The River From The Temple The Boundaries Of The...
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The River From The Temple
The Boundaries Of The Land
Ezekiel 47:1-23
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The River From the Temple
The Boundaries of the Land
Text:
Ezekiel 47:1-23,
1. The man brought me back to the entrance of the temple, and
I saw water coming out from under the threshold of the temple
toward the east (for the temple faced east). The water was
coming down from under the south side of the temple, south of
the altar.
2. He then brought me out through the north gate and led me
around the outside to the outer gate facing east, and the water
was flowing from the south side.
3. As the man went eastward with a measuring line in his hand,
he measured off a thousand cubits and then led me through
water that was ankle-deep.
4. He measured off another thousand cubits and led me
through water that was knee-deep. He measured off another
thousand and led me through water that was up to the waist.
5. He measured off another thousand, but now it was a river
that I could not cross, because the water had risen and was
deep enough to swim in—a river that no one could cross.
6. He asked me, “Son of man, do you see this?”Then he led me
back to the bank of the river.
7. When I arrived there, I saw a great number of trees on each
side of the river.
8. He said to me, “This water flows toward the eastern region
and goes down into the Arabah, where it enters the Sea. When
it empties into the Sea, the water there becomes fresh.
9. Swarms of living creatures will live wherever the river flows.
There will be large numbers of fish, because this water flows
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there and makes the salt water fresh; so where the river flows
everything will live.
10. Fishermen will stand along the shore; from En Gedi to En
Eglaim there will be places for spreading nets. The fish will be
of many kinds—like the fish of the Great Sea.
11. But the swamps and marshes will not become fresh; they
will be left for salt.
12. Fruit trees of all kinds will grow on both banks of the river.
Their leaves will not wither, nor will their fruit fail. Every
month they will bear, because the water from the sanctuary
flows to them. Their fruit will serve for food and their leaves
for healing.”
13. This is what the Sovereign Lord says: “These are the
boundaries by which you are to divide the land for an
inheritance among the twelve tribes of Israel, with two portions
for Joseph.
14. You are to divide it equally among them. Because I swore
with uplifted hand to give it to your forefathers, this land will
become your inheritance.
15. “This is to be the boundary of the land: “On the north side
it will run from the Great Sea by the Hethlon road past Lebo
Hamath to Zedad,
16. Berothah and Sibraim (which lies on the border between
Damascus and Hamath), as far as Hazer Hatticon, which is on
the border of Hauran.
17. The boundary will extend from the sea to Hazar Enan,
along the northern border of Damascus, with the border of
Hamath to the north. This will be the north boundary.
18. “On the east side the boundary will run between Hauran
and Damascus, along the Jordan between Gilead and the land
of Israel, to the eastern sea and as far as Tamar. This will be
the east boundary.
19. “On the south side it will run from Tamar as far as the
waters of Meribah Kadesh, then along the Wadi of Egypt to
the Great Sea. This will be the south boundary.
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20. “On the west side, the Great Sea will be the boundary to a
point opposite Lebo Hamath. This will be the west boundary.
21. “You are to distribute this land among yourselves
according to the tribes of Israel.
22. You are to allot it as an inheritance for yourselves and for
the aliens who have settled among you and who have children.
You are to consider them as native-born Israelites; along with
you they are to be allotted an inheritance among the tribes of
Israel.
23. In whatever tribe the alien settles, there you are to give him
his inheritance,” declares the Sovereign Lord. (NIV 1984)
Introduction:
I. Ancient near eastern people, Hamilton well wrote, placed great
importance on a harmonious relationship of deity-people-land.
A. God has returned to his temple and has given instruction
as to how Israel was to maintain a harmonious relationship
with the LORD. (See Hamilton.)
B. The LORD’s sanctification of the land comes by means of
a river that inexplicably deepens without tributaries, flows
over and through hills, makes fresh the most salty water on
earth, and causes trees perpetually to produce fruit. (See
Hamilton.)
C. Life on their land, Yahweh and the temple in its midst,
would be indescribably and unimaginably wonderful,
Hamilton observed, when they returned from exile.
II. Fredenburg wrote that: . . .
A. the temple would have a restorative effect in the land
(Ezekiel 47:1-12).
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1. Zechariah 13:1, “On that day a fountain will be
opened to the house of David and the inhabitants of
Jerusalem, to cleanse them from sin and impurity.
(NIV 1984)
2. Zechariah 14:8, On that day living water will flow
out from Jerusalem, half to the eastern sea and half
to the western sea, in summer and in winter. (NIV
1984)
3. Revelation 22:1-2, Then the angel showed me the
river of the water of life, as clear as crystal, flowing
from the throne of God and of the Lamb down the
middle of the great street of the city. On each side of
the river stood the tree of life, bearing twelve crops
of fruit, yielding its fruit every month. And the
leaves of the tree are for the healing of the nations.
(NIV 1984)
B. ideal boundaries of the Israelite territory were established
(Ezekiel 47:13-23).
C. the land would be reapportioned to the tribes (Ezekiel
48:1-29).
Commentary:
The River From the Temple
Ezekiel 47:1, The man brought me back to the entrance of the
temple, and I saw water coming out from under the threshold
of the temple toward the east (for the temple faced east). The
water was coming down from under the south side of the
temple, south of the altar. (NIV 1984)
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I. The man brought me back to the entrance of the temple, and . . .
A. The angelic guide brought Ezekiel back from the
sacrificial kitchen areas to the entrance of the temple.
1. Ezekiel 46:21-24, He then brought me to the
outer court and led me around to its four corners,
and I saw in each corner another court. In the four
corners of the outer court were enclosed courts,
forty cubits long and thirty cubits wide; each of the
courts in the four corners was the same size.
Around the inside of each of the four courts was a
ledge of stone, with places for fire built all around
under the ledge. He said to me, “These are the
kitchens where those who minister at the temple will
cook the sacrifices of the people.” (NIV 1984)
B. Ezekiel, having seen the entire court of the people, is
escorted back by the north gate into the courts of the priests.
(Clarke)
II. I saw water coming out from under the threshold (porch) of the
temple toward the east (for the temple faced east).
A. Water came out from under the threshold of the temple
door which faced east.
B. From the gate of the temple, Ezekiel saw water which
flowed under the threshold of the east gate. (Clarke)
1. Ezekiel 40:48-49, He brought me to the portico of
the temple and measured the jambs of the portico;
they were five cubits wide on either side. The width
of the entrance was fourteen cubits and its
projecting walls were three cubits wide on either
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side. The portico was twenty cubits wide, and
twelve cubits from front to back. It was reached by a
flight of stairs, and there were pillars on each side of
the jambs. (NIV 1984)
2. Ezekiel 9:3, Now the glory of the God of Israel
went up from above the cherubim, where it had
been, and moved to the threshold of the temple.
Then the Lord called to the man clothed in linen
who had the writing kit at his side (NIV 1984)
C. The flowing of this river of water from the temple reminds
us of the waters of Shiloah. (See The Pulpit Commentary.)
1. Isaiah 8:6, “Because this people has rejected the
gently flowing waters of Shiloah and rejoices over
Rezin and the son of Remaliah, (NIV 1984)
2. Psalm 46:4, There is a river whose streams make
glad the city of God, the holy place where the Most
High dwells (NIV 1984)
3. Joel 3:18, “In that day the mountains will drip
new wine, and the hills will flow with milk; all the
ravines of Judah will run with water. A fountain will
flow out of the Lord’s house and will water the
valley of acacias. (NIV 1984)
4. The Valley of Shittim or the Acacia Valley was
located on the borders of Moab east of the Jordan
River. It was here the Israelites on their journey from
Egypt grievously sinned. (See The Pulpit
Commentary.)
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a. Numbers 25:1, While Israel was staying in
Shittim, the men began to indulge in sexual
immorality with Moabite women, (NIV 1984)
b. Numbers 33:49, There on the plains of Moab
they camped along the Jordan from Beth
Jeshimoth to Abel Shittim. (NIV 1984)
III. The water was coming down from under the south side of the
temple, south of the altar.
A. The water ran on the south side of the temple, south of the
altar in the inner court, through the outer court, and out of the
temple on the south side of the outer gate facing east. (See
Fredenburg.)
B. “The water was flowing down from under the right side of
the temple, from south of the altar.” (NET Bible)
C. “The water passed to the south of the altar of burnt-
offerings on the right of the temple, ran from the west to the
east, that they might fall into the brook Kidron, and thence be
carried into the Dead Sea.” (Clarke)
1. Joel 3:18, “In that day the mountains will drip
new wine, and the hills will flow with milk; all the
ravines of Judah will run with water. A fountain will
flow out of the Lord’s house and will water the
valley of acacias. (NIV 1984)
2. Zechariah 14:8, On that day living water will flow
out from Jerusalem, half to the eastern sea and half
to the western sea, in summer and in winter. (NIV
1984)
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D. The water went down, descended, because the temple was
built on higher ground than the inner court. (The Pulpit
Commentary)
E. Water, according to The Pulpit Commentary, issued:
1. from under the threshold of the house, or . . .
