Angel who has delivered me from all harm may he bless these boys. May they be called by my name and the names of my fathers Abraham and Isaac, and may they increase greatly upon the earth. When Joseph saw his father placing his right hand on Ephraim s head he was displeased; so he took hold of his father s hand to move it from Ephraim s head to Manasseh s head. Joseph said to him, No, my father, this one is the firstborn; put your right hand on his head. But his father refused and said, I know, my son, I know. He too will become a people, and he too will become great. Nevertheless, his younger brother will be greater than he, and his descendants will become a group of nations. He blessed them that day and said, In your name will Israel pronounce this blessing: May God make you like Ephraim and Manasseh. So he put Ephraim ahead of Manasseh. Then Israel said to Joseph, I am about to die, but God will be with you and take you back to the land of your fathers. And to you, as one who is over your brothers, I give the ridge of land I took from the Amorites with my sword and my bow. (NIV 1984) 3. Ezekiel 37:16-23, Son of man, take a stick of wood and write on it, Belonging to Judah and the Israelites associated with him. Then take another stick of wood, and write on it, Ephraim s stick, belonging to Joseph and all the house of Israel associated with him. Join them together into one

29 29 stick so that they will become one in your hand. When your countrymen ask you, Won t you tell us what you mean by this? say to them, This is what the Sovereign Lord says: I am going to take the stick of Joseph which is in Ephraim s hand and of the Israelite tribes associated with him, and join it to Judah s stick, making them a single stick of wood, and they will become one in my hand. Hold before their eyes the sticks you have written on and say to them, This is what the Sovereign Lord says: I will take the Israelites out of the nations where they have gone. I will gather them from all around and bring them back into their own land. I will make them one nation in the land, on the mountains of Israel. There will be one king over all of them and they will never again be two nations or be divided into two kingdoms. They will no longer defile themselves with their idols and vile images or with any of their offenses, for I will save them from all their sinful backsliding, and I will cleanse them. They will be my people, and I will be their God. (NIV 1984) 4. Numbers 34:1-15, The Lord said to Moses, Command the Israelites and say to them: When you enter Canaan, the land that will be allotted to you as an inheritance will have these boundaries: Your southern side will include some of the Desert of Zin along the border of Edom. On the east, your southern boundary will start from the end of the Salt Sea, cross south of Scorpion Pass, continue on to Zin and go south of Kadesh Barnea. Then it will go to Hazar Addar and over to Azmon, where it will turn, join the Wadi of Egypt and end at the Sea. Your western boundary will be the coast of the Great Sea. This will be your boundary on the west.

30 30 For your northern boundary, run a line from the Great Sea to Mount Hor and from Mount Hor to Lebo Hamath. Then the boundary will go to Zedad, continue to Ziphron and end at Hazar Enan. This will be your boundary on the north. For your eastern boundary, run a line from Hazar Enan to Shepham. The boundary will go down from Shepham to Riblah on the east side of Ain and continue along the slopes east of the Sea of Kinnereth. Then the boundary will go down along the Jordan and end at the Salt Sea. This will be your land, with its boundaries on every side. Moses commanded the Israelites: Assign this land by lot as an inheritance. The Lord has ordered that it be given to the nine and a half tribes, because the families of the tribe of Reuben, the tribe of Gad and the half-tribe of Manasseh have received their inheritance. These two and a half tribes have received their inheritance on the east side of the Jordan of Jericho, toward the sunrise. NIV 1984) 5. Numbers 26:52-56, The Lord said to Moses, The land is to be allotted to them as an inheritance based on the number of names. To a larger group give a larger inheritance, and to a smaller group a smaller one; each is to receive its inheritance according to the number of those listed. Be sure that the land is distributed by lot. What each group inherits will be according to the names for its ancestral tribe. Each inheritance is to be distributed by lot among the larger and smaller groups. (NIV 1984) B. The exiles, Fredenburg noted, were a dispirited, landless people who thought they would never again see their

31 31 beloved homeland and who deeply resented the fact that non- Israelites possessed the Promised Land. 1. Ezekiel 12:13-14, I will spread my net for him, and he will be caught in my snare; I will bring him to Babylonia, the land of the Chaldeans, but he will not see it, and there he will die. I will scatter to the winds all those around him his staff and all his troops and I will pursue them with drawn sword. (NIV 1984) 2. Jeremiah and Ezekiel offered the exiles hope of returning home. a. Jeremiah 32:42-44, This is what the Lord says: As I have brought all this great calamity on this people, so I will give them all the prosperity I have promised them. Once more fields will be bought in this land of which you say, It is a desolate waste, without men or animals, for it has been handed over to the Babylonians. Fields will be bought for silver, and deeds will be signed, sealed and witnessed in the territory of Benjamin, in the villages around Jerusalem, in the towns of Judah and in the towns of the hill country, of the western foothills and of the Negev, because I will restore their fortunes, declares the Lord. (NIV 1984) b. Ezekiel 28:25, This is what the Sovereign Lord says: When I gather the people of Israel from the nations where they have been scattered, I will show myself holy among them in the sight of the nations. Then they will live in

