Ezekiel

Ezekiel 48:1-29

Ezekiel had outlined the borders of the land and set apart the holy district within the land.  Now he assigns the land by tribe.  It is very similar to Joshua's division of th eland in Joshua 13-19.  The tribe of Levi had no inheritance at that time.  In Ezekiel's allotment, they are given land. 

These first few places are unknown, but appear to describe a line across the area of Syria. 

Hazar Enan is in north east Syria.   Damascus is city in southern Syria. 

Land is assigned to Dan, Asher, Naphtali, Manasseh, Ephraim, Reuben, Judah, Levi, Benjamin, Simeon, Issachar, Zebulun, Gad.  This is 13 names, Joseph is replaced with his sons, Manasseh and Ephraim.  These were adopted by Jacob and represent the double portion of Joseph.

Between the portion of Judah and Benjamin was the sacred district.  The Temple was at the heart of this section of land.  To the south is the city of Jerusalem.  On each side of the city is the farm allotment for the city workers to till.  The priest have their portion on both sides of the temple.  The prince has the strip of land north of that to the border of Judah.  The prince has the remaining land to the east and to the west of the holy district. 

Ezekiel 48:30-35

The focal point of the land is the holy district and the temple was at the heart of it.  The focal point of the temple is the Holy of Holies.  This is where the Lord meets His people.  The city had 12 gates, a gate for each of the 12 tribes.  This list of tribes omits Joseph's sons and includes Joseph.  The access was available no matter what direction you came from. 

©2020 Doug Ford