Ezekiel 45, verses 1-8
Not until chapter 48 do we find the division of the land of Canaan for the inheritance of the twelve tribes, but here (verses 1 to 8) the portion for God in it is set apart, with provision also for the priests, after that for the Levites, and lastly for the city of Jerusalem. God in that day will be first in the ways and thoughts of His earthly people, however His word be set aside by them in our times.
“Oblation” is “offering,” or more fully “heave offering,” and is so rendered by the translators in most passages where the same Hebrew word occurs; examples will be found in Exodus 25:22Speak unto the children of Israel, that they bring me an offering: of every man that giveth it willingly with his heart ye shall take my offering. (Exodus 25:2) and 29:27 and 28. The portion of the land here denoted lies between the future inheritances of Judah and Benjamin, the seventh and eighth tribes in order, counting from north to south.
We may rightly omit the word “and” in the last line of verse 3, reading the clause, “the sanctuary, the most holy place.” Verse 4 is better read “This is the holy Portion of the land; it shall be, etc.” Within the strip of land set apart as the holy portion in verses 1-4, 25000 cubits (rather than reeds), or substantially seven miles across, and 10,000 cubits or nearly 3 miles from north to south, is to be the temple whose description is given in chapters 4042, surrounded by the dwellings of the priests who do the service of it. The temple area, 500 reeds (approximately one mile) square, corresponds with chapter 42, verse 16; round it is to be a space of 50 cubits (about 75 feet).
Verse 5 refers to the second area, adjoining on the south that of verses 1-4 and equal in size to be given the Levites who do the service of the house of God. The beginning of the verse is correctly translated “And (a space of) five and twenty thousand;” “for twenty chambers,” at the end of this verse is considered a copyist’s error, the true reading being “for their habitations.” No serious mistake has ever been found in the King James translation, God having preserved His Word through all the centuries from alterations that would have changed its substance.
In verse 6 Jerusalem is provided for in an area 7 miles from east to west, adjoining the portion for the Levites on the south, but its extent from north to south is to be a little less than 1 1/2 miles. Thus the city and the temple will in the Millennium be separated by a distance of more than 3 miles. The three parcels of land here marked out are thus in all approximately 7 miles square. The prince who will rule is to be given the land on both sides—east and west—of this area, to the borders of the country—the Mediterranean on the west and the Jordan. and Dead Sea on the east (Chapter 47:18).
Verse 8 brings the assurance that the leaders of Israel shall no more oppress God’s people. That will be a day of rejoicing in the earth when man ceases to oppress his fellows; it will not be until the King of Kings reigns (Revelation 19:11-20:411And I saw heaven opened, and behold a white horse; and he that sat upon him was called Faithful and True, and in righteousness he doth judge and make war. 12His eyes were as a flame of fire, and on his head were many crowns; and he had a name written, that no man knew, but he himself. 13And he was clothed with a vesture dipped in blood: and his name is called The Word of God. 14And the armies which were in heaven followed him upon white horses, clothed in fine linen, white and clean. 15And out of his mouth goeth a sharp sword, that with it he should smite the nations: and he shall rule them with a rod of iron: and he treadeth the winepress of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God. 16And he hath on his vesture and on his thigh a name written, KING OF KINGS, AND LORD OF LORDS. 17And I saw an angel standing in the sun; and he cried with a loud voice, saying to all the fowls that fly in the midst of heaven, Come and gather yourselves together unto the supper of the great God; 18That ye may eat the flesh of kings, and the flesh of captains, and the flesh of mighty men, and the flesh of horses, and of them that sit on them, and the flesh of all men, both free and bond, both small and great. 19And I saw the beast, and the kings of the earth, and their armies, gathered together to make war against him that sat on the horse, and against his army. 20And the beast was taken, and with him the false prophet that wrought miracles before him, with which he deceived them that had received the mark of the beast, and them that worshipped his image. These both were cast alive into a lake of fire burning with brimstone. 21And the remnant were slain with the sword of him that sat upon the horse, which sword proceeded out of his mouth: and all the fowls were filled with their flesh. 1And I saw an angel come down from heaven, having the key of the bottomless pit and a great chain in his hand. 2And he laid hold on the dragon, that old serpent, which is the Devil, and Satan, and bound him a thousand years, 3And cast him into the bottomless pit, and shut him up, and set a seal upon him, that he should deceive the nations no more, till the thousand years should be fulfilled: and after that he must be loosed a little season. 4And I saw thrones, and they sat upon them, and judgment was given unto them: and I saw the souls of them that were beheaded for the witness of Jesus, and for the word of God, and which had not worshipped the beast, neither his image, neither had received his mark upon their foreheads, or in their hands; and they lived and reigned with Christ a thousand years. (Revelation 19:11‑20:4)).
ML 04/05/1936