Ezekiel 48:23-29

3. The five southern tribes (48:23-29)

TRANSLATION

(23) And as for the rest of the tribes: from the east side unto the west side, Benjamin, one portion. (24) And by the border of Benjamin, from the east side unto the west side, Simeon, one portion. (25) And by the border of Simeon, from the east side unto the west side, Issachar, one portion. (26) And by the border of Issachar, from the east side to the west side, Zebulun, one portion. (27) And by the border of Zebulun, from the east side unto the west side, Gad, one portion. (28) And by the border of Gad, at the south side southward, the border shall be even from Tamar unto the waters of Meribath-kadesh, to the brook of Egypt, unto the great sea. (29) This is the land which you shall divide by lot unto the tribes of Israel for inheritance, and these are their several portions, (oracle of the Lord GOD).

COMMENTS

To the south of the oblation lay the territories of (1) Benjamin, (2) Simeon, (3) Issachar, (4) Zebulun, and (5) Gad. Benjamin received the favored position near the oblation because that tribe had descended from Jacob's youngest son by Rachel, the beloved wife. Descendants of Gad, descendants of the son of the concubine Zilpah were farthest away from the holy portion. Except for Judah and Benjamin, Ezekiel's tribal arrangement bears no resemblance to the original apportionment of the land in the days of Joshua (Ezekiel 48:23-29).