EZEKIEL LESSON 50
We will see in these first few verses of this chapter the
division of the land by lot. Ezekiel 48:1 "Now these [are] the names
of the tribes. From the north end to the coast of the way of Hethlon,
as one goeth to Hamath, Hazar-enan, the border of Damascus northward,
to the coast of Hamath; for these are his sides east [and] west; a
[portion for] Dan."
Each one of the tribes is mentioned who inherited land. We will
take note that no tribe receives land outside the boundaries of the
promised land. Dan gets one portion in the northern area.
Ezekiel 48:2 "And by the border of Dan, from the east side unto
the west side, a [portion for] Asher." Ezekiel 48:3 "And by the border
of Asher, from the east side even unto the west side, a [portion for]
Naphtali." Ezekiel 48:4 "And by the border of Naphtali, from the east
side unto the west side, a [portion for] Manasseh." Ezekiel 48:5 "And
by the border of Manasseh, from the east side unto the west side, a
[portion for] Ephraim." Ezekiel 48:6 "And by the border of Ephraim,
from the east side even unto the west side, a [portion for] Reuben."
Ezekiel 48:7 "And by the border of Reuben, from the east side unto the
west side, a [portion for] Judah."
All of these are north of the land allotted to the Levites. Each
had joined on the others borders with no space between. The next we
will give, will be speaking of the priest's portion.
Ezekiel 48:8 "And by the border of Judah, from the east side
unto the west side, shall be the offering which ye shall offer of five
and twenty thousand [reeds in] breadth, and [in] length as one of the
[other] parts, from the east side unto the west side: and the
sanctuary shall be in the midst of it."
This is that area that was holy unto the Lord. This portion
contained the sanctuary.
Ezekiel 48:9 "The oblation that ye shall offer unto the LORD
[shall be] of five and twenty thousand in length, and of ten thousand
in breadth."
We discussed this in a previous lesson.
Ezekiel 48:10 "And for them, [even] for the priests, shall be
[this] holy oblation; toward the north five and twenty thousand [in
length], and toward the west ten thousand in breadth, and toward the
east ten thousand in breadth, and toward the south five and twenty
thousand in length: and the sanctuary of the LORD shall be in the
midst thereof."
The main thing to note in this, is that it is for the priests.
Ezekiel 48:11 "[It shall be] for the priests that are sanctified
of the sons of Zadok; which have kept my charge, which went not astray
when the children of Israel went astray, as the Levites went astray."
These are the priests that did not commit spiritual adultery by
worshipping false gods. They had stayed faithful to God. These are
descended from Zadoc. Zadoc was descended from Eleazer. It appears,
the Levite priests had sinned. You remember in a previous lesson, the
priests of Zadoc were promoted, and the other priests were demoted.
Ezekiel 48:12 "And [this] oblation of the land that is offered
shall be unto them a thing most holy by the border of the Levites."
This was not the same land the Levites had been given. These had
their own land.
Ezekiel 48:13 "And over against the border of the priests the
Levites [shall have] five and twenty thousand in length, and ten
thousand in breadth: all the length [shall be] five and twenty
thousand, and the breadth ten thousand."
We remember from an earlier lesson, that this was an area 42 1/2
miles by approximately 17 miles.
Ezekiel 48:14 "And they shall not sell of it, neither exchange,
nor alienate the firstfruits of the land: for [it is] holy unto the
LORD."
This land was in the hands of the people, but it was not theirs
to sell. It really belonged to God. This land was holy unto the LORD,
because it was an oblation, and the presence of God was here.
Ezekiel 48:15 "And the five thousand, that are left in the
breadth over against the five and twenty thousand, shall be a profane
[place] for the city, for dwelling, and for suburbs: and the city
shall be in the midst thereof."
This was not considered a holy place. It was used for the city,
and for the common people. This was an area, for those who lived in
and around the city, to build their houses.
Ezekiel 48:16 "And these [shall be] the measures thereof; the
north side four thousand and five hundred, and the south side four
thousand and five hundred, and on the east side four thousand and five
hundred, and the west side four thousand and five hundred."
This land, that had been set aside, was a square. Each side was
4500 reeds.
Ezekiel 48:17 "And the suburbs of the city shall be toward the
north two hundred and fifty, and toward the south two hundred and
fifty, and toward the east two hundred and fifty, and toward the west
two hundred and fifty."
We see that this, too, is a square.
Ezekiel 48:18 "And the residue in length over against the
oblation of the holy [portion shall be] ten thousand eastward, and ten
thousand westward: and it shall be over against the oblation of the
holy [portion]; and the increase thereof shall be for food unto them
that serve the city."
The land, that was not in use in holy things, was planted, and
the people ate from the vegetables of the gardens.
Ezekiel 48:19 "And they that serve the city shall serve it out of
all the tribes of Israel."
This is just speaking of those involved in running the city are
some from every tribe. We might say, they were gainfully employed.
Ezekiel 48:20 "All the oblation [shall be] five and twenty
thousand by five and twenty thousand: ye shall offer the holy oblation
foursquare, with the possession of the city."
We can see from this, that all of these divisions added together
made a square. This square was approximately 42 1/2 miles each
direction.