2. from the right side or shoulder of the house; that is,
from the corner where the south wall of the porch and
the east wall of the temple joined, or . . .
a. Ezekiel 41:1, Then the man brought me to
the outer sanctuary and measured the jambs;
the width of the jambs was six cubits on each
side. (NIV 1984)
3. from the south side of the altar which stood exactly
in front of the temple porch.
a. Ezekiel 40:47, Then he measured the court:
It was square—a hundred cubits long and a
hundred cubits wide. And the altar was in
front of the temple. (NIV 1984)
2 Kings 47:2, He then brought me out through the north gate
and led me around the outside to the outer gate facing east,
and the water was flowing from the south side. (NIV 1984)
I. He then brought me out through the north gate and led me
around the outside to the outer gate facing east, and . . .
A. The man led Ezekiel out the north gate of the temple,
around the outside of the temple compound to the outer gate
facing east. (Fredenburg)
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B. Ezekiel could not leave through the inner east gate
because it was shut on the six working days of each week nor
through the outer east gate because it was always closed.
(See The Pulpit Commentary.)
1. Ezekiel 46:1, “‘This is what the Sovereign Lord
says: The gate of the inner court facing east is to be
shut on the six working days, but on the Sabbath
day and on the day of the New Moon it is to be
opened. (NIV 1984)
2. Ezekiel 44:1, Then the man brought me back to
the outer gate of the sanctuary, the one facing east,
and it was shut. (NIV 1984)
C. From outside the outer east gate Ezekiel observed the flow
(trickle) of water from the temple.
D. The “right side” in this verse referred to the right side or
shoulder, the corner where the east wall of the temple and the
south wall of the gate joined. (The Pulpit Commentary)
II. the water was flowing from the south side.
A. From his location, Ezekiel could see the water flowing
from the south side of the temple compound.
B. The NET Bible reads “trickling out” in place of “flowing
from” as in the NIV and Clarke suggested “oozed,” “dropped
out” or “drop by drop” would convey the small amount of
water that began this wondrous river.
C. Compare the phraseology of Ezekiel 47:1-12 with
Revelation 22:1-6, Clarke advised.
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1. Revelation 22:1-6, Then the angel showed me the
river of the water of life, as clear as
crystal, flowing from the throne of God and of the
Lamb down the middle of the great street of the city.
On each side of the river stood the tree of
life, bearing twelve crops of fruit, yielding its fruit
every month. And the leaves of the tree are for the
healing of the nations. No longer will there be any
curse. The throne of God and of the Lamb will be in
the city, and his servants will serve him. They will
see his face, and his name will be on their
foreheads. There will be no more night. They will
not need the light of a lamp or the light of the sun,
for the Lord God will give them light. And they will
reign for ever and ever. The angel said to
me, “These words are trustworthy and true. The
Lord, the God of the spirits of the prophets, sent his
angel to show his servants the things that must soon
take place.” (NIV 1984)
Ezekiel 47:3, As the man went eastward with a measuring line
in his hand, he measured off a thousand cubits and then led me
through water that was ankle-deep. (NIV 1984)
I. As the man went eastward with a measuring line in his hand, he
measured off a thousand cubits and . . .
A. “When the man went out toward the east with a measuring
line in his hand, he measured 1,750 feet, and . . .” (NET
Bible)
1. A thousand (1,000) cubits was approximately 1/3
mile.
II. then led me through water that was ankle-deep.
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A. To this point the stream does not appear to be significant.
(See Fredenburg.)
B. Water at the temple was only deep enough to wet the soles
of Ezekiel’s feet. Now the water had increased to ankle-
depth. (The Pulpit Commentary)
Ezekiel 47:4, He measured off another thousand cubits and led
me through water that was knee-deep. He measured off
another thousand and led me through water that was up to the
waist. (NIV 1984)
I. He measured off another thousand cubits and led me through
water that was knee-deep.
A. The depth of the water had now increased markedly. In
1,750 feet or a thousand (1,000) cubits the water’s depth had
increased by ankle deep to knee deep.
1. Remember, the temple was built on “a very high
mountain.”
II. He measured off another thousand and led me through water
that was up to the waist.
A. Another one thousand (1,000) cubits (1,750 feet, NET
Bible) brought Ezekiel to water that was waist deep.
B. The water increased in depth as Ezekiel made his way
downstream.
Ezekiel 47:5, He measured off another thousand, but now it
was a river that I could not cross, because the water had risen
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and was deep enough to swim in—a river that no one could
cross. (NIV 1984)
I. He measured off another thousand, but now it was a river that I
could not cross, . . .
A. Another one thousand cubits (1,750 feet, NET Bible), four
thousand cubits (7,000 feet) from the temple, the water had
become a river that Ezekiel could not cross.
II. because the water had risen and was deep enough to swim in—
a river that no one could cross.
A. The river was deep enough to swim in, but so wide no one
could swim across it.
B. Ezekiel must have been totally bewildered by all he saw!
(See Fredenburg.)
C. The Pulpit Commentary states, “That Ezekiel’s river
broadened and deepened suddenly and apparently without
receiving into it any tributaries.”
Ezekiel 47:6, He asked me, “Son of man, do you see this?”
Then he led me back to the bank of the river. (NIV 1984)
I. He asked me, “Son of man, do you see this?”
A. God centered Ezekiel’s attention on the bank of the river.
1. By asking Ezekiel, “. . . do you see this?”, focused
his attention on the river bank.
II. Then he led me back to the bank of the river.
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A. Ezekiel’s angelic guide took him “back” to the bank of the
river after Ezekiel had evidently tested the depth of the river.
(The Pulpit Commentary)
Ezekiel 47:7, When I arrived there, I saw a great number of
trees on each side of the river. (NIV 1984)
I. When I arrived there, I saw a great number of trees on each side
of the river.
A. Amazingly, on each side of the river was a great number
of trees.
Ezekiel 47:8, He said to me, “This water flows toward the
eastern region and goes down into the Arabah, where it enters
the Sea. When it empties into the Sea, the water there becomes
fresh. (NIV 1984)
I. He said to me, “This water flows toward the eastern region and
goes down into the Arabah, where it enters the Sea.
A. The Arabah was a major region of the land of Israel
referring usually to the entire valley region between Mount
Hermon in the north through the Dead Sea and on to the Red
Sea, a distance of 240 miles long and varying in width from 6
to 25 miles. (Youngblood, Nelson’s New Illustrated Bible
Dictionary)
B. The river flowed east into the Arabah where it entered the
Dead Sea, Salt Sea, “where the sea is stagnant.” (NET Bible)
1. The Pulpit Commentary suggested this point of
entrance into the Arabah may have been in the area of
Jericho.
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a. Joshua 22:10-11, When they came to
Geliloth near the Jordan in the land of
Canaan, the Reubenites, the Gadites and the
half-tribe of Manasseh built an imposing altar
there by the Jordan. 11 And when the Israelites
heard that they had built the altar on the
border of Canaan at Geliloth near the Jordan
on the Israelite side, (NIV 1984)
b. Genesis 13:10, When they came to Geliloth
near the Jordan in the land of Canaan, the
Reubenites, the Gadites and the half-tribe of
Manasseh built an imposing altar there by the
Jordan. 11 And when the Israelites heard that
they had built the altar on the border of
Canaan at Geliloth near the Jordan on the
Israelite side, (NIV 1984)
II. When it empties into the Sea, the water there becomes fresh.
A. The Sea here is the Dead Sea also known as the Salt Sea
or the river or Sea of the Arabah.
1. Deuteronomy 3:17, Its western border was the
Jordan in the Arabah, from Kinnereth to the Sea of
the Arabah (the Salt Sea), below the slopes of
Pisgah. (NIV 1984)
2. Deuteronomy 4:49, and included all the Arabah
east of the Jordan, as far as the Sea of the Arabah,
below the slopes of Pisgah. (NIV 1984)
3. Amos 6:14, For the Lord God Almighty declares,
“I will stir up a nation against you, O house of
Israel, that will oppress you all the way from Lebo
Hamath to the valley of the Arabah.” (NIV 1984)
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B. The river entered the Dead Sea and made the Salt Sea’s
brine (dead waters) fresh water (the waters are “healed.”
(See Fredenburg.)
1. Exodus 15:23, 25, When they came to Marah, they
could not drink its water because it was bitter. (That
is why the place is called Marah.) Then Moses cried
out to the Lord, and the Lord showed him a piece of
wood. He threw it into the water, and the water
became sweet. There the Lord made a decree and a
law for them, and there he tested them. (NIV 1984)
2. 2 Kings 2:22, And the water has remained
wholesome to this day, according to the word Elisha
had spoken. (NIV 1984)
C. “The sea is called Dead, because there is in it no green
plant, no waterfowl, no fish, no shell. If the Jordan carry fish
into it, they die.” There exists within the waters of the Dead
Sea no living thing, not even a trace of animal or vegetable
life. (The Pulpit Commentary)
Ezekiel 47:9, Swarms of living creatures will live wherever the
river flows. There will be large numbers of fish, because this
water flows there and makes the salt water fresh; so where the
river flows everything will live. (NIV 1984)
I. Swarms of living creatures will live wherever the river flows.
A. In the lifeless waters of the Dead Sea, now fresh water,
swarms of living creatures lived!