32 32 their own land, which I gave to my servant Jacob. (NIV 1984) c. Ezekiel 34:26-27, I will bless them and the places surrounding my hill. I will send down showers in season; there will be showers of blessing. The trees of the field will yield their fruit and the ground will yield its crops; the people will be secure in their land. They will know that I am the Lord, when I break the bars of their yoke and rescue them from the hands of those who enslaved them. (NIV 1984) C. Since each of Joseph s sons, Ephraim and Manasseh, were considered the heads of tribes, there were actually thirteen tribes. 1. Genesis 48:22, And to you, as one who is over your brothers, I give the ridge of land I took from the Amorites with my sword and my bow. (NIV 1984) 2. Joshua 17:14, 17, The people of Joseph said to Joshua, Why have you given us only one allotment and one portion for an inheritance? We are a numerous people and the Lord has blessed us abundantly. But Joshua said to the house of Joseph to Ephraim and Manasseh You are numerous and very powerful. You will have not only one allotment (NIV 1984) 3. The tribes of Israel were, therefore, Reuben, Simeon, Levi, Judah, Zebulun, Issachar, Dan, Gad, Asher, Naphtali, Joseph (Ephraim, Manasseh) and Benjamin.

33 33 III. with two (2) portions for Joseph. A. One portion was given to each of Joseph s two sons, one for Ephraim and one fro Manasseh. 1. Joseph appears still to be favored among the sons of Jacob as the only one who has two tribes among Jacob s sons and a major amount of land as divided by Moses and Joshua. 2. When the Northern Tribes declared their intention to secede from the union, Ephraim and Manasseh were influential tribes who joined with the tribes following Jeroboam. Ezekiel 47:14, You are to divide it equally among them. Because I swore with uplifted hand to give it to your forefathers, this land will become your inheritance. (NIV 1984) I. You are to divide it equally among them. A. The portions assigned to each tribe apparently were equal. These portions of approximately twenty miles in width stretched from the Mediterranean Sea to the Jordan River, Hamilton wrote. 1. This is an idealistic distribution of land as some tribes were larger than others. 2. The division was fair and equitable for each tribe and individual.

34 34 B. However, with two tribes allotted to Joseph s two sons, they would have twice as much land as any other of Jacob s sons descendants. II. Because I swore with uplifted hand to give it to your forefathers, this land will become your inheritance. A. Upon the repentance of wicked Israel, God promised to renew his land grant to the exiles. B. The phrase, I swore with uplifted hand, was frequently used in the book of Ezekiel. (See The Pulpit Commentary.) 1. Ezekiel 20:5-6, 15, 23, 28, 42, and say to them: This is what the Sovereign Lord says: On the day I chose Israel, I swore with uplifted hand to the descendants of the house of Jacob and revealed myself to them in Egypt. With uplifted hand I said to them, I am the Lord your God. On that day I swore to them that I would bring them out of Egypt into a land I had searched out for them, a land flowing with milk and honey, the most beautiful of all lands. Also with uplifted hand I swore to them in the desert that I would not bring them into the land I had given them a land flowing with milk and honey, most beautiful of all lands Also with uplifted hand I swore to them in the desert that I would disperse them among the nations and scatter them through the countries, When I brought them into the land I had sworn to give them and they saw any high hill or any leafy tree, there they offered their sacrifices, made offerings that provoked me to anger, presented their fragrant incense and poured out their drink offerings. Then you will know that I am the Lord, when I bring you into the land of

35 35 Israel, the land I had sworn with uplifted hand to give to your fathers. (NIV 1984) 2. This phrase or one similar was used in God s promises to give the promised land to Israel, the descendants of Abraham. a. Genesis 12:7, The Lord appeared to Abram and said, To your offspring I will give this land. So he built an altar there to the Lord, who had appeared to him. (NIV 1984) b. Genesis 26:3, Stay in this land for a while, and I will be with you and will bless you. For to you and your descendants I will give all these lands and will confirm the oath I swore to your father Abraham. (NIV 1984) c. Genesis 28:13, There above it stood the Lord, and he said: I am the Lord, the God of your father Abraham and the God of Isaac. I will give you and your descendants the land on which you are lying. (NIV 1984) Ezekiel 47:15, This is to be the boundary of the land: On the north side it will run from the Great Sea by the Hethlon road past Lebo Hamath to Zedad, (NIV 1984) I. This is to be the boundary of the land:... A. This land was smaller than the land divided among the Israelites by Moses and Joshua because all this land was west of the Jordan River while previously the land appropriated was both east and west of the Jordan River. (See Hamilton.)

