Peter Pett's Commentary on the Bible
Ezekiel 48:30-35
The City (Ezekiel 48:30).
The city is finally described in more detail. It represents the whole of Israel, with a gate for each tribe. Interestingly Levi is included and Ephraim and Manasseh subsumed in Joseph. All Israel is there. These are the original patriarchs. It has in a sense returned to its beginnings. And above all Yahweh is there. His people share His glory and His presence.
This whole section from chapter 40 to chapter 48 may well once have stood on its own (Josephus testifies to the fact that there were two books of Ezekiel). It began with the heavenly temple, the throne of God, coming to earth, and finishes with the city of man, ‘from that day' made the dwelling place of God, having been united with Heaven. It is the final seal on man's redemption.
“And these are the exits of the city. On the north side. Four thousand five hundred in measurement. And the gates of the city will be in accordance with the names of the tribes of Israel. Three gates northward, the gate of Reuben, one, the gate of Judah, one, the gate of Levi, one. And at the east side. Four thousand five hundred in measurement, and three gates, even the gate of Joseph, one, the gate of Benjamin, one, the gate of Dan, one. And at the south side. Four thousand five hundred by measurement, and three gates, the gate of Simeon one, the gate of Issachar, one, the gate of Zebulun, one. At the west side. Four thousand five hundred, with their three gates, the gate of Gad, one, the gate of Asher, one, the gate of Naphtali, one. It shall be eighteen thousand round about.
The city is now described as containing all the original tribes of Israel, all on equality with each other, Levi one with the others. It summarises the whole people of God. Three to a side may represent foursquare completeness. The number of the elect is now complete. The numbers are multiples of three and five (3 times 3 times 5 times a hundred), a declaration of covenant completeness, and an intensified multiple of three (3 times 3 times 2 times a thousand) denoting total completeness.