Dawn in the Judean wilderness: a thin bright stream of clear water winds down a bare tan wadi between cliffs toward the distant Dead Sea, a line of green reeds along it.

The LORD is there

Ezekiel 47

Where in your life do you need God’s life to flow?

23 verses≈ 5 minBSB

Images are artistic interpretations.

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Where we are

1–3Visions of gloryBy the Kebar, about 593 BC: the throne, the scroll, the watchman
4–7Signs of the siegeA brick, a ration, a razor: the end has come
8–11The glory departsAbout 592 BC: the temple’s abominations, the mark, the glory goes east
12–15False hopesExile acted out, false prophets, a useless vine
16–19Parables and lamentsAn unfaithful bride, two eagles, the one who sins
20–24The sword drawnRebellion retold; the siege begins, about 588 BC
25–32The nations judgedAmmon to Egypt: the LORD is Judge of all the earth
33–36A new heartThe city falls; the Good Shepherd; cleansed and made new
37–39Dry bones liveOne people raised up, and Gog of Magog defeated
40–48The LORD is thereAbout 573 BC: the new temple, the river, the landChapter 47

Waters from under the Temple

Ezekiel

Close at ground level at first light: clear water wells out from beneath a great plain stone threshold and runs east across pale paving stones in a thin glinting sheet.

Then the man brought me back to the entrance of the temple, and I saw water flowing from under the threshold of the temple toward the east (for the temple faced east). The water was coming down from under the south side of the temple, south of the altar.

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Ezekiel

Next he brought me out through the north gate and led me around the outside to the outer gate facing east, and there I saw the water trickling out from the south side.

Ezekiel

As the man went eastward with a measuring line in his hand, he measured off a thousand cubits and led me through ankle-deep water.

Then he measured off a thousand cubits and led me through knee-deep water. Again he measured a thousand cubits and led me through waist-deep water.

Once again he measured off a thousand cubits, but now it was a river that I could not cross, because the water had risen and was deep enough for swimming—a river that could not be crossed on foot.

Ezekiel

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

Question

Quick question

Follow the man with the measuring line one more time.

After the fourth thousand cubits, how deep was the water?

Ezekiel

A clear river in morning light, seen from a ridge, winding through the bare wilderness toward the Dead Sea, a great number of green trees crowding both banks in a long green ribbon.

When I arrived, I saw a great number of trees along both banks of the river.

Ezekiel

And he said to me, “This water flows out to the eastern region and goes down into the Arabah. When it empties into the Dead Sea, the water there becomes fresh.

Ezekiel

Wherever the river flows, there will be swarms of living creatures and a great number of fish, because it flows there and makes the waters fresh; so wherever the river flows, everything will flourish.

Ezekiel 47:9

Ezekiel

Dawn on the western shore of the Dead Sea below the cliffs and green spring of En-gedi, the water fresh and blue: fishermen’s nets drying on the rocks, small wooden boats drawn up, two fishermen mending a net.

Fishermen will stand by the shore; from En-gedi to En-eglaim they will spread their nets to catch fish of many kinds, like the fish of the Great Sea.

Ezekiel

Ezekiel

But the swamps and marshes will not become fresh; they will be left for salt.

Ezekiel

Ezekiel

Along both banks of the river, fruit trees of all kinds will grow. Their leaves will not wither, and their fruit will not fail. Each month they will bear fruit, because the water from the sanctuary flows to them. Their fruit will be used for food and their leaves for healing.”

Stylised map · locations approximate

On the map

Down to the Dead Sea

From the temple east through the wilderness, down to the Arabah and the Dead Sea, where fishermen will spread their nets from En-gedi to En-eglaim. En-eglaim’s site is not certain.

The Borders of the Land

God

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 shall receive two portions. You are to divide it equally among them. Because I swore with an uplifted hand to give it to your forefathers, this land will fall to you as an inheritance.

God

This shall be the boundary of the land:

On the north side it will extend from the Great Sea by way of Hethlon through Lebo-hamath to Zedad,

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

So the border will run from the Sea to Hazar-enan, along the northern border of Damascus, with the territory of Hamath to the north. This will be the northern boundary.

On the east side the border will run between Hauran and Damascus, along the Jordan between Gilead and the land of Israel, to the Eastern Sea and as far as Tamar. This will be the eastern boundary.

On the south side it will run from Tamar to the waters of Meribath-kadesh, and along the Brook of Egypt to the Great Sea. This will be the southern boundary.

And on the west side, the Great Sea will be the boundary up to a point opposite Lebo-hamath. This will be the western boundary.

Stylised map · locations approximate

On the map

The borders of the land

North to Lebo-hamath, east along the Jordan to the Dead Sea and Tamar, south to Kadesh and the Brook of Egypt, and west the Great Sea. Several places on the north border are no longer known.

God

Evening on terraced farmland: two families stand together at a newly set boundary stone between their fields, one in plain Israelite wool, the other in striped wool mantles, bread shared on a cloth.

You are to divide this land among yourselves according to the tribes of Israel. You shall allot it as an inheritance for yourselves and for the foreigners who dwell among you and who have children. You are to treat them as native-born Israelites; along with you, they shall be allotted an inheritance among the tribes of Israel. In whatever tribe a foreigner dwells, you are to assign his inheritance there,” declares the Lord GOD.

Pray

LORD, let the river from Your house flow into the dry places of my life. Make me fruitful in every season, a healing to others, and glad to share Your inheritance with all who come to You. Amen.

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Ezekiel 47

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Ezekiel 47:9

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