Ezekiel 48:31

At the end of the book, Ezekiel describes the exits of the city. He again emphasizes the theme of access, which appears throughout Ezekiel 40–48.

Like the temple, the city was a square with exact measurements. It had 12 gates, one for each tribe of Israel. This design showed that all the tribes were united as one people.

Three gates were especially important. They were named after Reuben, Judah, and Levi. Reuben was the oldest son of Israel. Judah was the royal tribe, from which kings came. Levi was the priestly tribe, set apart for temple service.

These three important gates faced north, not east as one might expect. The north side was most important because it faced the temple, the center of the restored land. The south side was second in importance because it also aligned with the temple.

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.