Ezekiel 48:1-35

content/bible_journal/ezekiel_48:1-35.md

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+title = "Ezekiel 48:1–35"
+date = "2023-07-28"
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+
+### [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.