1. Genesis 1:20-21, And God said, “Let the water
teem with living creatures, and let birds fly above
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the earth across the expanse of the sky.” So God
created the great creatures of the sea and every
living and moving thing with which the water teems,
according to their kinds, and every winged bird
according to its kind. And God saw that it was good.
(NIV 1984)
2. Genesis 7:21, Every living thing that moved on the
earth perished—birds, livestock, wild animals, all
the creatures that swarm over the earth, and all
mankind. (NIV 1984)
II. There will be large numbers of fish, because this water flows
there and makes the salt water fresh; . . .
A. This infusion of abundant life into the sea that once was
dead, but was now healed was the result of this river of life
which flowed from the temple of God.
III. so where the river flows everything will live.
A. Because where the river flows, everything will live, it
behooves us to stay where the river of God’s blessings flows.
Ezekiel 47:10, Fishermen will stand along the shore; from En
Gedi to En Eglaim there will be places for spreading nets. The
fish will be of many kinds—like the fish of the Great Sea.
(NIV 1984)
I. Fishermen will stand along the shore; from En Gedi to En
Eglaim there will be places for spreading nets.
A. En Gedi (spring or fountain of a kid) was an oasis on the
barren western shore of the Dead Sea about 35 miles
southeast of Jerusalem in the rugged wilderness of Judah.
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En Gedi was watered with a hot spring yielding an
abundance of fresh water. (Youngblood, Nelson’s New
Illustrated Bible Dictionary)
B. En Eglaim (spring or fountain of two calves) was a place
on the southeastern coast of the Dead Sea near Zoar.
(Youngblood, Nelson’s New Illustrated Bible Dictionary)
The Pulpit Commentary places En Eglaim at the northern
extremity of the Dead Sea.
1. Isaiah 15:8, Their outcry echoes along the border
of Moab; their wailing reaches as far as Eglaim,
their lamentation as far as Beer Elim. (NIV 1984)
C. On the shore of the Dead Sea fishermen stood at En Gedi
on the central western shore of the Dead Sea and at En
Eglaim perhaps located on the central eastern shore. (See
Fredenburg.)
II. The fish will be of many kinds—like the fish of the Great Sea.
A. The Great Sea is the Mediterranean Sea.
B. In the Dead Sea now made fresh huge numbers and great
varieties of fish would live such as would be found in the
Mediterranean Sea and such as would be native to many
lands, countries of the world.
Ezekiel 47:11, But the swamps and marshes will not become
fresh; they will be left for salt. (NIV 1984)
I. But the swamps and marshes will not become fresh; they will
be left for salt.
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A. “Wherever the Temple river flowed there was abundant
life. Only the swamps and marshes around the sea would
remain too salty for living organisms,” Hamilton wrote.
1. Job 8:16, He is like a well-watered plant in the
sunshine, spreading its shoots over the garden;
(NIV 1984)
2. Job 40:21, Under the lotus plants he lies, hidden
among the reeds in the marsh. (NIV 1984)
3. Isaiah 30:14, It will break in pieces like pottery,
shattered so mercilessly that among its pieces not a
fragment will be found for taking coals from a
hearth or scooping water out of a cistern.” (NIV
1984)
B. Fredenburg noted that salt was a valuable commodity and
a supply was left.
1. The Pulpit Commentary, however, reads, “. . . the
manifest intention of the prophet was to indicate a
limitation to the life-giving influence of the river, and to
signify that places and persons unvisited by its healing
stream would be abandoned to incurable destruction.
2. Salt, in Scripture, rarely expressed the idea of
blessings, but frequently of judgment.
a. Deuteronomy 29:23, The whole land will be a
burning waste of salt and sulfur—nothing
planted, nothing sprouting, no vegetation
growing on it. It will be like the destruction of
Sodom and Gomorrah, Admah and Zeboiim,
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which the Lord overthrew in fierce anger.
(NIV 1984)
b. Psalm 107:33-34, He turned rivers into a
desert, flowing springs into thirsty ground, and
fruitful land into a salt waste, because of the
wickedness of those who lived there. (NIV
1984)
c. Jeremiah 17:6, He will be like a bush in the
wastelands; he will not see prosperity when it
comes. He will dwell in the parched places of
the desert, in a salt land where no one lives.
(NIV 1984)
d. Zephaniah 2:9, Therefore, as surely as I
live,” declares the Lord Almighty, the God of
Israel, “surely Moab will become like Sodom,
the Ammonites like Gomorrah—a place of
weeds and salt pits, a wasteland forever. The
remnant of my people will plunder them; the
survivors of my nation will inherit their land.”
(NIV 1984)
3. However, please note the following references:
a. Matthew 5:13, “You are the salt of the earth.
But if the salt loses its saltiness, how can it be
made salty again? It is no longer good for
anything, except to be thrown out and
trampled by men.” (NIV 1984)
b. Mark 9:49-50, Everyone will be salted with
fire. “Salt is good, but if it loses its saltiness,
how can you make it salty again? Have salt in
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yourselves, and be at peace with each other.”
(NIV 1984)
c. Luke 14:34, “Salt is good, but if it loses its
saltiness, how can it be made salty again? NIV
1984)
d. Colossians 4:6, Let your conversation be
always full of grace, seasoned with salt, so that
you may know how to answer everyone. (NIV
1984)
Ezekiel 47:12, Fruit trees of all kinds will grow on both banks
of the river. Their leaves will not wither, nor will their fruit
fail. Every month they will bear, because the water from the
sanctuary flows to them. Their fruit will serve for food and
their leaves for healing.” (NIV 1984)
I. Fruit trees of all kinds will grow on both banks of the river.
A. The abundant fruit trees would provide healthy nourish-
ment for the people.
B. Many different kinds of fruit trees bearing a great variety
of edible fruit would grow on both banks of the river.
1. Leviticus 19:23, “‘When you enter the land and
plant any kind of fruit tree, regard its fruit as
forbidden.[a] For three years you are to consider it
forbidden[b]; it must not be eaten. (NIV 1984)
II. Their leaves will not wither, nor will their fruit fail.
A. These were evergreen trees which bore fruit every month.
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III. Every month they will bear, because the water from the
sanctuary flows to them.
A. These fruit trees will produce fruit, not once a year, but
every month, because the water flows to the trees from the
sanctuary.
IV. Their fruit will serve for food and their leaves for healing.”
A. The fruit would provide food and the leaves would be
medicinal and would be effective for healing illnesses.
1. Genesis 2:9, And the Lord God made all kinds of
trees grow out of the ground—trees that were
pleasing to the eye and good for food. In the middle
of the garden were the tree of life and the tree of the
knowledge of good and evil. (NIV 1984)
2. Revelation 22:2, down the middle of the great
street of the city. On each side of the river stood the
tree of life, bearing twelve crops of fruit, yielding its
fruit every month. And the leaves of the tree are for
the healing of the nations. (NIV 1984)
Note: This portrayal of the wondrous life awaiting the
returning exiles is figurative, but teaches concrete lessons. (See
Fredenburg.)
The Boundaries of the Land
Ezekiel 47:13, This is what the Sovereign Lord says: “These
are the boundaries by which you are to divide the land for an
inheritance among the twelve tribes of Israel, with two portions
for Joseph. (NIV 1984)
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I. This is what the Sovereign LORD says: . . .
A. From the time of Abraham God had promised his
descendants through Isaac a land of their own. (See
Fredenburg.)
1. Genesis 12:1-3, The Lord had said to Abram,
“Leave your country, your people and your father’s
household and go to the land I will show you. “I will
make you into a great nation and I will bless you; I
will make your name great, and you will be a
blessing. I will bless those who bless you, and
whoever curses you I will curse; and all peoples on
earth will be blessed through you.” (NIV 1984)
2. Joshua was instrumental in conquering the land of
Canaan and dividing it among the tribes.
3. Having lost the promised land because of their sins,
the Sovereign LORD spoke of the day the exiles would
be returned to their homeland. (See Fredenburg.)
a. Joshua 21:43, 45, So the Lord gave Israel all
the land he had sworn to give their forefathers,
and they took possession of it and settled there.
Not one of all the Lord’s good promises to the
house of Israel failed; every one was fulfilled.
(NIV 1984)
B. In the book of Ezekiel, new important topics are
introduced with the phrase, “This is what the Sovereign
LORD says: . . .
1. Ezekiel 43:18, Then he said to me, “Son of man,
this is what the Sovereign Lord says: These will be
the regulations for sacrificing burnt offerings and
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sprinkling blood upon the altar when it is built:
(NIV 1984)
2. Ezekiel 44:9, This is what the Sovereign Lord
says: No foreigner uncircumcised in heart and flesh
is to enter my sanctuary, not even the foreigners
who live among the Israelites. (NIV 1984)
3. Ezekiel 45:9, “‘This is what the Sovereign Lord
says: You have gone far enough, O princes of Israel!
