Ezekiel 47:13-20

How are the land’s boundaries and the twelve portions described?

Berean Standard Bible

13 This is what the Lord GOD says: “These are the boundaries by which you are to divide the land as an inheritance among the twelve tribes of Israel; Joseph shall receive two portions. 14 You are to divide it equally among them. Because I swore with an uplifted hand to give it to your forefathers, this land will fall to you as an inheritance.
15 This shall be the boundary of the land: On the north side it will extend from the Great Sea by way of Hethlon through Lebo-hamath to Zedad, 16 Berothah, and Sibraim (which is on the border between Damascus and Hamath), as far as Hazer-hatticon, which is on the border of Hauran. 17 So the border will run from the Sea to Hazar-enan, along the northern border of Damascus, with the territory of Hamath to the north. This will be the northern boundary.
18 On the east side the border 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 eastern boundary. 19 On the south side it will run from Tamar to the waters of Meribath-kadesh, and along the Brook of Egypt to the Great Sea. This will be the southern boundary. 20 And on the west side, the Great Sea will be the boundary up to a point opposite Lebo-hamath. This will be the western boundary.

What is the context?

The Lord returns to the division of the land among Israel’s twelve tribes. Joseph receives two portions, and the inheritance is tied to the oath the Lord made to their forefathers.

The boundaries are described by places to the north, the Jordan and Eastern Sea to the east, the southern route through Meribath-kadesh and the Brook of Egypt, and the Great Sea to the west.

The passage places the people’s future life within land the Lord assigns, rather than leaving the exiles’ displacement as their final condition. The following chapter names the tribes and their portions.

How is this passage commonly understood?

Wesley understands Joseph’s two portions as those of Ephraim and Manasseh. Cambridge likewise explains that these two family portions preserve the count of twelve while Levi has its provision in the holy district.

Individual places along the boundary are not all identified with certainty. The passage can be followed as a description of the inheritance without claiming a fully verified map of present-day national borders.

What is our position?

We don't have a position on this passage yet. When our study reaches a conclusion the text supports, it will appear here.

Where can I study this further?

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