Eze 45:1-25. ALLOTMENT OF THE LAND FOR THE SANCTUARY, THE CITY, AND THE PRINCE.
1. offer an oblation--from a Hebrew root to "heave" or "raise";
when anything was offered to God, the offerer raised the hand. The
special territorial division for the tribes is given in the
forty-seventh and forty-eighth chapters. Only Jehovah's portion is here
subdivided into its three parts: (1) that for the sanctuary
(Eze 45:2, 3);
(2) that for the priests
(Eze 45:4);
(3) that for the Levites
(Eze 45:5).
Compare
Eze 48:8-13.
five and twenty thousand reeds, &c.--So English
Version rightly fills the ellipsis (compare Note, see on
Eze 42:16).
Hence "cubits" are mentioned in
Eze 45:2,
not here, implying that there alone cubits are meant. Taking
each reed at twelve feet, the area of the whole would be a square of
sixty miles on each side. The whole forming a square betokens the
settled stability of the community and the harmony of all classes. "An
holy portion of the land"
(Eze 45:1)
comprised the whole length, and only two-fifths of the breadth. The
outer territory in its distribution harmonizes with the inner and more
sacred arrangements of the sanctuary. No room is to be given for
oppression (see
Eze 45:8),
all having ample provision made for their wants and comforts. All will
mutually co-operate without constraint or contention.
JFB.
Picture Study Bible