36 36 Note: The location and identity of many of these places are not known with certainty. II. On the north side it will run from the Great Sea by the Hethlon road past Lebo Hamath to Zedad,... A. The Hethlon road was a mountain pass on the northern boundary of Palestine, connecting the plain of Hamath with the Mediterranean coast. (Youngblood, Nelson s New Illustrated Bible Dictionary) 1. The Great Sea is the Mediterranean Sea. B. Lebo Hamath was an important royal city of the Hittites, perched on a gigantic mount beside the Orontes River. (Bromiley) Lebo Hamath was considered to be the northern most point in Israel and was located in Syria. 1. Numbers 13:21, So they went up and explored the land from the Desert of Zin as far as Rehob, toward Lebo Hamath. (NIV 1984) 2. Numbers 34:7-12, For your northern boundary, run a line from the Great Sea to Mount Hor and from Mount Hor to Lebo Hamath. Then the boundary will go to Zedad, continue to Ziphron and end at Hazar Enan. This will be your boundary on the north. For your eastern boundary, run a line from Hazar Enan to Shepham. The boundary will go down from Shepham to Riblah on the east side of Ain and continue along the slopes east of the Sea of Kinnereth. Then the boundary will go down along the Jordan and end at the Salt Sea. This will be your land, with its boundaries on every side. (NIV 1984)

37 37 3. Joshua 13:5, the area of the Gebalites; and all Lebanon to the east, from Baal Gad below Mount Hermon to Lebo Hamath. (NIV 1984) 4. 1 Kings 8:65, So Solomon observed the festival at that time, and all Israel with him a vast assembly, people from Lebo Hamath to the Wadi of Egypt. They celebrated it before the Lord our God for seven days and seven days more, fourteen days in all. (NIV 1984) 5. 2 Kings 14:25, He was the one who restored the boundaries of Israel from Lebo Hamath to the Sea of the Arabah, in accordance with the word of the Lord, the God of Israel, spoken through his servant Jonah son of Amittai, the prophet from Gath Hepher. (NIV 1984) 6. Amos 6:2, 14, Go to Calneh and look at it; go from there to great Hamath, and then go down to Gath in Philistia. Are they better off than your two kingdoms? Is their land larger than yours? For the Lord God Almighty declares, I will stir up a nation against you, O house of Israel, that will oppress you all the way from Lebo Hamath to the valley of the Arabah. (NIV 1984) 7. Judges 3:3, the five rulers of the Philistines, all the Canaanites, the Sidonians, and the Hivites living in the Lebanon mountains from Mount Baal Hermon to Lebo Hamath. (NIV 1984) C. Zedad was a place, probably a tower, on the northern boundary of Palestine located about 65 miles northeast of

38 38 Damascus. Dictionary) (Youngblood, Nelson s New Illustrated Bible 1. Ezekiel 48:1, These are the tribes, listed by name: At the northern frontier, Dan will have one portion; it will follow the Hethlon road to Lebo Hamath; Hazar Enan and the northern border of Damascus next to Hamath will be part of its border from the east side to the west side. (NIV 1984) Ezekiel 47:16, Berothah and Sibraim (which lies on the border between Damascus and Hamath), as far as Hazer Hatticon, which is on the border of Hauran. (NIV 1984) I. Berothah and Sibraim (which lies on the border between Damascus and Hamath), as far as Hazer Hatticon, which is on the border of Hauran. A. Berothah was a town on the northern boundary between Zedad and Sibraim, just south of the kingdom of Hamath, south of Baalbek in the western foothills of the Anti-Lebanon mountains. (Bromiley) 1. 2 Samuel 8:8, From Tebah and Berothai, towns that belonged to Hadadezer, King David took a great quantity of bronze. (NIV 1984) 2. 1 Chronicles 18:8, From Tebah and Cun, towns that belonged to Hadadezer, David took a great quantity of bronze, which Solomon used to make the bronze Sea, the pillars and various bronze articles. (NIV 1984)