Ezekiel 48:1

We are in the last chapter of Ezekiel, and just as a reminder: the Israelites have been conquered by the Babylonians and therefore many of them were in despair wondering if there would ever be a nation of Israel again in their land. The message of God through Ezekiel was very clear: yes, of course, there was a future for Israel. God made an eternal promise to Abraham, and God always keeps His promises. It did not matter that Babylon had conquered Israel. That was only temporary. That land belongs to the Jews and always will belong to them. The Bible says in Ezekiel 48:1-8, “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.[2] And by the border of Dan, from the east side unto the west side, a portion for Asher.[3] And by the border of Asher, from the east side even unto the west side, a portion for Naphtali.[4] And by the border of Naphtali, from the east side unto the west side, a portion for Manasseh.[5] And by the border of Manasseh, from the east side unto the west side, a portion for Ephraim.[6] And by the border of Ephraim, from the east side even unto the west side, a portion for Reuben.[7] And by the border of Reuben, from the east side unto the west side, a portion for Judah. 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.” One thing to notice about this description of the boundaries of Israel is that verse one says that the northern border of Israel starts right at the border of Damascus. This is just one fact that demonstrates that the current border of Israel is much smaller than that which God has promised Israel. Therefore, the current nation of Israel is not the fulfillment of God’s promises to Abraham. There is more that will be given to the Israelites than they now have. It is just a matter of time.

Notice that verse 8 says that the temple shall be in the territory of Judah. And so nothing will change there. The original temple was in Jerusalem, which is in Judah. The final temple will also be there. When King David conquered Jerusalem and passed on to his son, Solomon, the idea of building a temple there, God honored that dream and that hope.

The Bible says in Ezekiel 48:9-12, “The oblation that ye shall offer unto the LORD shall be of five and twenty thousand in length, and of ten thousand in breadth.[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.[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.[12] And this oblation of the land that is offered shall be unto them a thing most holy by the border of the Levites.” These verses describe a portion of land that the territory of Judah would give to some of the priests. Assuming these measurements are cubits, then this little part of land given to some of the priests would be about five miles long and about two miles wide. The thing to notice about this passage that God is going to give this land only to the priests “which went not astray when the children of Israel went astray, as the Levites went astray.” Salvation is by grace through faith, not of works. But there will be rewards in the afterlife based upon our works. Jesus said, “The meek shall inherit the earth.” It says in First Corinthians 3:13-14, “Every man's work shall be made manifest: for the day shall declare it, because it shall be revealed by fire; and the fire shall try every man's work of what sort it is.[14] If any man's work abide which he hath built thereupon, he shall receive a reward.”

The Bible says in Ezekiel 48:13-22, “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.[14] And they shall not sell of it, neither exchange, nor alienate the firstfruits of the land: for it is holy unto the LORD.[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.[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.[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.[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.[19] And they that serve the city shall serve it out of all the tribes of Israel.[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.[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. [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.” One thing that is noticeable about these verses is that God is telling the Israelites that the offerings that they give are being set aside to meet the needs of the priests, the Levites, and the princes. They people did not have their own land to make a living. They had responsibilities taking care of the temple or taking care of the country that kept them from leading a normal life to make a living. God knows everyone’s circumstances. God understands. He takes into account our situation, and then He provides.

The Bible says in Ezekiel 48:23-34, “As for the rest of the tribes, from the east side unto the west side, Benjamin shall have a portion.[24] And by the border of Benjamin, from the east side unto the west side, Simeon shall have a portion.[25] And by the border of Simeon, from the east side unto the west side, Issachar a portion.[26] And by the border of Issachar, from the east side unto the west side, Zebulun a portion.[27] And by the border of Zebulun, from the east side unto the west side, Gad a portion.[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.[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.[30] And these are the goings out of the city on the north side, four thousand and five hundred measures.[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.[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.[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.[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 are three gates on each side of the city of God just like it is described in Revelation chapter 21. And just like in Revelation chapter 21 each gate of the city is named for one of the sons of Jacob. For all eternity God wants us to remember that He kept His promise to Abraham. God always keeps His promises.

One thing that we can say about the three gates on each side of the holy city is that it symbolizes the access to heaven that is given to all the earth. North, south, east, or west: God invites everyone to come to Jesus. “If anyone is athirst let him come and drink of the water of life freely.” Jesus also said, “Come unto me all ye that are weary and heavy laden, and I will give you rest.”

The Bible says in 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.” Jehovah Shammah means “The Lord is there.” Heaven will be beautiful beyond imagination. There will be no sin, no death, no pain, no tears, no crying, and no sorrow. It will be wonderful: thank you, Lord Jesus. But the best part of the heavenly city will be the fact that God will dwell there too. Now we have the first-fruits of the Spirit. We believe in Jesus, but we do not see. The day will come when we will look upon Him whom we have pierced. It says about this city in Revelation 21:3, “And I heard a great voice out of heaven saying, Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and he shall dwell with them, and they shall be his people, and God himself shall be with them, and be their God.” God also would like to be your God now. That can happen if you will bow before Jesus, call upon His name, and trust in Him. He will come into you, will be your God, and will dwell with you forever.

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