Journal Through the Bible: Week 86 Saturday

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Ezekiel chapter 48

The LORD gives final instructions in this chapter, specifically He tells how the land is to be divided. Part of this is a repeat of a few chapters ago when He told Ezekiel that a portion was to be set apart for the prince. Repeating important instructions is always a good idea and God, the Heavenly Father, obviously saw a need to emphasize this.

Does God issue any commands?

• God states how He wants the land divided among the 12 tribes of Israel. Joseph has 2 portions registered under the names of his sons Ephraim and Manasseh.
• The priests, the sons of Zadok who kept the LORD'S ordinance, are to receive a set portion as the representative of the tribe of Levi. Theirs is a holy oblation which they can never sell.
• People from every tribe will serve the holy city.
• A portion of the land shall be set aside for the prince.
• The gates of the city will be twelve: Reuben, Judah, and Levi on the north; Joseph, Benjamin, and Dan on the east; Simeon, Issachar, and Zebulun on the south; and Gad, Asher, and Naphtali on the west.

Does God make any promises?

• The name of the city from that day shall be THE LORD IS THERE!

Does this chapter teach anything about Jesus?

• Since the ruling family of David never again ascended the throne and none of his descendants through the recorded historical record in the Bible claimed the land for the prince I believe that the prince is none other than Jesus Christ.

Does this chapter teach anything about yet-future events?

• Given the size of the city, its name, and reference to the prince, it seems to me that this chapter deals with the division of the land of Israel at the time of the Millennium when Jesus shall rule.