Study notes

Ezekiel 48

Introducing EzekielWho wrote it, when, why, and what to look for as you read

40:1–48:35 Section

Ezekiel’s last vision took place after he had been in Babylon for almost 25 years. This vision included everything that Ezekiel recorded through to the end of chapter 48.

Jerusalem had already been destroyed and the temple had been burnt down. The vision was about the city and the temple being made new again. Then the world around them would be made new. In this way the vision was like the story of the dry bones in chapter 37. In that story God’s people were dead. He gave them new life by putting his Spirit in them. In this vision God gave new life to Jerusalem and the temple. Then new life spread to the world from there. New life came because God’s glory returned to the temple. This meant that God ruled from there as the only God and King. God called the temple his throne and promised to live there for ever.

Ezekiel carefully recorded how long, wide and high many parts of the temple were. He described the nation’s borders. He described how much land went to each of the 12 tribes of Israel. He carefully recorded rules for sacrifices and feasts and taking care of the temple. He described the rules for priests and princes.

These careful records didn’t describe the temple rebuilt by Joshua and Zerubbabel. They didn’t describe the temple built by Herod the Great. They didn’t describe the land and people after the exile. These careful records were signs. They were signs of what God expected from his people. God expected his people to treat his name as holy. This meant that they would worship only him and obey him completely. This would allow them to fully be his people. It would allow him to fully be their God. This is what God had always wanted and why he made covenants with them.

Ezekiel’s careful records were also signs of what God planned to do on earth. He planned to do what he had promised to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. He would use their family line to bless all nations on earth.

In the vision, all 12 tribes of Israel received land. So did outsiders who had joined them. All together they were a sign of all people who were committed to God. In the vision a river flowed from the temple down to the Dead Sea. Ezekiel knew that this area was a desert and no creatures lived in the Dead Sea. But the river turned it into an area like a garden. There were many fish and creatures and many fruit trees. The trees provided fruit for food and leaves for healing people’s bodies. They brought life and were like the tree of life. The river flowed out from Jerusalem. The water of this river brought life. It was living water.

The flowing river was like something that Isaiah described. Isaiah said that God’s message would go out from Jerusalem (Isaiah 2:3). This message was knowledge about who God is and how he wants people to live. It went out from Jerusalem as God’s people spread the message. They spread it by living as a kingdom of priests and a holy nation. Isaiah’s prophecies talked about people from all nations learning this message. The river in Ezekiel’s vision was a sign of this message. It was a sign of the blessing and life that come from knowing God. The blessing and life were for all nations. Blessing and life flowed out from Jerusalem because God was present there.

The Lord is there was the name for the new city of Jerusalem in Ezekiel’s vision. Hundreds of years later John’s visions recorded in Revelation 21–22 were like Ezekiel’s vision. They showed when Ezekiel’s vision would come true. This would be when God created a new heaven and new earth in the new creation.

47:13–48:35

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

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

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

48:1–8

The land given to the tribes was divided into long strips that ran from east to west. Before the exile, the land had been divided in smaller and uneven sections. This new arrangement was orderly and balanced.

This plan did more than give each tribe equal access to land and resources. It also matched the sacred east–west pattern seen in the temple. In the temple, the layout followed a clear east–west direction. The land was now arranged in a similar way.

The central sacred area was carefully measured and clearly defined. The outer areas were described with less detail (see study note on Ezekiel 40:17–19).

The four tribes farthest from the holy area were Dan, Asher, Naphtali, and Gad. These tribes were in the least honored position. They were descended from the sons of Jacob by Zilpah and Bilhah, the servant women of Leah and Rachel.

The eight sons born to Leah and Rachel received land closer to the holy portion. Their strips lay directly north and south of the sacred area that included the temple.

The tribes closest to the holy portion were Benjamin and Judah. In earlier history, these tribes surrounded Jerusalem. Judah’s land was placed just north of the holy portion. In the past, the kingdom had been divided into north (Israel) and south (Judah). In this new arrangement, Judah was placed in the north, showing a restored and reordered people.

48:9–14

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

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

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

48:15–20

To the south was a narrower strip of land set apart for public use. The city was located there.

Together with the surrounding sacred areas, the central section formed a square.

The city served as a visible sign of unity for the 12 tribes. It was home to residents from many different tribes. In this way, it showed that all the tribes belonged to one people.

48:21–29

The land that lay to the east and west of the holy square completed the rest of the central area. This land was assigned to the prince.

The prince held a higher position than the rest of the people. However, he was below the priests and the Levites in rank and responsibility. His place in the land showed this order.

The design of the temple complex taught the same lesson. The arrangement of space showed clear levels of authority and holiness.

48:30–31

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

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

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

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

48:32–34

The gates that faced east were assigned to the children of Rachel. These tribes were Joseph and Benjamin. Dan was also included, since he was born through Rachel’s maidservant.

The gates on the south side were assigned to Simeon, Issachar, and Zebulun. These were sons of Leah. Their lands would lie south of the holy square.

The gates on the west side were assigned to Gad, Asher, and Naphtali. These tribes descended from the maidservants Bilhah and Zilpah. The west side was considered less favored in this arrangement.

48:35

To complete the vision, the city received a new name: THE LORD IS THERE. The Lord had once left Jerusalem and ordered its destruction due to idolatry and violence. Now, the new city was part of a new order and could bear this name. This change meant the violent city from earlier chapters was now a holy city, suitable for God to live among representatives of all 12 tribes of Israel (compare Isaiah 4:2–6; Zechariah 14:20–21).

So, the prophecy in Ezekiel 37:26–27 reaches its conclusion and fulfillment. God places his sanctuary among his people forever, just as he promised.

Verse notes: Adapted by Mission Mutual (Aquifer Open Study Notes) from Tyndale Open Study Notes © 2023 Tyndale House Publishers. CC BY-SA 4.0. Section notes: Biblica Study Notes © 2023 Biblica, Inc. CC BY-SA 4.0, via BibleAquifer. About the sources