Give up your violence and oppression and do what is
just and right. Stop dispossessing my people,
declares the Sovereign Lord. (NIV 1984)
4. Ezekiel 46:1, 16, “‘This is what the Sovereign
Lord says: The gate of the inner court facing east is
to be shut on the six working days, but on the
Sabbath day and on the day of the New Moon it is to
be opened. “‘This is what the Sovereign Lord says:
If the prince makes a gift from his inheritance to one
of his sons, it will also belong to his descendants; it is
to be their property by inheritance. (NIV 1984)
5. Ezekiel 47:13, This is what the Sovereign Lord
says: “These are the boundaries by which you are to
divide the land for an inheritance among the twelve
tribes of Israel, with two portions for Joseph. NIV
1984)
II. “These are the boundaries by which you are to divide the land
for an inheritance among the twelve tribes of Israel, . . .
A. Ezekiel 47:13-48:29 instructs Israel as to how to parcel
their property properly which reminds the reader of Joshua
13-19. (See Hamilton.)
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1. Ezekiel 48:1-29, “These are the tribes, listed by
name: At the northern frontier, Dan will have one
portion; it will follow the Hethlon road to Lebo
Hamath; Hazar Enan and the northern border of
Damascus next to Hamath will be part of its border
from the east side to the west side. “Asher will have
one portion; it will border the territory of Dan from
east to west. “Naphtali will have one portion; it will
border the territory of Asher from east to west.
“Manasseh will have one portion; it will border the
territory of Naphtali from east to west. “Ephraim
will have one portion; it will border the territory of
Manasseh from east to west. “Reuben will have one
portion; it will border the territory of Ephraim from
east to west. “Judah will have one portion; it will
border the territory of Reuben from east to west.
“Bordering the territory of Judah from east to west
will be the portion you are to present as a special
gift. It will be 25,000 cubits wide, and its length from
east to west will equal one of the tribal portions; the
sanctuary will be in the center of it. “The special
portion you are to offer to the Lord will be 25,000
cubits long and 10,000 cubits[c] wide. This will be
the sacred portion for the priests. It will be 25,000
cubits long on the north side, 10,000 cubits wide on
the west side, 10,000 cubits wide on the east side and
25,000 cubits long on the south side. In the center of
it will be the sanctuary of the Lord. This will be for
the consecrated priests, the Zadokites, who were
faithful in serving me and did not go astray as the
Levites did when the Israelites went astray. It will
be a special gift to them from the sacred portion of
the land, a most holy portion, bordering the
territory of the Levites. “Alongside the territory of
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the priests, the Levites will have an allotment 25,000
cubits long and 10,000 cubits wide. Its total length
will be 25,000 cubits and its width 10,000 cubits.
They must not sell or exchange any of it. This is the
best of the land and must not pass into other hands,
because it is holy to the Lord. “The remaining area,
5,000 cubits wide and 25,000 cubits long, will be for
the common use of the city, for houses and for
pastureland. The city will be in the center of it and
will have these measurements: the north side 4,500
cubits, the south side 4,500 cubits, the east side 4,500
cubits, and the west side 4,500 cubits. The
pastureland for the city will be 250 cubits on the
north, 250 cubits on the south, 250 cubits on the
east, and 250 cubits on the west. What remains of
the area, bordering on the sacred portion and
running the length of it, will be 10,000 cubits on the
east side and 10,000 cubits on the west side. Its
produce will supply food for the workers of the city.
19 The workers from the city who farm it will come
from all the tribes of Israel. The entire portion will
be a square, 25,000 cubits on each side. As a special
gift you will set aside the sacred portion, along with
the property of the city. “What remains on both
sides of the area formed by the sacred portion and
the city property will belong to the prince. It will
extend eastward from the 25,000 cubits of the sacred
portion to the eastern border, and westward from
the 25,000 cubits to the western border. Both these
areas running the length of the tribal portions will
belong to the prince, and the sacred portion with the
temple sanctuary will be in the center of them. So
the property of the Levites and the property of the
city will lie in the center of the area that belongs to
the prince. The area belonging to the prince will lie
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between the border of Judah and the border of
Benjamin. “As for the rest of the tribes: Benjamin
will have one portion; it will extend from the east
side to the west side. “Simeon will have one portion;
it will border the territory of Benjamin from east to
west. “Issachar will have one portion; it will border
the territory of Simeon from east to west. “Zebulun
will have one portion; it will border the territory of
Issachar from east to west. “Gad will have one
portion; it will border the territory of Zebulun from
east to west. “The southern boundary of Gad will
run south from Tamar to the waters of Meribah
Kadesh, then along the Wadi of Egypt to the Great
Sea. “This is the land you are to allot as an
inheritance to the tribes of Israel, and these will be
their portions,” declares the Sovereign Lord. (NIV
1984)
2. Genesis 48:8-22, When Israel saw the sons of
Joseph, he asked, “Who are these?” “They are the
sons God has given me here,” Joseph said to his
father. Then Israel said, “Bring them to me so I may
bless them.” Now Israel’s eyes were failing because
of old age, and he could hardly see. So Joseph
brought his sons close to him, and his father kissed
them and embraced them. Israel said to Joseph, “I
never expected to see your face again, and now God
has allowed me to see your children too.” Then
Joseph removed them from Israel’s knees and
bowed down with his face to the ground. And
Joseph took both of them, Ephraim on his right
toward Israel’s left hand and Manasseh on his left
toward Israel’s right hand, and brought them close
to him. But Israel reached out his right hand and
put it on Ephraim’s head, though he was the
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younger, and crossing his arms, he put his left hand
on Manasseh’s head, even though Manasseh was the
firstborn. Then he blessed Joseph and said, “May
the God before whom my fathers Abraham and
Isaac walked, the God who has been my shepherd
all my life to this day, the Angel who has delivered
me from all harm—may he bless these boys. May
they be called by my name and the names of my
fathers Abraham and Isaac, and may they increase
greatly upon the earth.” When Joseph saw his father
placing his right hand on Ephraim’s head he was
displeased; so he took hold of his father’s hand to
move it from Ephraim’s head to Manasseh’s head.
Joseph said to him, “No, my father, this one is the
firstborn; put your right hand on his head.” But his
father refused and said, “I know, my son, I know.
He too will become a people, and he too will become
great. Nevertheless, his younger brother will be
greater than he, and his descendants will become a
group of nations.” He blessed them that day and
said, In your name will Israel pronounce this
blessing: ‘May God make you like Ephraim and
Manasseh.’” So he put Ephraim ahead of Manasseh.
Then Israel said to Joseph, “I am about to die, but
God will be with you and take you back to the land
of your fathers. And to you, as one who is over your
brothers, I give the ridge of land I took from the
Amorites with my sword and my bow.” (NIV 1984)
3. Ezekiel 37:16-23, “Son of man, take a stick of
wood and write on it, ‘Belonging to Judah and the
Israelites associated with him.’ Then take another
stick of wood, and write on it, ‘Ephraim’s stick,
belonging to Joseph and all the house of Israel
associated with him.’ Join them together into one
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stick so that they will become one in your hand.
“When your countrymen ask you, ‘Won’t you tell us
what you mean by this?’ say to them, ‘This is what
the Sovereign Lord says: I am going to take the stick
of Joseph—which is in Ephraim’s hand—and of the
Israelite tribes associated with him, and join it to
Judah’s stick, making them a single stick of wood,
and they will become one in my hand.’ Hold before
their eyes the sticks you have written on and say to
them, ‘This is what the Sovereign Lord says: I will
take the Israelites out of the nations where they have
gone. I will gather them from all around and bring
them back into their own land. I will make them one
nation in the land, on the mountains of Israel. There
will be one king over all of them and they will never
again be two nations or be divided into two
kingdoms. They will no longer defile themselves
with their idols and vile images or with any of their
offenses, for I will save them from all their sinful
backsliding, and I will cleanse them. They will be my
people, and I will be their God. (NIV 1984)
4. Numbers 34:1-15, The Lord said to Moses,
“Command the Israelites and say to them: ‘When
you enter Canaan, the land that will be allotted to
you as an inheritance will have these boundaries:
“‘Your southern side will include some of the Desert
of Zin along the border of Edom. On the east, your
southern boundary will start from the end of the
Salt Sea, cross south of Scorpion Pass, continue on
to Zin and go south of Kadesh Barnea. Then it will
go to Hazar Addar and over to Azmon, where it will
turn, join the Wadi of Egypt and end at the Sea.
“‘Your western boundary will be the coast of the
Great Sea. This will be your boundary on the west.
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“‘For your northern boundary, run a line from the
Great Sea to Mount Hor and from Mount Hor to
Lebo Hamath. Then the boundary will go to Zedad,
continue to Ziphron and end at Hazar Enan. This
will be your boundary on the north. “‘For your
eastern boundary, run a line from Hazar Enan to
Shepham. The boundary will go down from
Shepham to Riblah on the east side of Ain and
continue along the slopes east of the Sea of
Kinnereth. Then the boundary will go down along
the Jordan and end at the Salt Sea. “‘This will be
your land, with its boundaries on every side.’”
