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The Portions for the Remaining Tribes
Ezekiel 48:23–29 lists the remaining tribal portions in the land. The passage is brief, but it shows ordered inheritance, clear boundaries, and the Lord Yahweh’s authority over the division.
Understanding the passage
The setting of this message
In these verses, Ezekiel records the portions for the rest of the tribes after earlier land assignments. The passage moves from tribe to tribe in sequence, describes the southern border for Gad, and ends by stating that the land is divided by lot as an inheritance for the tribes of Israel.
Ezekiel 48:23–29Main takeaway
The passage teaches that the land is divided into distinct tribal portions under the word of the Lord Yahweh.
Explore the message
Open a card to explore the full explanation and its Bible references.
01The remaining tribes are listed in orderThe passage begins, “As for the rest of the tribes”, showing that these tribes belong to a larger plan already being set out.
Explanation
The passage begins, “As for the rest of the tribes”, showing that these tribes belong to a larger plan already being set out. Benjamin is named first here, and it receives “one portion” stretching “from the east side to the west side”. The repeated wording highlights equal, defined allotments.
02Each portion borders the previous oneAfter Benjamin, Simeon, Issachar, and Zebulun are named one after another. Each tribe’s land is described by the border of the tribe just named before it.
Explanation
After Benjamin, Simeon, Issachar, and Zebulun are named one after another. Each tribe’s land is described by the border of the tribe just named before it. This creates a clear sequence of neighbouring portions, each running “from the east side to the west side” and each called “one portion”.
03Gad completes this sequence of portionsGad is placed by the border of Zebulun and also receives “one portion” from east to west. The repetition across these verses gives a steady pattern.
Explanation
Gad is placed by the border of Zebulun and also receives “one portion” from east to west. The repetition across these verses gives a steady pattern. Rather than describing random places, the passage presents an ordered arrangement in which each tribe has its own assigned place.
04The south border is specifically describedThe pattern changes slightly when Gad’s southern boundary is given in more detail. The border goes “from Tamar to the waters of Meribath Kadesh, to the brook, to the great sea”.
Explanation
The pattern changes slightly when Gad’s southern boundary is given in more detail. The border goes “from Tamar to the waters of Meribath Kadesh, to the brook, to the great sea”. This careful naming of border points shows that the inheritance is not vague but marked out.
05The land is an inheritance divided by lotThe final verse explains the meaning of the whole list. This land is to be “divide[d] by lot” to the tribes of Israel “for inheritance”.
Explanation
The final verse explains the meaning of the whole list. This land is to be “divide[d] by lot” to the tribes of Israel “for inheritance”. The verse also says, “these are their several portions”, and closes with “says the Lord Yahweh”, grounding the arrangement in his declaration.
Questions to explore
Pause, look back at the verses and talk together.
01What repeated phrase shows the shape of these tribal portions?
Look for the wording that appears again and again in verses 23–27 to describe how the portions run across the land.
02Which tribe’s border is described with named locations, and what are those places?
Verse 28 gives a more detailed boundary than the earlier verses, so list the places exactly as they appear there.
03According to the final verse, what is the purpose of dividing the land?
Focus on the words “divide by lot” and “for inheritance” to see what the portions are for.
Read the Bible passage
World English Bible ClassicScripture quotation · Public domain
Ezekiel 48:23–29
23“As for the rest of the tribes: from the east side to the west side, Benjamin, one portion.
24“By the border of Benjamin, from the east side to the west side, Simeon, one portion.
25“By the border of Simeon, from the east side to the west side, Issachar, one portion.
26“By the border of Issachar, from the east side to the west side, Zebulun, one portion.
27“By the border of Zebulun, from the east side to the west side, Gad, one portion.
28“By the border of Gad, at the south side southward, the border shall be even from Tamar to the waters of Meribath Kadesh, to the brook, to the great sea.
29“This is the land which you shall divide by lot to the tribes of Israel for inheritance, and these are their several portions, says the Lord Yahweh.