Ezekiel 48:30

Ezekiel 48:30 says, And these are the goings out of the city on the north side, four thousand and five hundred measures.  The last few verses tell us about the size of the area around the four sides of the city and which tribes the three gates on each side would be named for.  

Verse thirty-one adds, And the gates of the city shall be after the names of the tribes of Israel: three gates northward; one gate of Reuben, one gate of Judah, one gate of Levi.  The three gates to the north would have one each named for Reuben, Judah, and Levi. Though there were a total of twelve gates then and each tribe had one designated for them, we have but one gate to salvation, and that is through putting our faith in Jesus Christ, Who is the only way to salvation, and we all have equal access to that gate.   

Verse thirty-two continues, And at the east side four thousand and five hundred: and three gates; and one gate of Joseph, one gate of Benjamin, one gate of Dan.  The three gates to the east would be named for the tribe of Joseph, Benjamin, and Dan, one for each tribe.  

Verse thirty-three states, And at the south side four thousand and five hundred measures: and three gates; one gate of Simeon, one gate of Issachar, one gate of Zebulun.  The three gates to the south side would be named for the tribes of Simeon, Issachar, and Zebulon, one for each tribe.   

Verse thirty-four adds, At the west side four thousand and five hundred, with their three gates; one gate of Gad, one gate of Asher, one gate of Naphtali.  Finally, the three gates to the west side would be for the tribes of Gad, Asher, and Nephtali, again, one gate for each tribe.  Each of the twelve tribes would have a gate to enter into the temple, and all would have equal access. As ready stated, we have but one gate into heaven, by faith in Jesus Christ, but we all have the same access.  

Verse thirty-five concludes, It was round about eighteen thousand measures: and the name of the city from that day shall be, The Lord is there.  Then, the total area of the city was given and Ezeliel was told that the name of the city from that day on would be “The Lord is there.”  We look to that heavenly city, and we know that the Lord will be there. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

   

Ezekiel 48:22

Ezekiel 48:22 says, Moreover from the possession of the Levites, and from the possession of the city, being in the midst of that which is the prince's, between the border of Judah and the border of Benjamin, shall be for the prince.  God then specified what area would be for the prince to use.  Though designated for different purposes and to different tribes, it still all belonged to God, and everything that we own as Christians belongs to God and should be used under the guidance of the Holy Spirit. 

Verse twenty-three adds, As for the rest of the tribes, from the east side unto the west side, Benjamin shall have a portion.  These next verses specify the area that was to belong to each tribe, starting on the east with Benjamin.  The next few verses just list the area the other tribes were to possess.  

Verse twenty-four continues, And by the border of Benjamin, from the east side unto the west side, Simeon shall have a portion. 

Verse twenty-five says, And by the border of Simeon, from the east side unto the west side, Issachar a portion.  

Verse twenty-six adds, And by the border of Issachar, from the east side unto the west side, Zebulun a portion.  

Verse twenty-seven continues, And by the border of Zebulun, from the east side unto the west side, Gad a portion. 

Verse twenty-eight states, And by the border of Gad, at the south side southward, the border shall be even from Tamar unto the waters of strife in Kadesh, and to the river toward the great sea.  These areas were specified by God as gifts to the tribes, and God still determines what spiritual gifts each individual will receive, and we then need to use whatever gift we have for His honor and glory. 

Verse twenty-nine adds, This is the land which ye shall divide by lot unto the tribes of Israel for inheritance, and these are their portions, saith the Lord God. Though it says these lands were to be divided by lot, that was the way the people of Isreal determined God's will, but we today have His written word and the Living Word, the Holy Spirit to help us know God's will for our lives. 

Ezekiel 48:17

Ezekiel 48:17 says, And the suburbs of the city shall be toward the north two hundred and fifty, and toward the south two hundred and fifty, and toward the east two hundred and fifty, and toward the west two hundred and fifty.  God then specified the size and location of the suburbs of the city.  Not everyone could live near the temple, since they were a large group of people.  As followers of Christ, none of us is farther from Him or away than anyone else, since the Holy Spirit dwells in each of us.  

Verse eighteen adds, And the residue in length over against the oblation of the holy portion shall be ten thousand eastward, and ten thousand westward: and it shall be over against the oblation of the holy portion; and the increase thereof shall be for food unto them that serve the city.  This verse simply gives the size of the rest of the city area in relationship to the holy place.  We can be certain that there is room enough for all Christians in God’s kingdom.  

Verse nineteen continues, And they that serve the city shall serve it out of all the tribes of Israel.  God said that those who served in the city would not serve in all of the tribes.  As Christians, we are called to serve in a particular place and cannot serve in the whole world. God has other Christians to serve in areas that we cannot serve in.  

Verse twenty says, All the oblation shall be five and twenty thousand by five and twenty thousand: ye shall offer the holy oblation foursquare, with the possession of the city.  This seems to refer once more to the area set aside for worshipping God.  

Verse twenty-one adds, And the residue shall be for the prince, on the one side and on the other of the holy oblation, and of the possession of the city, over against the five and twenty thousand of the oblation toward the east border, and westward over against the five and twenty thousand toward the west border, over against the portions for the prince: and it shall be the holy oblation; and the sanctuary of the house shall be in the midst thereof.  God said that one side would be for the prince and the other side for the sanctuary, once more specifying the size of both areas.