Moses commanded the Israelites: “Assign this land
by lot as an inheritance. The Lord has ordered that
it be given to the nine and a half tribes, because the
families of the tribe of Reuben, the tribe of Gad and
the half-tribe of Manasseh have received their
inheritance. These two and a half tribes have
received their inheritance on the east side of the
Jordan of Jericho, toward the sunrise.” NIV 1984)
5. Numbers 26:52-56, The Lord said to Moses, “The
land is to be allotted to them as an inheritance based
on the number of names. To a larger group give a
larger inheritance, and to a smaller group a smaller
one; each is to receive its inheritance according to
the number of those listed. Be sure that the land is
distributed by lot. What each group inherits will be
according to the names for its ancestral tribe. Each
inheritance is to be distributed by lot among the
larger and smaller groups.” (NIV 1984)
B. The exiles, Fredenburg noted, were a dispirited, “landless
people” who thought they would never again see their
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beloved homeland and who deeply resented the fact that non-
Israelites possessed the Promised Land.
1. Ezekiel 12:13-14, I will spread my net for him,
and he will be caught in my snare; I will bring him
to Babylonia, the land of the Chaldeans, but he will
not see it, and there he will die. I will scatter to the
winds all those around him—his staff and all his
troops—and I will pursue them with drawn sword.
(NIV 1984)
2. Jeremiah and Ezekiel offered the exiles hope of
returning home.
a. Jeremiah 32:42-44, “This is what the Lord
says: As I have brought all this great calamity
on this people, so I will give them all the
prosperity I have promised them. Once more
fields will be bought in this land of which you
say, ‘It is a desolate waste, without men or
animals, for it has been handed over to the
Babylonians.’ Fields will be bought for silver,
and deeds will be signed, sealed and witnessed
in the territory of Benjamin, in the villages
around Jerusalem, in the towns of Judah and
in the towns of the hill country, of the western
foothills and of the Negev, because I will
restore their fortunes, declares the Lord.”
(NIV 1984)
b. Ezekiel 28:25, “‘This is what the Sovereign
Lord says: When I gather the people of Israel
from the nations where they have been
scattered, I will show myself holy among them
in the sight of the nations. Then they will live in
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their own land, which I gave to my servant
Jacob. (NIV 1984)
c. Ezekiel 34:26-27, I will bless them and the
places surrounding my hill. I will send down
showers in season; there will be showers of
blessing. The trees of the field will yield their
fruit and the ground will yield its crops; the
people will be secure in their land. They will
know that I am the Lord, when I break the
bars of their yoke and rescue them from the
hands of those who enslaved them. (NIV 1984)
C. Since each of Joseph’s sons, Ephraim and Manasseh, were
considered the heads of tribes, there were actually thirteen
tribes.
1. Genesis 48:22, And to you, as one who is over
your brothers, I give the ridge of land I took from
the Amorites with my sword and my bow.” (NIV
1984)
2. Joshua 17:14, 17, The people of Joseph said to
Joshua, “Why have you given us only one allotment
and one portion for an inheritance? We are a
numerous people and the Lord has blessed us
abundantly.” But Joshua said to the house of
Joseph—to Ephraim and Manasseh—“You are
numerous and very powerful. You will have not only
one allotment (NIV 1984)
3. The tribes of Israel were, therefore, Reuben, Simeon,
Levi, Judah, Zebulun, Issachar, Dan, Gad, Asher,
Naphtali, Joseph (Ephraim, Manasseh) and Benjamin.
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III. with two (2) portions for Joseph.
A. One portion was given to each of Joseph’s two sons, one
for Ephraim and one fro Manasseh.
1. Joseph appears still to be favored among the sons of
Jacob as the only one who has two tribes among
Jacob’s sons and a major amount of land as divided by
Moses and Joshua.
2. When the Northern Tribes declared their intention to
secede from the union, Ephraim and Manasseh were
influential tribes who joined with the tribes following
Jeroboam.
Ezekiel 47:14, You are to divide it equally among them.
Because I swore with uplifted hand to give it to your
forefathers, this land will become your inheritance. (NIV
1984)
I. You are to divide it equally among them.
A. “The portions assigned to each tribe apparently were
equal. These portions of approximately twenty miles in
width stretched from the Mediterranean Sea to the Jordan
River,” Hamilton wrote.
1. This is an idealistic distribution of land as some
tribes were larger than others.
2. The division was fair and equitable for each tribe and
individual.
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B. However, with two tribes allotted to Joseph’s two sons,
they would have twice as much land as any other of Jacob’s
sons’ descendants.
II. Because I swore with uplifted hand to give it to your
forefathers, this land will become your inheritance.
A. Upon the repentance of wicked Israel, God promised to
renew his land grant to the exiles.
B. The phrase, “I swore with uplifted hand,” was frequently
used in the book of Ezekiel. (See The Pulpit Commentary.)
1. Ezekiel 20:5-6, 15, 23, 28, 42, and say to them:
‘This is what the Sovereign Lord says: On the day I
chose Israel, I swore with uplifted hand to the
descendants of the house of Jacob and revealed
myself to them in Egypt. With uplifted hand I said
to them, “I am the Lord your God.” On that day I
swore to them that I would bring them out of Egypt
into a land I had searched out for them, a land
flowing with milk and honey, the most beautiful of
all lands. Also with uplifted hand I swore to them in
the desert that I would not bring them into the land
I had given them—a land flowing with milk and
honey, most beautiful of all lands—Also with
uplifted hand I swore to them in the desert that I
would disperse them among the nations and scatter
them through the countries, When I brought them
into the land I had sworn to give them and they saw
any high hill or any leafy tree, there they offered
their sacrifices, made offerings that provoked me to
anger, presented their fragrant incense and poured
out their drink offerings. Then you will know that I
am the Lord, when I bring you into the land of
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Israel, the land I had sworn with uplifted hand to
give to your fathers. (NIV 1984)
2. This phrase or one similar was used in God’s
promises to give the promised land to Israel, the
descendants of Abraham.
a. Genesis 12:7, The Lord appeared to Abram
and said, “To your offspring I will give this
land.” So he built an altar there to the Lord,
who had appeared to him. (NIV 1984)
b. Genesis 26:3, Stay in this land for a while,
and I will be with you and will bless you. For to
you and your descendants I will give all these
lands and will confirm the oath I swore to your
father Abraham. (NIV 1984)
c. Genesis 28:13, There above it stood the Lord,
and he said: “I am the Lord, the God of your
father Abraham and the God of Isaac. I will
give you and your descendants the land on
which you are lying. (NIV 1984)
Ezekiel 47:15, “This is to be the boundary of the land: “On the
north side it will run from the Great Sea by the Hethlon road
past Lebo Hamath to Zedad, (NIV 1984)
I. “This is to be the boundary of the land: . . .
A. This land was smaller than the land divided among the
Israelites by Moses and Joshua because all this land was west
of the Jordan River while previously the land appropriated
was both east and west of the Jordan River. (See Hamilton.)
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Note: The location and identity of many of these places are not
known with certainty.
II. “On the north side it will run from the Great Sea by the Hethlon
road past Lebo Hamath to Zedad, . . .
A. The Hethlon road was a mountain pass on the northern
boundary of Palestine, connecting the plain of Hamath with
the Mediterranean coast. (Youngblood, Nelson’s New
Illustrated Bible Dictionary)
1. The Great Sea is the Mediterranean Sea.
B. Lebo Hamath was an important royal city of the Hittites,
perched on a gigantic mount beside the Orontes River.
(Bromiley) Lebo Hamath was considered to be the northern
most point in Israel and was located in Syria.
1. Numbers 13:21, So they went up and explored the
land from the Desert of Zin as far as Rehob, toward
Lebo Hamath. (NIV 1984)
2. Numbers 34:7-12, “‘For your northern boundary,
run a line from the Great Sea to Mount Hor and
from Mount Hor to Lebo Hamath. Then the
boundary will go to Zedad, continue to Ziphron and
end at Hazar Enan. This will be your boundary on
the north. “‘For your eastern boundary, run a line
from Hazar Enan to Shepham. The boundary will
go down from Shepham to Riblah on the east side of
Ain and continue along the slopes east of the Sea of
Kinnereth. Then the boundary will go down along
the Jordan and end at the Salt Sea. “‘This will be
your land, with its boundaries on every side.’” (NIV
1984)
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3. Joshua 13:5, the area of the Gebalites; and all
Lebanon to the east, from Baal Gad below Mount
Hermon to Lebo Hamath. (NIV 1984)
4. 1 Kings 8:65, So Solomon observed the festival at
that time, and all Israel with him—a vast assembly,
people from Lebo Hamath to the Wadi of Egypt.
