Ezechiel xlviii.
Notes & Commentary:
Ver. 1. Dan. This division is very different from that of Josue, and was never literally executed, being rather of a mystical nature. The limits are not marked out, as each lot was equal. (Calmet) See chap. xlv. 1., and xlvii. 14. (Haydock) — By the twelve tribes all the glorified saints are meant. No cities of refuge occur, because in heaven all are perfect, all secure. (St. Jerome) (Worthington)
Ver. 8. Apart, for the Levitical tribe and the prince. (Calmet) — As the first-born and things which spring first, so also the land consecrated to the Lord is called first-fruits. (Worthington) — Thousand cubits (chap. xlv. 1.) or 12,500 paces, (Haydock) allowing two cubits for each. This would not reach to the Jordan River. But thrice that space must be reckoned, the king having two of them (Calmet) on each side of the temple, namely, towards the sea, and on the other side of the Jordan. (Haydock)
Ver. 11. Astray, &c. By this we see, that in the worst of times God always preserved some of the priests from going astray; and that the synagogue never fell so universally into idolatry, but that a remnant was still left free from this corruption. (Challoner)
Ver. 13. Ten. Their city was only 18,000 cubits in circumference, ver. 16.
Ver. 15. Profane, where servants of the priests may reside. (Calmet) — On the north and south, (Haydock) 1000 cubits broad and 25,000 long were left for fields, gardens, &c. (Calmet)
Ver. 16. Five. Hebrew has, “five five hundred:” but one five is properly omitted in several manuscripts and in all the ancient versions. (Kennicott) — Four thousand five hundred cubits was the length and breadth of the town and temple, which were 18,000 cubits round, (Calmet) or so many reeds, which would make 36 miles of 1000 paces each. As the earthly Jerusalem was certainly never so large, the modern rabbins assert that the Messias will build it to that extent; but Catholic doctors understand it mystically of the Church. Thus St. John saw the New Jerusalem or Church triumphant [in heaven], Apocalypse xxi., and xxii. (Worthington)
Ver. 17. Suburbs, separating the Levites from laics, different from what is mentioned [in] ver. 15.
Ver. 18. As the, &c. They shall not be alienated, as some might infer from its being said to be profane, which term is used because it was the habitation of laymen.
Ver. 19. Israel. People from all parts might serve the Levites. This tribe was not to engage in labourious or sordid employments, being attached to the service of the Lord, and bound to instruct others. But this was more perfectly fulfilled in the Christian Church, where the clergy enjoy great immunities, and are forbidden to exercise any trade or employment which may take them off from their more important spiritual concerns, or render their ministry contemptible. See Exodus xix. 6.
Ver. 20. City, where the Levites and their servants, artisans, &c., dwelt. (Calmet)
Ver. 21. Thereof. The domains of the prince touched the limits of Juda on the north, and of Benjamin on the south, as the portion of Levi did also. The prince occupied the east and west square of this division. (Haydock)
Ver. 28. Inheritance. Hebrew nachal, signifies also “torrent;” and St. Jerome seems to prefer this meaning, as he explains it of the torrent which goes by Rhinocorura, and is commonly supposed to be the southern boundary. (Calmet)
Ver. 30. Out, or gates. (Haydock) — There were three on each of the four sides. (Calmet)
Ver. 35. The Lord is there. This name is here given to the city; that is, the Church of Christ; because the Lord is always with her till the end of the world, Matthew xxviii. 20. (Challoner) — He always adorns the Church triumphant [in heaven]; (Apocalypse xxii.) but has deserted the synagogue, Matthew xxiii. 38. (Worthington) — Jerusalem certainly never bore this name, nor is it requisite that she should, if the prophecy had been literally understood. It would suffice, if she could justly claim such a prerogative. See Isaias vii. 14., and 2 Kings xii. 25. The Church of Christ possesses God for ever. (Calmet)
Bible Text & Cross-references:
The portions of the twelve tribes, of the sanctuary, of the city, and of the prince. The dimensions and gates of the city.
1 And these are the names of the tribes from the borders of the north, by the way of Hethalon, as they go to Emath, the court of Enan, the border of Damascus northward, by the way of Emath. And from the east side thereof, to the sea shall be one portion for Dan.
