From ebbedbab8d64d4e3c7808848a82149648a513f1d Mon Sep 17 00:00:00 2001 From: Lyle Mantooth Date: Fri, 28 Jul 2023 22:18:52 -0400 Subject: [PATCH] Ezekiel 48:1-35 --- content/bible_journal/ezekiel_48:1-35.md | 51 ++++++++++++++++++++++++ 1 file changed, 51 insertions(+) create mode 100644 content/bible_journal/ezekiel_48:1-35.md diff --git a/content/bible_journal/ezekiel_48:1-35.md b/content/bible_journal/ezekiel_48:1-35.md new file mode 100644 index 0000000..a5d1173 --- /dev/null +++ b/content/bible_journal/ezekiel_48:1-35.md @@ -0,0 +1,51 @@ ++++ +title = "Ezekiel 48:1–35" +date = "2023-07-28" ++++ + +### [Read the passage.](https://biblia.com/bible/esv/Ezekiel48.1-35) + +The final chapter of Ezekiel details the inheritance of each tribe's land +allotment and the placements of the gates of the city. Thirty-five verses +sounds like a lot to go through, but they are fairly repetitive and can be +summarized in a few words. + +Unlike the original tribe allotments described in Joshua, the ones described +here are horizontal stripes across the entire country. Additionally, the +placements of the tribes differ from their historical regions. In equal +measures from north to south, the land is given to the tribes of Dan, Asher, +Naphtali, Manasseh, Ephraim, Reuben, and Judah. South of Judah is the holy +portion given to the temple, the Levites, the priests, the city and its +supporting farmland. This portion is a square in total, and different pieces of +that square are devoted to the different purposes. To the east and west of this +square is the portion of the land given to the prince, which extends to the +east and west just like the tribal portions. South of the holy district and the +prince's portion are the tribes of Benjamin, Simeon, Issachar, Zebulun, and +Gad. + +The arrangement of the tribes appears to follow a preferential order based on +who is closest to the holy district, and thus to the Lord. The notes in the +Reformation Study Bible mention that the outermost tribes were born to the +servants of Jacob's wives, Zilpah and Bilhah, while the sons born to Rachel and +Leah themselves are closer. While interesting, I think it breaks down when you +see that the two groups are jumbled within themselves without regard to who was +whose mother. Instead, I think it has more to do with the fact that Judah and +Benjamin were the two tribes that remained in the kingdom of Judah after the +ten tribes split off, and they were the only tribes to produce kings that God +Himself chose (Saul of Benjamin, and David and Solomon of Judah). It's still +all speculation, though. + +The gates of the city in the holy district are to number twelve, three on each +of the four sides. I had thought the names given to them might reflect the +marching order of the tribes as they traveled through the wilderness from +Egypt, but they don't match at all. This time, Levi is given a gate, and +Manasseh and Ephraim are combined in their father Joseph. + +Last of all, the name of the city is revealed not to be Jerusalem any more, but +changed to "Yahweh Is There". The Lord of Hosts, Creator of heaven and earth, +the Almigthy, the Great I AM is in this city. Now and forever, God's dwelling +place is with His people, never again to be separated. + +* * * + +We long for that day, when we can live with You, forever at peace.