They celebrated it before the Lord our God for
seven days and seven days more, fourteen days in
all. (NIV 1984)
5. 2 Kings 14:25, He was the one who restored the
boundaries of Israel from Lebo Hamath to the Sea
of the Arabah, in accordance with the word of the
Lord, the God of Israel, spoken through his servant
Jonah son of Amittai, the prophet from Gath
Hepher. (NIV 1984)
6. Amos 6:2, 14, Go to Calneh and look at it; go
from there to great Hamath, and then go down to
Gath in Philistia. Are they better off than your two
kingdoms? Is their land larger than yours? For the
Lord God Almighty declares, “I will stir up a nation
against you, O house of Israel, that will oppress you
all the way from Lebo Hamath to the valley of the
Arabah.” (NIV 1984)
7. Judges 3:3, the five rulers of the Philistines, all the
Canaanites, the Sidonians, and the Hivites living in
the Lebanon mountains from Mount Baal Hermon
to Lebo Hamath. (NIV 1984)
C. Zedad was a place, probably a tower, on the northern
boundary of Palestine located about 65 miles northeast of
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Damascus. (Youngblood, Nelson’s New Illustrated Bible
Dictionary)
1. Ezekiel 48:1, “These are the tribes, listed by
name: At the northern frontier, Dan will have one
portion; it will follow the Hethlon road to Lebo
Hamath; Hazar Enan and the northern border of
Damascus next to Hamath will be part of its border
from the east side to the west side. (NIV 1984)
Ezekiel 47:16, Berothah and Sibraim (which lies on the border
between Damascus and Hamath), as far as Hazer Hatticon,
which is on the border of Hauran. (NIV 1984)
I. Berothah and Sibraim (which lies on the border between
Damascus and Hamath), as far as Hazer Hatticon, which is on the
border of Hauran.
A. Berothah was a town on the northern boundary between
Zedad and Sibraim, just south of the kingdom of Hamath,
south of Baalbek in the western foothills of the Anti-Lebanon
mountains. (Bromiley)
1. 2 Samuel 8:8, From Tebah and Berothai, towns
that belonged to Hadadezer, King David took a
great quantity of bronze. (NIV 1984)
2. 1 Chronicles 18:8, From Tebah and Cun, towns
that belonged to Hadadezer, David took a great
quantity of bronze, which Solomon used to make the
bronze Sea, the pillars and various bronze articles.
(NIV 1984)
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B. Sibraim was located between Damascus and Hamath. It
was a Syrian city on the northern border of Israel.
(Youngblood, Nelson’s New Illustrated Bible Dictionary)
1. Sibraim is mentioned only here in the Bible.
C. Hazor Hatticon. Hazor (enclosure) was an ancient
Canaanite fortress city in northern Palestine, situated about
10 miles northwest of the Sea of Galilee. (Youngblood,
Nelson’s New Illustrated Bible Dictionary)
1. Exodus 26:28, The center crossbar is to extend
from end to end at the middle of the frames. (NIV
1984)
2. 2 Kings 20:4, Before Isaiah had left the middle
court, the word of the Lord came to him: (NIV
1984)
D. Hauran was a region in Transjordan east of the Sea of
Galilee, north of the Yarmuk River, and south of Damascus
and Mount Hermon. Hauron in Ezekiel’s vision marked the
northeastern limits of the land of Israel. (Youngblood,
Nelson’s New Illustrated Bible Dictionary) Clarke observed
that Hauran was located in the northeast limit of the Holy
Land.
1. Damascus was the well known capital of Syria and
an important commercial center.
a. Isaiah 7:8, for the head of Aram is
Damascus, and the head of Damascus is only
Rezin. Within sixty-five years Ephraim will be
too shattered to be a people (NIV 1984)
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b. Ezekiel 27:18, “‘Damascus, because of your
many products and great wealth of goods, did
business with you in wine from Helbon and
wool from Zahar. (NIV 1984)
c. Genesis 14:15, During the night Abram
divided his men to attack them and he routed
them, pursuing them as far as Hobah, north of
Damascus. (NIV 1984)
d. Genesis 15:2, But Abram said, “O Sovereign
Lord, what can you give me since I remain
childless and the one who will inherit my estate
is Eliezer of Damascus?” (NIV 1984)
Ezekiel 47:17, The boundary will extend from the sea to Hazar
Enan, along the northern border of Damascus, with the border
of Hamath to the north. This will be the north boundary. (NIV
1984)
I. The boundary will extend from the sea to Hazar Enan, along the
northern border of Damascus, with the border of Hamath to the
north.
A. Hazar Enan. Hazar (village of fountains) is a term
meaning “unwalled village” and is used often as a prefix for
geographical names in the Bible. (Youngblood, Nelson’s
New Illustrated Bible Dictionary) Hazar-Enan was a place at
the easternmost point of the ideal northern boundary of the
Promised Land, midway between Damascus and the land of
Hamath. Hazar Enan was located about 70 miles NE of
Damascus in the direction of Palmyra. (Bromiley)
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1. Numbers 34:9, continue to Ziphron and end at
Hazar Enan. This will be your boundary on the
north. (NIV 1984)
B. For Hamath see verse 15 above.
C. Damascus is the oldest continually inhabited city in the
world and capital of Syria located northeast of the Sea of
Galilee.
II. This will be the north boundary.
A. This was a definitely identifiable border, but Israel’s
exiles evidently never gained control of this ideal land grant.
Ezekiel 47:18, “On the east side the boundary will run between
Hauran and Damascus, along the Jordan between Gilead and
the land of Israel, to the eastern sea and as far as Tamar. This
will be the east boundary. (NIV 1984)
I. “On the east side, the boundary will run between Hauran and
Damascus, along the Jordan between Gilead and the land of Israel,
to the eastern sea and as far as Tamar.
A. For Hauran see verse 16.
B. For Damascus see verse 17.
C. Gilead was a city in the region of Gilead east of the Jordan
River.
D. The “eastern sea” is the Dead Sea, also known as the Salt
Sea.
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E. Tamar was located southwest of the Dead Sea.
(Youngblood, Nelson’s New Illustrated Bible Dictionary)
Clarke identified Tamar as Hazozon Tamar or Engedi.
However, The Pulpit Commentary states this Tamar is not
the same as Hazozon Tamar or Engedi, but was a village near
the southern end of the Dead Sea.
II. This will be the east boundary.
A. This eastern boundary did not include areas once occupied
by half the tribe of Manasseh, Reuben and Gad.
1. Numbers 34:14-15, because the families of the
tribe of Reuben, the tribe of Gad and the half-tribe
of Manasseh have received their inheritance. These
two and a half tribes have received their inheritance
on the east side of the Jordan of Jericho, toward the
sunrise.”
(NIV 1984)
2. The Pulpit Commentary stated this lack of inclusion
of land east of Jordan does not mean that Israel could
not occupy it if they became able to do so.
a. Psalm 60:7, Gilead is mine, and Manasseh is
mine;Ephraim is my helmet, Judah my scepter.
(NIV 1984)
b. Micah 7:14, Shepherd your people with your
staff, the flock of your inheritance, which lives
by itself in a forest, in fertile pasturelands. Let
them feed in Bashan and Gilead as in days long
ago. (NIV 1984)
c. Jeremiah 50:19, But I will bring Israel back
to his own pasture and he will graze on Carmel
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and Bashan; his appetite will be satisfied on the
hills of Ephraim and Gilead. (NIV 1984)
d. Zechariah 10:10, I will bring them back
from Egypt and gather them from Assyria. I
will bring them to Gilead and Lebanon, and
there will not be room enough for them. (NIV
1984)
Ezekiel 47:19, “On the south side it will run from Tamar as far
as the waters of Meribah Kadesh, then along the Wadi of
Egypt to the Great Sea. This will be the south boundary. (NIV
1984)
I. “On the south side it will run from Tamar as far as the waters of
Meribah Kadesh, then along the Wadi of Egypt to the Great Sea.
A. For Tamar (palm tree) see verse 18.
B. Meribah Kadesh (near Kadesh Barnea) was located in the
wilderness of Zin (Sin), a second place where Moses struck a
rock. Israel encamped here near the end of their wilderness
wandering. (Youngblood, Nelson’s New Illustrated Bible
Dictionary)
1. Numbers 20:1-13, In the first month the whole
Israelite community arrived at the Desert of Zin,
and they stayed at Kadesh. There Miriam died and
was buried. Now there was no water for the
community, and the people gathered in opposition to
Moses and Aaron. They quarreled with Moses and
said, “If only we had died when our brothers fell
dead before the Lord! Why did you bring the
Lord’s community into this desert, that we and our
livestock should die here? Why did you bring us up
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out of Egypt to this terrible place? It has no grain or
figs, grapevines or pomegranates. And there is no
water to drink!” Moses and Aaron went from the
assembly to the entrance to the Tent of Meeting and
fell facedown, and the glory of the Lord appeared to
them. The Lord said to Moses, “Take the staff, and
you and your brother Aaron gather the assembly
together. Speak to that rock before their eyes and it
will pour out its water. You will bring water out of
the rock for the community so they and their
livestock can drink.” So Moses took the staff from
the Lord’s presence, just as he commanded him. He
and Aaron gathered the assembly together in front
of the rock and Moses said to them, “Listen, you
rebels, must we bring you water out of this rock?”