Ezekiel 48:21 "And the residue [shall be] for the prince, on the
one side and on the other of the holy oblation, and of the possession
of the city, over against the five and twenty thousand of the oblation
toward the east border, and westward over against the five and twenty
thousand toward the west border, over against the portions for the
prince: and it shall be the holy oblation; and the sanctuary of the
house [shall be] in the midst thereof."
This residue took up two strips of land on either side of the
oblation. This is the prince's portion.
Ezekiel 48:22 Moreover from the possession of the Levites, and
from the possession of the city, [being] in the midst [of that] which
is the prince's, between the border of Judah and the border of
Benjamin, shall be for the prince.
This is just expressing a little more fully, that this land is
bordered by the Levites. It appears, that this land was on the outside
of each of the areas.
Ezekiel 48:23 "As for the rest of the tribes, from the east side
unto the west side, Benjamin [shall have] a [portion]."
It appears, these were on the south side of the city, and these,
and the other property allotments, were side by side.
Ezekiel 48:24 "And by the border of Benjamin, from the east side
unto the west side, Simeon [shall have] a [portion]." Ezekiel 48:25
"And by the border of Simeon, from the east side unto the west side,
Issachar a [portion]." Ezekiel 48:26 "And by the border of Issachar,
from the east side unto the west side, Zebulun a [portion]." Ezekiel
48:27 "And by the border of Zebulun, from the east side unto the west
side, Gad a [portion]." Ezekiel 48:28 "And by the border of Gad, at
the south side southward, the border shall be even from Tamar [unto]
the waters of strife [in] Kadesh, [and] to the river toward the great
sea." Ezekiel 48:29 "This [is] the land which ye shall divide by lot
unto the tribes of Israel for inheritance, and these [are] their
portions, saith the Lord GOD."
It appears, they cast lots for the piece of land they would
inherit. These above had all received their lot in the southern area.
They each got a strip of land, and all of them were side by side
making up this lot. They were bordered on the one side by the
Mediterranean Sea and on the other by the Tamar. Each got a portion,
because it was their inheritance from God.
Ezekiel 48:30 "And these [are] the goings out of the city on the
north side, four thousand and five hundred measures."
Everything north of the city together made up this 4500 measures.
Ezekiel 48:31 "And the gates of the city [shall be] after the
names of the tribes of Israel: three gates northward; one gate of
Reuben, one gate of Judah, one gate of Levi." Ezekiel 48:32 "And at
the east side four thousand and five hundred: and three gates; and one
gate of Joseph, one gate of Benjamin, one gate of Dan." Ezekiel 48:33
"And at the south side four thousand and five hundred measures: and
three gates; one gate of Simeon, one gate of Issachar, one gate of
Zebulun." Ezekiel 48:34 "At the west side four thousand and five
hundred, [with] their three gates; one gate of Gad, one gate of Asher,
one gate of Naphtali."
There were twelve tribes of Israel, and there were twelve gates.
Each gate named after one. I am not sure this has anything to do with
this, but this speaks of the twelve gates with the names of the 12
tribes. Revelation 21:12 "And had a wall great and high, [and] had
twelve gates, and at the gates twelve angels, and names written
thereon, which are [the names] of the twelve tribes of the children of
Israel:"
Ezekiel 48:35 "[It was] round about eighteen thousand [measures]:
and the name of the city from [that] day [shall be], The LORD [is]
there."
The measures mentioned are reeds. "The LORD is there" is
certainly a description of New Jerusalem. I do not know of another of
that name. It appears to me, that this vision of Ezekiel's was
Jerusalem of the time of Ezra mixed up with New Jerusalem, which comes
down from God out of heaven. It is very difficult to decide which city
this is. Another thing about visions, is sometimes, they are of more
of a teaching nature, and not to be taken literally. These lessons
from chapter 40 through 48 are full of types and shadows. We can draw
from their teachings regardless of which city this is. Abraham looked
for a city whose maker was God. Perhaps, we should, too, keep looking
for a city whose maker is God.
This has been a very unusual prophetic book. We have looked at it
from the spiritual standpoint. There are, perhaps hundreds, of more
ways to look at this. I will look forward to continued study in this
beautiful prophetic book.
Thank you for your time and patience in studying this book. May
the Spirit of God teach you and me the truths in it.
Your friend in Christ,
Louise Haney
Ezekiel 50 Questions
1. What is this chapter about?
2. What tribes were allotted land in the north?
3. How were they arranged?
4. What portion contained the sanctuary?
5. What is the main thing to take note of in verse 10?
6. Why are the descendents of Zadoc allotted different land from the
Levite priests?
7. How large was the land of the oblation all together?
8. What was the profane place used for?
9. What did they use the land, that was not used for holy service,
for?
10. Who ran the city?
11. The oblation was a _________ of approximately 42 1/2 miles.
12. Where was the residue located?
13. Who did the residue belong to?
14. What tribes' lands were on the south side?
15. Quote Revelation chapter 21 verse 12.
16. The measure, in verse 35, is what?
17. What does the author believe about this vision?
18. The lessons from chapter 40 to chapter 48 are full of ________ and
_________.
19. Abraham looked for a city whose maker was ________.
20. From what standpoint were these lessons written?
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