Ezekiel 48:1-7

[1] Now these are the names of the tribes. From the north end to the coast of the way of Hethlon, as one goeth to Hamath, Hazarenan, the border of Damascus northward, to the coast of Hamath; for these are his sides east and west; a portion for Dan. [2] And by the border of Dan, from the east side unto the west side, a portion for Asher. [3] And by the border of Asher, from the east side even unto the west side, a portion for Naphtali. [4] And by the border of Naphtali, from the east side unto the west side, a portion for Manasseh. [5] And by the border of Manasseh, from the east side unto the west side, a portion for Ephraim. [6] And by the border of Ephraim, from the east side even unto the west side, a portion for Reuben. [7] And by the border of Reuben, from the east side unto the west side, a portion for Judah.

What is the context of Ezekiel 48:1-7?

What does Ezekiel 48:1-7 Mean?

Contextual Meaning

The tribe of Dan was to receive the northernmost section of the Promised Land. The order of tribes from north to south, north of the sacred district, was Daniel , Asher, Naphtali, Prayer of Manasseh , Ephraim, Reuben and Judah-seven tribal allotments of equal size ( Ezekiel 47:14). Since they will be of equal size, and since the east-west width of the Promised Land would vary depending on the latitude of each allotment, it seems that the north-south distance would also vary somewhat.

The order of these tribes does not conform to any other in Scripture. These tribal allotments are not like those that Joshua assigned nor are they as large (cf. Joshua 14-22). There is a general progression from the most unfaithful tribe, Daniel , to the most faithful, Judah. Judah, from which Messiah came, receives the blessing of being adjacent to the holy allotment. The tribes that descended from Jacob"s concubines ( Daniel , Asher, Naphtali, and Gad) receive land to the far north and far south. Those that descended from Jacob"s wives receive land toward the center of the land (cf. Genesis 35:23-26).