Ezekiel 47

Water from the Temple

1Then he brought me back to the 1door of the house; and behold, 2water was flowing from under the threshold of the house toward the east, for the house faced east. And the water was flowing down from under, from the right side of the house, from south of the altar. 2He brought me out by way of the north gate and led me around 3on the outside to the outer gate by way of the gate that faces east. And behold, water was trickling from the south side.

3When the man went out toward the east with a line in his hand, he measured a thousand cubits, and he led me through the water, water reaching the ankles. 4Again he measured a thousand and led me through the water, water reaching the knees. Again he measured a thousand and led me through the water, water reaching the loins. 5Again he measured a thousand; and it was a river that I could not ford, for the water had risen, enough water to swim in, a 4river that could not be forded. 6He said to me, “Son of man, have you 5seen this?” Then he brought me 6back to the bank of the river. 7Now when I had returned, behold, on the bank of the river there were very many 7trees on the one side and on the other. 8Then he said to me, “These waters go out toward the eastern region and go down into the 8Arabah; then they go toward the sea, being made to flow into the 9sea, and the waters of the sea become 10fresh. 9It will come about that every living creature which swarms in every place where the 11river goes, will live. And there will be very many fish, for these waters go there and the others 12become fresh; so 13everything will live where the river goes. 10And it will come about that 14fishermen will stand beside it; from 15Engedi to Eneglaim there will be a place for the 16spreading of nets. Their fish will be according to their kinds, like the fish of the 17Great Sea, 18very many. 11But its swamps and marshes will not become 19fresh; they will be 20left for 21salt. 1222By the river on its bank, on one side and on the other, will grow all kinds of 23trees for food. Their 24leaves will not wither and their fruit will not fail. They will bear every month because their water flows from the sanctuary, and their fruit will be for food and their 25leaves for healing.”

Boundaries and Division of the Land

13Thus says the Lord 26God, “This shall be the 27boundary by which you shall divide the land for an inheritance among the twelve tribes of Israel; Joseph shall have two 28portions. 14You shall divide it for an inheritance, each one 29equally with the other; for I 3031swore to give it to your forefathers, and this land shall fall to you 32as an inheritance.

15“This shall be the boundary of the land: on the 33north side, from the Great Sea by the way of Hethlon, to the entrance of 3435Zedad; 163637Hamath, Berothah, Sibraim, which is between the border of 38Damascus and the border of Hamath; Hazer-hatticon, which is by the border of Hauran. 17The boundary shall 39extend from the sea to 40Hazar-enan at the border of Damascus, and on the north toward the north is the border of Hamath. This is the north side.

18“The 41east side, from between Hauran, Damascus, 42Gilead and the land of Israel, shall be the 43Jordan; from the north border to the eastern sea you shall measure. This is the east side.

19“The 44south side toward the south shall extend from 45Tamar as far as the waters of 46Meribath-kadesh, to the 47brook of Egypt and to the 48Great Sea. This is the south side toward the south.

20“The 49west side shall be the Great Sea, from the south border to a point opposite 5051Lebo-hamath. This is the west side.

21“So you shall divide this land among yourselves according to the tribes of Israel. 22You shall divide it by 52lot for an inheritance among yourselves and among the 53aliens who stay in your midst, who bring forth sons in your midst. And they shall be to you as the native-born among the sons of Israel; they shall be allotted an 54inheritance with you among the tribes of Israel. 23And in the tribe with which the alien stays, there you shall give him his inheritance,” declares the Lord God.