Then Moses raised his arm and struck the rock
twice with his staff. Water gushed out, and the
community and their livestock drank. But the Lord
said to Moses and Aaron, “Because you did not trust
in me enough to honor me as holy in the sight of the
Israelites, you will not bring this community into the
land I give them.” These were the waters of
Meribah, where the Israelites quarreled with the
Lord and where he showed himself holy among
them. (NIV 1984)
2. Genesis 16:14, That is why the well was called
Beer Lahai Roi; it is still there, between Kadesh and
Bered. (NIV 1984)
C. Wadi of Egypt (Wady-el-Arish). A wadi is a valley,
ravine, or riverbed that usually remains dry except during the
rainy season. The Wadi or brook of Egypt served as the
dividing line between Canaan and Egypt. (Youngblood,
Nelson’s New Illustrated Bible Dictionary) Clarke observed
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this Wadi, river is also called Besor, which runs into The
Great Sea near Gaza.
D. The Great Sea is the Mediterranean Sea.
1. Numbers 34:5, where it will turn, join the Wadi
of Egypt and end at the Sea. (NIV 1984)
II. This will be the south boundary.
A. Again, the exact border was specified, but the exiles may
never have possessed everything God promised.
Ezekiel 47:20, “On the west side, the Great Sea will be the
boundary to a point opposite Lebo Hamath. This will be the
west boundary. (NIV 1984)
I. “On the west side, the Great Sea will be the boundary to a point
opposite Lebo Hamath.
A. For Lebo Hamath see verse 15.
1. Judges 19:10, But, unwilling to stay another night,
the man left and went toward Jebus (that is,
Jerusalem), with his two saddled donkeys and his
concubine. (NIV 1984)
2. Judges 20:43, They surrounded the Benjamites,
chased them and easily overran them in the vicinity
of Gibeah on the east. (NIV 1984)
B. The west boundary is clear. It is the Mediterranean Sea.
II. This will be the west boundary.
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A. Only under the leadership of David, Solomon and
Jeroboam II did Israel/Judah reach these geographical limits
governmentally. (See Fredenburg.)
1. Fredenburg further wrote, “Ezekiel’s boundary thus
conforms to both the ancient Mosaic and Davidic
ideals. A return to this envisioned land would be a
return to the distantly past “golden age” of David.”
Ezekiel 47:21, “You are to distribute this land among
yourselves according to the tribes of Israel. (NIV 1984)
I. “You are to distribute this land among yourselves according to
the tribes of Israel.
A. The Pulpit Commentary states the land was to be
partitioned among the tribes as tribes rather than among the
families of Israel.
1. See verse 13.
Ezekiel 47:22, You are to allot it as an inheritance for
yourselves and for the aliens who have settled among you and
who have children. You are to consider them as native-born
Israelites; along with you they are to be allotted an inheritance
among the tribes of Israel. (NIV 1984)
I. You are to allot it as an inheritance for yourselves and for the
aliens who have settled among you and who have children.
A. “Strangers (foreigners) who permanently dwelt among the
tribes of Israel were to receive permanent portions according
to the tribe where they lived. Thus Gentiles as well as Jews
would be welcome in the new land.” (Hamilton)
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1. Leviticus 19:33-34, “‘When an alien lives with you
in your land, do not mistreat him. The alien living
with you must be treated as one of your native-born.
Love him as yourself, for you were aliens in Egypt. I
am the Lord your God. (NIV 1984)
2. Clarke wrote, “In former divisions of the land, no
place was given to strangers (non-Israelites), but in this
division, aliens remarkably are treated as equals with
Israelites.
a. Clarke reminded his readers that in the church
all races and nations are equal and that God is no
respecter of persons.
II. You are to consider them as native-born Israelites; along with
you they are to be allotted an inheritance among the tribes of
Israel.
A. Fredenburg wrote, “This move is startling because it lays
the groundwork for a complete redefinition of the people of
Israel. Individual ownership and inheritance rights are now
extended to permanent resident aliens according to the tribe
among which they chose to live and rear their children. They
were permitted access to the temple and its worship to the
same degree, and with the same privileges and
responsibilities, as any other Israelite worshipers.”
1. Isaiah 56:3-8, Let no foreigner who has bound
himself to the Lord say, “The Lord will surely
exclude me from his people.” And let not any
eunuch complain, “I am only a dry tree.” For this is
what the Lord says: “To the eunuchs who keep my
Sabbaths, who choose what pleases me and hold fast
to my covenant—to them I will give within my
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temple and its walls a memorial and a name better
than sons and daughters;I will give them an
everlasting name that will not be cut off. And
foreigners who bind themselves to the Lord to serve
him, to love the name of the Lord, and to worship
him, all who keep the Sabbath without desecrating it
and who hold fast to my covenant—these I will
bring to my holy mountain and give them joy in my
house of prayer. Their burnt offerings and sacrifices
will be accepted on my altar; for my house will be
called a house of prayer for all nations.” The
Sovereign Lord declares—he who gathers the exiles
of Israel: “I will gather still others to them besides
those already gathered.” (NIV 1984)
B. This was a marked advance as to how strangers in the land
were to be treated. (See The Pulpit Commentary.)
1. Exodus 22:21, “Do not mistreat an alien or
oppress him, for you were aliens in Egypt. (NIV
1984)
2. Exodus 23:9, “Do not oppress an alien; you
yourselves know how it feels to be aliens, because
you were aliens in Egypt. (NIV 1984)
3. Leviticus 19:34, The alien living with you must be
treated as one of your native-born. Love him as
yourself, for you were aliens in Egypt. I am the Lord
your God. (NIV 1984)
Ezekiel 47:23, In whatever tribe the alien settles, there you are
to give him his inheritance,” declares the Sovereign Lord.
(NIV 1984)
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I. In whatever tribe the alien settles, there you are to give him his
inheritance,” declares the Sovereign LORD.
A. The alien strangers were to have their inheritance within
the territory of the tribe among which they settled, chose to
reside.
Conclusion:
I. The bewildered and despondent exiles were greatly encouraged
by these words from Ezekiel.
A. The temple has been rebuilt.
B. Yahweh has established regulations for orderly worship.
C. The exiles would return home and be restored to full
fellowship with God.
D. Strangers would be welcome in the new Israel.
II. In the gospel era, Jews and Gentiles are accorded the same
rights and privileges.
A. John 10:16, I have other sheep that are not of this
sheep pen. I must bring them also. They too will listen to
my voice, and there shall be one flock and one shepherd.
(NIV 1984)
B. Romans 2:10-11, but glory, honor and peace for
everyone who does good: first for the Jew, then for the
Gentile. For God does not show favoritism. NIV 1984)
C. Romans 9:24, even us, whom he also called, not only
from the Jews but also from the Gentiles? NIV 1984)
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D. Galatians 3:8-14, 28, The Scripture foresaw that God
would justify the Gentiles by faith, and announced the
gospel in advance to Abraham: “All nations will be
blessed through you.” So those who have faith are blessed
along with Abraham, the man of faith. All who rely on
observing the law are under a curse, for it is written:
“Cursed is everyone who does not continue to do
everything written in the Book of the Law.” Clearly no
one is justified before God by the law, because, “The
righteous will live by faith.” The law is not based on faith;
on the contrary, “The man who does these things will live
by them.” Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law
by becoming a curse for us, for it is written: “Cursed is
everyone who is hung on a tree.” He redeemed us in order
that the blessing given to Abraham might come to the
Gentiles through Christ Jesus, so that by faith we might
receive the promise of the Spirit. There is neither Jew nor
Greek, slave nor free, male nor female, for you are all one
in Christ Jesus. (NIV 1984)
E. Ephesians 2:14-16, For he himself is our peace, who
has made the two one and has destroyed the barrier, the
dividing wall of hostility, by abolishing in his flesh the
law with its commandments and regulations. His purpose
was to create in himself one new man out of the two, thus
making peace, and in this one body to reconcile both of
them to God through the cross, by which he put to death
their hostility. (NIV 1984)
III. God’s grace is everywhere to be bestowed on those who seek
the Sovereign LORD.