2 And by the border of Dan, from the east side, even to the side of the sea, one portion for Aser:
3 And by the border of Aser, from the east side, even to the side of the sea, one portion for Nephthali.
4 And by the border of Nephthali, from the east side, even to the side of the sea, one portion for Manasses.
5 And by the border of Manasses, from the east side, even to the side of the sea, one portion for Ephraim.
6 And by the border of Ephraim, from the east side, even to the side of the sea, one portion for Ruben.
7 And by the border of Ruben, from the east side, even to the side of the sea, one portion for Juda.
8 And by the border of Juda, from the east side, even to the side of the sea, shall be the first-fruits which you shall set apart, five and twenty thousand in breadth, and in length, as every one of the portions from the east side, to the side of the sea: and the sanctuary shall be in the midst thereof.
9 The first-fruits which you shall set apart for the Lord: shall be the length of five and twenty thousand, and the breadth of ten thousand.
10 And these shall be the first-fruits of the sanctuary for the priests: toward the north, five and twenty thousand in length, and toward the sea, ten thousand in breadth, and toward the east, also ten thousand in breadth, and toward the south, five and twenty thousand in length: and the sanctuary of the Lord shall be in the midst thereof.
11 The sanctuary shall be for the priests of the sons of Sadoc, who kept my ceremonies, and went not astray when the children of Israel went astray, as the Levites also went astray.
12 And for them shall be the first-fruits of the first-fruits of the land holy of holies, by the border of the Levites.
13 And the Levites in like manner shall have by the borders of the priests five and twenty thousand in length, and ten thousand in breadth. All the length shall be five and twenty thousand, and the breadth ten thousand.
14 And they shall not sell thereof, nor exchange, neither shall the first-fruits of the land be alienated, because they are sanctified to the Lord.
15 But the five thousand that remain in the breadth over-against the five and twenty thousand, shall be a profane place for the city for dwelling, and for suburbs: and the city shall be in the midst thereof.
16 And these are the measures thereof: on the north side four thousand and five hundred: and on the south side four thousand and five hundred: and on the east side four thousand and five hundred: and on the west side four thousand and five hundred.
17 And the suburbs of the city shall be to the north two hundred and fifty, and to the south two hundred and fifty, and to the east two hundred and fifty, and to the sea two hundred and fifty.
18 And the residue in length by the first-fruits of the sanctuary, ten thousand toward the east, and ten thousand toward the west, shall be as the first-fruits of the sanctuary: and the fruits thereof shall be for bread to them that serve the city.
19 And they that serve the city, shall serve it out of all the tribes of Israel.
20 All the first-fruits, of five and twenty thousand, by five and twenty thousand, four-square, shall be set apart for the first-fruits of the sanctuary, and for the possession of the city.
21 And the residue shall be for the prince on every side of the first-fruits of the sanctuary, and of the possession of the city over-against the five and twenty thousand of the first-fruits, unto the east border: toward the sea also, over-against the five and twenty thousand, unto the border of the sea, shall likewise be the portion of the prince: and the first-fruits of the sanctuary, and the sanctuary of the temple, shall be in the midst thereof.
22 And from the possession of the Levites, and from the possession of the city, which are in the midst of the prince’s portions: what shall be to the border of Juda, and to the border of Benjamin, shall also belong to the prince.
23 And for the rest of the tribes: from the east side to the west side, one portion for Benjamin.
24 And over-against the border of Benjamin, from the east side to the west side, one portion for Simeon.
25 And by the border of Simeon, from the east side to the west side, one portion for Issachar.
26 And by the border of Issachar, from the east side to the west side, one portion for Zabulon.
27 And by the border of Zabulon, from the east side to the side of the sea, one portion for Gad.
28 And by the border of Gad, the south side southward: and the border shall be from Thamar, even to the waters of contradiction of Cades, the inheritance over-against the great sea.
29 This is the land which you shall divide by lot to the tribes of Israel: and these are the portions of them, saith the Lord God.
30 And these are the goings out of the city: on the north side thou shalt measure four thousand and five hundred.
31 And the gates of the city according to the names of the tribes of Israel, three gates on the north side, the gate of Ruben one, the gate of Juda one, the gate of Levi one.
32 And at the east side, four thousand and five hundred: and three gates, the gate of Joseph one, the gate of Benjamin one, the gate of Dan one.
33 And at the south side, thou shalt measure four thousand and five hundred: and three gates, the gate of Simeon one, the gate of Issachar one, the gate of Zabulon one.
34 And at the west side, four thousand and five hundred, and their three gates, the gate of Gad one, the gate of Aser one, the gate of Nephthali one.
35 Its circumference was eighteen thousand: and the name of the city from that day, The Lord is there.