2 And by the border H1366 of Dan, H1835 from the east H6921 side H6285 unto the west H3220 side, H6285 a H259 portion for Asher. H836
And the fifth H2549 lot H1486 came out H3318 for the tribe H4294 of the children H1121 of Asher H836 according to their families. H4940 And their border H1366 was Helkath, H2520 and Hali, H2482 and Beten, H991 and Achshaph, H407 And Alammelech, H487 and Amad, H6008 and Misheal; H4861 and reacheth H6293 to Carmel H3760 westward, H3220 and to Shihorlibnath; H7884 And turneth H7725 toward the sunrising H4217 H8121 to Bethdagon, H1016 and reacheth H6293 to Zebulun, H2074 and to the valley H1516 of Jiphthahel H3317 toward the north side H6828 of Bethemek, H1025 and Neiel, H5272 and goeth out H3318 to Cabul H3521 on the left hand, H8040 And Hebron, H5683 and Rehob, H7340 and Hammon, H2540 and Kanah, H7071 even unto great H7227 Zidon; H6721 And then the coast H1366 turneth H7725 to Ramah, H7414 and to the strong H4013 city H5892 Tyre; H6865 and the coast H1366 turneth H7725 to Hosah; H2621 and the outgoings H8444 thereof are at the sea H3220 from the coast H2256 to Achzib: H392 Ummah H5981 also, and Aphek, H663 and Rehob: H7340 twenty H6242 and two H8147 cities H5892 with their villages. H2691 This is the inheritance H5159 of the tribe H4294 of the children H1121 of Asher H836 according to their families, H4940 these cities H5892 with their villages. H2691
Worthy.Bible » Commentaries » Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible » Commentary on Ezekiel 48
Commentary on Ezekiel 48 Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
CHAPTER 48
Eze 48:1-35. Allotment of the Land to the Several Tribes.
1. Dan—The lands are divided into portions of ideal exactness, running alongside of each other, the whole breadth from west to east, standing in a common relation to the temple in the center: seven tribes' portions on the north, five in the smaller division in the south. The portions of the city, the temple, the prince, and the priesthood, are in the middle, not within the boundaries of any tribe, all alike having a common interest in them. Judah has the place of honor next the center on the north, Benjamin the corresponding place of honor next the center on the south; because of the adherence of these two to the temple ordinances and to the house of David for so long, when the others deserted them. Dan, on the contrary, so long locally and morally semi-heathen (Jud 18:1-31), is to have the least honorable place, at the extreme north. For the same reason, St. John (Re 7:5-8) omits Dan altogether.
3. Asher—a tribe of which no one of note is mentioned in the Old Testament. In the New Testament one is singled out of it, the prophetess Anna.
4. Manasseh—The intercourse and unity between the two and a half tribes east of the Jordan, and the nine and a half west of it, had been much kept up by the splitting of Manasseh, causing the visits of kinsmen one to the other from both sides of the Jordan. There shall be no need for this in the new order of things.
5. Ephraim—This tribe, within its two dependent tribes, Manasseh and Benjamin, for upwards of four hundred years under the judges held the pre-eminence.
6. Reuben—doomed formerly for incest and instability "not to excel" (Ge 49:4). So no distinguished prophet, priest, or king had come from it. Of it were the notorious Dathan and Abiram, the mutineers. A pastoral and Bedouin character marked it and Gad (Jud 5:16).
15-17. The five thousand rods, apportioned to the city out of the twenty-five thousand square, are to be laid off in a square of four thousand five hundred, with the two hundred fifty all around for suburbs.
profane—that is, not strictly sacred as the sacerdotal portions, but applied to secular uses.
24. Benjamin—Compare Jacob's prophecy (Ge 49:27; De 33:12). It alone with Judah had been throughout loyal to the house of David, so its prowess at the "night" of the national history was celebrated as well as in the "morning."
25. Simeon—omitted in the blessing of Moses in De 33:1-29, perhaps because of the Simeonite "prince," who at Baal-peor led the Israelites in their idolatrous whoredoms with Midian (Nu 25:14).
26. Issachar—Its ancient portion had been on the plain of Esdraelon. Compared (Ge 49:14) to "a strong ass crouching between two burdens," that is, tribute and tillage; never meddling with wars except in self-defense.
31. gates—(Re 21:12, &c.). The twelve gates bear the names of the twelve tribes to imply that all are regarded as having an interest in it.
35. Lord is there—Jehovah-Shammah. Not that the city will be called so in mere name, but that the reality will be best expressed by this descriptive title (Jer 3:17; 33:16; Zec 2:10; Re 21:3; 22:3).