Chapter 47

1 The vision of the holy waters. 6 The virtue of them. 13 The borders of the land. 22 The division of it by lot.

1. Door of the house. This is the door of the temple itself.

Waters issued out. What has been said with regard to the interpretation of the temple vision should be borne in mind here (see on ch. 40:1). The vision was a pictorial prophecy describing a literal economy. The presentation sets forth conditions as they might have been, and there seems to be little reason for departing far from the literal language. Whether the stream was fed miraculously or by a series of springs or other streams is not discussed by Ezekiel. His responsibility was simply to describe what he saw. The intent must have been reasonably plain to the Israelites. Abundant water, such as here portrayed, was the sign of adequate precipitation and resultant prosperity. Such blessings were further emphasized by the mention of the fruit trees and the teeming life in the waters (vs. 7–12).

Inasmuch as these predictions never were fulfilled in their original intent, they will have a measure of fulfillment in the Christian church. It is John the revelator who picks up the imagery of these chapters and explains what features of them will be fulfilled in the new earth (see, for example, Eze. 47:12; cf. Rev. 22:2).

Physical arrangements are frequently also designed to teach spiritual lessons. Here the stream, beginning in a small way, increased as it flowed out toward the desert. So the blessings of the covenant, of which the Israelites were the first recipients, were to flow out, ever increasing until they embraced the whole world. By the same figure the work of the Advent Movement may be illustrated (see 7T 171, 172).

If the stream was miraculously originated and increased, it would stand as a perpetual evidence of the power of an ever-present God working in behalf of His people. Such a demonstration would be similar to the presence of the pillar of fire and cloud that accompanied the Israelites in their wilderness wanderings (Ex. 13:21, 22) and of the miraculous supply of drinking water (Ex. 17:1–7; etc.).

2. The gate northward. Possibly because the east inner gate was reserved for the prince (ch. 46:1–8) and the east outer gate was closed (ch. 44:1, 2). On “utter gate” see on ch. 42:1.

3. Through the waters. The measurements described in vs. 3–6 graphically portray the phenomenal increase of the waters. At 4,000 cubits (1.1 mi.; 1.8 km.) the trickling stream had become a sizable river that could not be forded (v. 5).

7. Very many trees. Compare Rev. 22:2; see on Eze. 47:1.

8. Desert. Heb. Фarabah, the depression of the Jordan, the Dead Sea, and the valley extending from the Dead Sea to the Gulf of Aqabah. The modern term Arabah designates only the valley south of the Dead Sea.

The sea. The description here given makes clear that the Dead Sea is intended.

9. Shall live. Because of the high mineral content no fish are able to live in the Dead Sea. Doubtless this condition already existed in Ezekiel’s day.

10. En-gedi. Literally, “fountain of the kid.” The place is situated in the middle of the west coast of the Dead Sea (see on 1 Sam. 24:1). The site is now called Tell ejРJurn.

En-eglaim. This word occurs only here and cannot be identified.

11. Marishes. Marshes.

Salt. Certain areas were not healed, probably to assure an adequate stock of the mineral.

12. Trees for meat. In its secondary application this forecast will meet its fulfillment in the tree of life in the midst of the new Eden of God (Rev. 22:2).

13. Twelve tribes. Some from each of the twelve tribes were expected to return from captivity. The promises were not limited to Judah and Benjamin, but were for all Israel.

Two portions. Compare Gen. 48:22; Joshua 17:14, 17. Levi’s portion was provided for in the “oblation” (Eze. 45:5, 6) and so the two portions for Joseph (Ephraim and Manasseh) made up the twelve portions.

14. One as well as another. Literally, “each as his brother,” a phrase meaning “equally.” Ezekiel defines precisely only the northern and southern boundaries of the land. Some have assumed that the various portions assigned to the tribes were strips of territory of more or less equal width, stretching clear across the country from east to west. This cannot be established.

Lifted up mine hand. An expression meaning, “to swear.” On the promise and the oath see Gen. 12:7; 17:8; 26:3; 28:13.

15. The border of the land. There are many similarities between the boundaries given here and those given in Num. 34:1–15. There, however, the southern boundary is given first, doubtless because the Israelites were coming from Egypt. Here the northern boundary may be given first because the people would be returning to Palestine from the north.

From the great sea. The boundary begins at the Mediterranean, but the exact point is not given. Judging from the other geographical points mentioned, the point was probably somewhere near what came to be known as Tripolis. Some begin the border near Tyre.

Hethlon. Mentioned only here and in ch. 48:1. Its location is not certain.

Zedad. This place has been identified with the modern SadaЖd, about 58 mi. (92.8 km.) south by east from Hamath.

16. Hamath. A transportation of words permits us here to read, in harmony with the LXX, “entrance of Hamath, Zedad,” etc. The “entrance of Hamath” is thought to refer probably to the modern Lebweh, 70 mi. (112 km.) south-southwest of Hamath, or to the valley of the Orontes (see Num. 34:8).

Berothah. The site of this town is not known, though it is probably the same as Berothai (modern BereitaЖn), situated in the valley between the Lebanon and Anti-Lebanon mountains.

Sibraim. A border point whose exact site is not known.

Hazar-hatticon. Literally, “the middle village.” All that is known of the place is what can be learned from this passage, namely, that it was on the border of the district of Hauran.

Hauran. This designates the tract of land south of Damascus toward Gilead.

17. Hazar-enan. Possibly the modern Qaryatein, 20 mi. (32 km.) east-southeast of Zedad (see on v. 15) and 73 mi. (116.8 km.) northeast of Damascus.

18. The east side. It is difficult to draw this border with precision. Some of the territory east of the Sea of Chinnereth, or Galilee, was probably intended to be included.

19. Tamar. This place has not been definitely identified. It was probably near the southern end of the Dead Sea.

Kadesh. Called Kadesh-barnea in Num. 34:4. Some have identified it with ФAin QudeiraЖt, about 73 mi. (116.8 km.). southwest of Hebron, others with ФAin Qedeis, 5.3 mi. (8.5 km.) farther southeast.

The river. A comparison with Num. 34:5; Joshua 15:4, 47 shows that the reference is to the “river of Egypt,” identified with the modern torrent Wadi elРФArish, which enters the Mediterranean about 50 mi. southwest of Gaza.

20. The west side. The western boundary was the Mediterranean as in Num. 34:6.

22. By lot. See on ch. 45:1.

To the strangers. More freedom is allowed the strangers here than under the Mosaic law. According to the ancient law, strangers were to be treated with kindness (Ex. 22:21; Lev. 19:34; Deut. 1:16; 24:14), allowed to offer sacrifices (Lev. 17:8), to partake of the Passover if circumcised (Ex. 12:48), but it is doubtful that they held unrestricted property rights. Now those who settled permanently were to be given an inheritance in the tribe they dwelt in. It was God’s purpose that the strangers should be drawn to Israel, settle among them, and accept the religion of the true God (see pp. 28, 29).

Ellen G. White comments

1–237T 172

1     7T 171

8     7T 172

8–12AA 13; 6T 227