Ezekiel 47

The River from the Temple

The River of Life

1 Then he brought me back to the entrance of the temple, and I saw water flowing out from under the threshold of the temple toward the east, since the temple faced east. The water was coming down from under the right side of the temple, south of the altar.

2 He led me out by way of the north gate and brought me around to the outer gate facing east, and I saw water trickling out on the right side.

3 When the man went out toward the east with a measuring line in his hand, he measured a thousand cubits and led me through the water, it was ankle deep.

4 He measured another thousand and led me through the water, it was knee deep. He measured another thousand and led me through, it was waist deep.

5 He measured another thousand, and now it was a river I could not cross, because the water had risen, deep enough to swim in, a river no one could walk through.

6 He said to me, “Son of man, do you see this,” Then he led me back to the bank of the river.

7 When I returned, I saw a whole lot of trees on both sides of the river.

8 He said to me, “This water flows toward the eastern region and goes down into the Arabah. When it enters the sea, the sea becomes fresh.

9 Every living thing that moves, wherever the river goes, will live. There will be many fish, because this water goes there and makes the water fresh. Everything will live wherever the river flows.

10 Fishermen will stand beside it from En-gedi to En-eglaim. It will be a place for spreading nets. The fish will be of many kinds, like the fish of the Great Sea, plenty of them.

11 But its swamps and marshes will not be healed; they will be left for salt.

12 Fruit trees of every kind will grow on both banks of the river. Their leaves will not wither, and their fruit will not fail. They will bear fresh fruit every month, because the water for them flows from the sanctuary. Their fruit will be food, and their leaves will be for healing.

The Boundaries of the Land

13 This is what the Lord GOD says: “These are the boundaries by which you are to divide the land as an inheritance among the twelve tribes of Israel. Joseph will receive two portions.

14 You are to inherit it equally, since I swore to give it to your fathers. This land will fall to you as your inheritance.

15 This will be the boundary of the land: On the north side, from the Great Sea by way of Hethlon, to the entrance of Zedad,

16 Hamath, Berothah, Sibraim, which lies between the border of Damascus and the border of Hamath, and as far as Hazer-hatticon, which is on the border of Hauran.

17 So the boundary will run from the sea to Hazar-enan at the border of Damascus, with the border of Hamath to the north. This is the north side.

18 On the east side, between Hauran and Damascus, between Gilead and the land of Israel, will be the Jordan. From the north border to the eastern sea, you are to measure. This is the east side.

19 On the south side, it will run from Tamar to the waters of Meribah-kadesh, then along the Brook of Egypt to the Great Sea. This is the south side.

20 On the west side, it will be the Great Sea from the south border to a point opposite the entrance of Hamath. This is the west side.

21 So you are to divide this land among yourselves according to the tribes of Israel.

22 You are to divide it as an inheritance for yourselves and for the foreigners living among you who have had children among you. They will be like native-born Israelites to you; they will receive an inheritance with you among the tribes of Israel.

23 In whatever tribe a foreigner is living, there you are to give him his inheritance,” declares the Lord GOD.