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Questions
On
Ezekiel 47:1-23
1. How, in the thinking of ancient near eastern people, were diety-
people-land related? _____________________________________
______________________________________________________
______________________________________________________
______________________________________________________
______________________________________________________
______________________________________________________
2. What does the river flowing from the temple represent? ______
______________________________________________________
______________________________________________________
______________________________________________________
______________________________________________________
______________________________________________________
3. What effect did the contents of Ezekiel 47 have on the exiles?
______________________________________________________
______________________________________________________
______________________________________________________
______________________________________________________
______________________________________________________
4. Who was “the man” who brought Ezekiel back to the entrance
of the temple? Where have we encountered this “man” previously
in the book of Ezekiel? __________________________________
______________________________________________________
______________________________________________________
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______________________________________________________
______________________________________________________
______________________________________________________
5. Trace Ezekiel’s steps before and after being brought back to the
entrance of the temple? (See Ezekiel 46:1-47:23.) _____________
______________________________________________________
______________________________________________________
______________________________________________________
______________________________________________________
______________________________________________________
6. What did Ezekiel see? From where did it come? Where did it
go? __________________________________________________
______________________________________________________
______________________________________________________
______________________________________________________
______________________________________________________
______________________________________________________
7. Trace this stream from beginning to end? _________________
______________________________________________________
______________________________________________________
______________________________________________________
______________________________________________________
______________________________________________________
8. Give an example showing how the phraseology of Ezekiel is
similar to that of Revelation. ______________________________
______________________________________________________
______________________________________________________
______________________________________________________
______________________________________________________
______________________________________________________
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9. A thousand cubits measured ________________ feet. How
long in miles, beginning to end, was this river? _______________
______________________________________________________
______________________________________________________
______________________________________________________
______________________________________________________
______________________________________________________
10. Compare the depth of the water stop by stop beginning to end.
______________________________________________________
______________________________________________________
______________________________________________________
______________________________________________________
______________________________________________________
11. What was the elevation on “the very high mountain” at the
point the water first appeared and the point at which it ended? In
view of this fact, how do you account for the variance in water
depth? ________________________________________________
______________________________________________________
______________________________________________________
______________________________________________________
______________________________________________________
______________________________________________________
12. The river Ezekiel saw apparently _____________________
and ________________________ ________________________
and ______________________ without ____________________
into it any _______________________.
13. What was growing on the banks of the river? What was
unusual about this vegetation? _____________________________
______________________________________________________
______________________________________________________
______________________________________________________
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______________________________________________________
______________________________________________________
14. Define “Arabah” and identify “Sea” as referenced in verse 8.
______________________________________________________
______________________________________________________
______________________________________________________
______________________________________________________
______________________________________________________
15. What happened when the river entered the Dead Sea? Why is
this body of water called the “Dead” Sea? ____________________
______________________________________________________
______________________________________________________
______________________________________________________
______________________________________________________
______________________________________________________
16. This ____________________ of _______________________
________________________ into the ____________________
that once was _______________________________, but was now
______________________ was the ________________________
of the _______________________ of _______________________
which ______________________ from the __________________
of ________________________.
17. Because where the ___________________, _______________
_____________________ will _____________________, it
behooves us to stay where the ___________________________ of
_______________________’s _____________________________
__________________________.
18. Where will fishermen stand? Locate these places. With what
did they fish? For what did they fish? _______________________
______________________________________________________
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______________________________________________________
______________________________________________________
______________________________________________________
______________________________________________________
______________________________________________________
______________________________________________________
______________________________________________________
______________________________________________________
______________________________________________________
19. Why were the swamps and marshes not made fresh? ________
______________________________________________________
______________________________________________________
______________________________________________________
______________________________________________________
______________________________________________________
20. What does “salt” represent in Scripture? __________________
______________________________________________________
______________________________________________________
______________________________________________________
______________________________________________________
______________________________________________________
21. List the characteristics of the trees that grew on the river’s
banks. What was usual and unusual about these trees? _________
______________________________________________________
______________________________________________________
______________________________________________________
______________________________________________________
______________________________________________________
22. This __________________of the _______________________
___________________ __________________ the _____________
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_______________________ is _________________________, but
_________________ __________________ _________________.
23. What important topic was introduced by the phase, “This is
what the Sovereign LORD says . . .,” in each of the following
references? Ezekiel 43:18: _______________________________
______________________________________________________
______________________________________________________
______________________________________________________
Ezekiel 44:9: __________________________________________
______________________________________________________
______________________________________________________
______________________________________________________
Ezekiel 45:9: __________________________________________
______________________________________________________
______________________________________________________
______________________________________________________
Ezekiel 46:1, 16: _______________________________________
______________________________________________________
______________________________________________________
______________________________________________________
Ezekiel 47:13: _________________________________________
______________________________________________________
______________________________________________________
______________________________________________________
24. The ________________________, Fredenburg noted, were a
_________________, “_________________, ________________”
who thought they would never again see their _______________
___________________ and who deeply ____________________
the fact that __________________-_________________________
________________ the ________________ _________________.
_____________________ and __________________ offered the
_________________ _______________ of __________________
___________________.
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25. How many tribes of Israel were there? Name them and explain
your answer. ___________________________________________
______________________________________________________
______________________________________________________
______________________________________________________
______________________________________________________
______________________________________________________
26. Exactly how was the land to be divided? Give a detailed
answer. _______________________________________________
______________________________________________________
______________________________________________________
______________________________________________________
______________________________________________________
______________________________________________________
27. What influence did the descendants of Joseph have on the
history of Israel? What influence did the relationship between
Joseph and his brothers have on their descendants? ____________
______________________________________________________
______________________________________________________
______________________________________________________
______________________________________________________
______________________________________________________
28. On what occasions in the Book of Ezekiel did God say, “I
swore with uplifted hand?” _______________________________
______________________________________________________
______________________________________________________
______________________________________________________
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29. God had sworn numerous times that he would give the land of
Canaan to Israel, the descendants of Abraham. What did God say
on this subject? _________________________________________
______________________________________________________
______________________________________________________
______________________________________________________
______________________________________________________
30. Compare the size of the Promised Land as described in Ezekiel
47 with the size of the Promised Land during Solomon’s reign. ___
______________________________________________________
______________________________________________________
______________________________________________________
______________________________________________________
______________________________________________________
31. Give the location and information regarding each of the
following places that marked the northern boundary of Ezekiel’s
envisioned Promised Land: The Great Sea. __________________
______________________________________________________
______________________________________________________
______________________________________________________
______________________________________________________
______________________________________________________
Hethlon road ___________________________________________
______________________________________________________
______________________________________________________
______________________________________________________
______________________________________________________
______________________________________________________
Lebo Hamath __________________________________________
______________________________________________________
______________________________________________________
______________________________________________________
______________________________________________________
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Zedad ________________________________________________
______________________________________________________
______________________________________________________
______________________________________________________
______________________________________________________
______________________________________________________
Berothah ______________________________________________
______________________________________________________
______________________________________________________
______________________________________________________
______________________________________________________
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Sibraim _______________________________________________
______________________________________________________
______________________________________________________
______________________________________________________
______________________________________________________
______________________________________________________
Damascus _____________________________________________
______________________________________________________
______________________________________________________
______________________________________________________
______________________________________________________
______________________________________________________
Hazar Hatticon _________________________________________
______________________________________________________
______________________________________________________
______________________________________________________
______________________________________________________
______________________________________________________
Hauran _______________________________________________
______________________________________________________
______________________________________________________
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______________________________________________________
______________________________________________________
Hazar Enan ____________________________________________
______________________________________________________
______________________________________________________
______________________________________________________
______________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________
32. Give the location and information regarding each of the
following places that marked the eastern boundary of Ezekiel’s
envisioned Promised Land: Gilead__________________________
______________________________________________________
______________________________________________________
______________________________________________________
______________________________________________________
______________________________________________________
Eastern Sea: ___________________________________________
______________________________________________________
______________________________________________________
______________________________________________________
______________________________________________________
______________________________________________________
Tamar: _______________________________________________
______________________________________________________
______________________________________________________
______________________________________________________
______________________________________________________
______________________________________________________
33. Why was the land east of the Jordan River formerly allotted to
Reuben, Gad and half the tribe of Manasseh not included in
Ezekiel’s vision of the Promised Land? Does this mean the
Israelites were forbidden from occupying land east of the Jordan
River? _______________________________________________
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______________________________________________________
______________________________________________________
______________________________________________________
______________________________________________________
______________________________________________________
34. Give the location and information regarding each of the
following places that marked the southern boundary of Ezekiel’s
envisioned Promised Land. Meribah Kadesh: ________________
______________________________________________________
______________________________________________________
______________________________________________________
______________________________________________________
______________________________________________________
Wadi of Egypt: ________________________________________
______________________________________________________
______________________________________________________
______________________________________________________
______________________________________________________
______________________________________________________
35. The western border of Ezekiel’s envisioned Promised Land
began at ______________________, continued along the Great
Sea and ended at _______________________.
36. _____________________ (_________________________)
who ___________________ ____________________ among the
______________________ of _____________________ were to
_________________ __________________ _________________
according to the ___________________ where they lived. Thus
_____________________ as well as __________________ would
be _________________________ in the ____________________
________________________.
37. The Israelites were to consider such strangers as ___________
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_________________-______________ ____________________;
they were to be ___________________ an ___________________
among the _________________ of ____________________.
38. Compare and contrast the way Moses commanded strangers to
be treated with the way Ezekiel envisioned that strangers living in
Israel be treated. _______________________________________
______________________________________________________
______________________________________________________
______________________________________________________
______________________________________________________
______________________________________________________
39. What did Ezekiel say that greatly encouraged the bewildered
and despondent exiles? __________________________________
______________________________________________________
______________________________________________________
______________________________________________________
______________________________________________________
______________________________________________________
40. In the _____________________ era, __________________
and __________________ are accorded the same _____________
and ________________________. _______________________ ‘s
_____________________ to be ___________________________
on those who _____________________ the __________________
________________________.