Keraia
Ezekiel 48

Ezekiel 48:13

The Portions for the Priests and Levites · Ezekiel 48:8–14
Read Ezekiel 48

Translations

Modern
Bordering the territory of the priests, the Levites shall have an area 25,000 cubits long and 10,000 cubits wide. The whole length will be 25,000 cubits, and the width 10,000 cubits.
Traditional
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.
Literal
And the Levites shall be next to the border of the priests, five and twenty thousand in length, and ten thousand in width; all the length shall be five and twenty thousand, and the width ten thousand.
Latin
Sed et Levitis similiter, juxta fines sacerdotum, viginti quinque millia longitudinis, et latitudinis decem millia. Omnis longitudo viginti et quinque millium, et latitudo decem millium.

Original

Hebrew
English
Bordering the territory of the priests, the Levites shall have an area 25,000 cubits long and 10,000 cubits wide. The whole length will be 25,000 cubits, and the width 10,000 cubits.

Notes

Ezekiel 48:9–14

  • The holy portion was not exactly in the center of the land. There were seven tribal strips to the north and five to the south. Although not centrally located, the spiritual center had moved significantly north from Jerusalem.

  • The importance of the holy portion for the Lord's temple is emphasized by its detailed dimensions and composition, unlike the brief descriptions of the tribal areas.

    This special portion was dedicated to God and could never be sold, traded, or used by others. It consisted of strips running from east to west, given to the Levites, the priests, and the city. The area for the ordained priests surrounded the temple, protecting it from anything unholy. An area for the Levites was to the north.

Ezekiel 47:13–48:35

The final section of the book of Ezekiel describes the boundaries of the land and how it will be divided among the tribes.

In this section, theology (teaching about God) is shown through geography (the arrangement of the land). The way the land is organized has meaning. Matters such as space, access, and position in relation to the temple are very important.

Where a tribe lives, and how close it is to the temple, shows something about order and holiness among God’s people.

Events

People

Levi: Son of Jacob; progenitor of the Levites

Glossary

Book of Revelation Ezekiel (Person) Ezekiel, Book of Inheritance Judaism New Jerusalem Sadducees Son of Man Temple Theocracy Tribe of Dan

Topics

Levites: Land Allotted To, by Ezekiel Priest: Benefits of Portion of Land Allotted To, in Redistribution in Ezekiel's Vision Priest: Benefits of Provided with Cities and Suburbs