Ezekiel 48
In this final chapter of Ezekiel’s book, the relative positions of all the twelve tribes in the land are described: their allotments are quite altered from those made by Moses and Joshua (Joshua 13 to 19). The possession of each tribe will extend across the breadth of the land from the Mediterranean Sea coast to the Jordan or eastern boundary, beginning with Dan far to the north of Sidon, the northern extremity of Israel’s land under Joshua’s apportionment.
We are not told how large a parcel of land will be given to each tribe, but if they are equal in measurement from north to south Dan, Asher, and Naphtali will be north of Sidon and Ephraim will include both the Waters of Merom and the Sea of Galilee; Judah’s southern boundary will evidently be about six miles north of the city of Jerusalem.
South of Jerusalem the tribal inheritances would appear to be smaller, since five tribes will be accommodated between the city and Kadesh-barnea, the border town whence the spies were sent into the promised land (Numbers 13), and where Moses struck the rock when the people demanded water for their thirst (Numbers 20).
The reasons for the order in which the tribes will be arranged in the land are not altogether plain. That Judah and Benjamin should be nearest to the temple is not difficult to understand on the ground of sovereign grace, for they were the rejectors of the Messiah, delivering Him up to be crucified. Reuben, the first born, who lost his title because of sin, is restored to a place next to Judah. Simeon, the second of Jacob’s children, may, by the position accorded the tribe, be another example of God’s sovereign grace, for Simeon’s behavior brought a curse from his father in Genesis 49:5-75Simeon and Levi are brethren; instruments of cruelty are in their habitations. 6O my soul, come not thou into their secret; unto their assembly, mine honor, be not thou united: for in their anger they slew a man, and in their selfwill they digged down a wall. 7Cursed be their anger, for it was fierce; and their wrath, for it was cruel: I will divide them in Jacob, and scatter them in Israel. (Genesis 49:5‑7), and he is not mentioned in Deuteronomy 33. Though the tribe was given by Joshua the most southerly part of the land, it seems doubtful if they remained in possession of it very long.
Verses 15-19 give the dimensions of Jerusalem and its position exactly in the center of the parcel set apart for it in verse 6 of chapter 45, and the last six verses of the book tell of the twelve gates named after the tribes. Here Joseph is represented, rather than his two sons, and Levi appears, the priestly tribe, whose portion in the land will be close to the temple.
It will be profitable to refer to the Millennial scene pictured in Revelation 21:99And there came unto me one of the seven angels which had the seven vials full of the seven last plagues, and talked with me, saying, Come hither, I will show thee the bride, the Lamb's wife. (Revelation 21:9) to 22:5. The city in Ezekiel is a literal city, but in the Revelation that described is figurative, representing the heavenly bride of Christ, the true Church of God, which will have a special place in relation to the earth during the thousand years.
ML 05/10/1936