The listing of the tribes and their respective positions from north to south starts at the northern boundary. This northern boundary is literally described as being “to the hand of the way of Hethlon” (probably meaning passing along the way or road leading to Hethlon) to the “entrance of Hamath [or to or from Lebo-hamath] to Hazar-enon on the border of Damascus, over against [literally, to the hand of] Hamath [on the] north. The allotted territory for Dan would extend from the “east side to the sea” (the Mediterranean). There is uncertainty about where Hethlon may have been located. One suggested site is about 22 miles (c. 35 kilometers) northeast of Tripoli in Lebanon. The “entrance of Hamath” may designate the southern border of the territory that the city of Hamath on the Orontes River formerly controlled. Possibly Hazar-enan may be identified with a site about 75 miles (c. 120 kilometers) northeast of Damascus, and the “border of Damascus” apparently refers to the border of the territory of Damascus. (48:1)
The territory assigned to the tribe of Asher had that of Dan as its northern boundary and extended from the east side to the west side or to the Mediterranean Sea. (48:2) Likewise, the territory of Naphtali extended from the east side to the west side and bordered Asher on the north. (48:3) By the southern border of Naphtali, the territory of Manasseh extended from the east side to the west side. (48:4) The assigned territory of Ephraim extended from the east side to the west side and bordered the southern boundary of Manasseh. (48:5) By the southern border of Ephraim, the territory of Reuben extended from the east side to the west side. (48:6) The territory of Judah extended from the east side to the west side and bordered the southern boundary of Reuben. (48:7)
On the southern border of the territory of Judah would be the “contribution” that extended “from the east side to the west side” and which would be “set apart” for a sacred purpose. This contributed section of land was to be 25,000 (c. 8⅓ miles; c. 13.3 kilometers) wide, and its length was to correspond to that of the tribal territories from east to west. The sanctuary was to be located in the midst of the contributed land. According to the Septuagint rendering of this verse and verse 9, the dimension of 25,000 applies both to the length and the width. Additionally, the Septuagint refers to the sanctuary as being “in their midst,” apparently meaning the midst of the tribes. (48:8; see the Notes section.)
The dimensions of the “contribution” of land set apart for YHWH are: 25,000 (c. 8⅓ miles; c. 13.3 kilometers) the length and 10,000 (c. 3⅓ miles; c. 5.3 kilometers [20,000 (P967), c. 6⅔ miles; c. 10.7 kilometers]) the width. (48:9; see the Notes section.)
The dimensions of the “contribution” of land set apart for the priests were to be 25,000 (c. 8⅓ miles; c. 13.3 kilometers) on the northern side and 10,000 (c. 3⅓ miles; c. 5.3 kilometers) in width on the western side, 10,000 in width on the eastern side, and 25,000 in length on the southern side. In the midst of the contributed land is where the “sanctuary of YHWH” (“the mountain of the holy places” [LXX]) was to be. (48:10; see the Notes section.)
The sacred territory for the priests was to be for the “sons of Zadok” or the descendants of Zadok. They would be honored to have this possession because they had been faithful to YHWH, keeping his charge and not straying when the “sons [or people] of Israel” and the Levites went astray. (48:11)
At the time the land was to be distributed among the tribes, the priests of the line of Zadok would come to have their portion of it as a most holy place (literally, “holy of holies”). It would border (be away from [LXX]) the territory of the Levites. (48:12)
The portion of land assigned to the Levites that bordered the territory of the priests was to have the following dimensions: 25,000 (c. 8⅓ miles; c. 13.3 kilometers) the length and 10,000 (c. 3⅓ miles; c. 5.3 kilometers) the width. In the Hebrew text, these dimensions are repeated — the whole length 25,000, and the width 10,000. The Septuagint agrees with the Hebrew text regarding the length of 25,000. For the width, however, the number is 20,000 (c. 6⅔ miles; c. 10.7 kilometers). (48:13; see the Notes section.) None of the land assigned to the priests and the Levites could be sold, exchanged, or “alienated” (or transferred to be used by others), it being “holy to YHWH.” (48:14)
The width of the remaining piece of land is listed as being 5,000 (c. 1⅔ miles; c. 2.7 kilometers). Although not stated in the text, the reference to 25,000 (c. 8⅓ miles; c. 13.3 kilometers) is commonly understood to apply to the length of the land. This section of land would be for the city’s common use, designated for dwellings and open area such as pasture land. The city (YHWH-Shammah) would be in the middle of the territory. (48:15; see verse 35 and the Notes section.)
The city was to have the following dimensions: the north side, 4,500 (c. 1½ miles; c. 2.4 kilometers); the south side, 4,500; the east side, 4,500, and the west side, 4,500. (48:16; see the Notes section.) Its open land area was to be 250 (c. 437½ feet; c. 133 meters) to the north, south, east, and west (or all around the city). (48:17; see the Notes section.) The remaining sections of the length of the sacred contribution of land on the east side and the west side would be 10,000 (c. 3⅓ miles; c. 5.3 kilometers). This land would be used to cultivate food crops for the workers in the city. (48:18) Workers “from all the tribes of Israel” in the city would perform the agricultural labor. (48:19)
The entire “contribution” of land was to be a square section of 25,000 (c. 8⅓ miles; c. 13.3 kilometers) on each side. This whole area, including the property of the city, was to be “set apart” as the “holy contribution.” (48:20) The remaining sections on either side of the “holy contribution” and of the property of the city — portions of land not designated for specific purposes — would belong to the prince. This would be from the 25,000 (c. 8⅓ miles; c. 13.3 kilometers) of the “contribution” of land to the “east border,” and “to the west from the 25,000 to the west border.” Accordingly, the land of the prince to the eastern and western limits would correspond to the eastern and western borders of the assigned tribal territories. In the midst of the land of the prince would be the “holy contribution and the sanctuary of the house” or temple. His land would be on the east and west side of the holy contribution in which the temple was located. (28:21; see the Notes section.) In the area of land not belonging to the prince would be the possession of the Levites and the property of the city. The territory of the tribe of Judah would border the land of the prince on the north side, and the territory of the tribe of Benjamin would border his land on the south side. (28:22; see the Notes section.)
Next the listing of the remaining tribal territories from north to south continues as follows: Benjamin, one portion from the east side to the west side (48:23); on the south border of the territory of Benjamin, one portion from the east side to the west side for Simeon (48:24); on the south border of the territory of Simeon, one portion from the east side to the west side for Issachar (48:25); on the south border of the territory of Issachar, one portion from the east side to the west side for Zebulun (48:26); on the south border of the territory of Zebulun, one portion from the east side to the west side for Gad. (48:27)
The southern boundary of Gad extended “from Tamar to the waters of Meribath-kadesh, to the torrent, [and] to the Great Sea” (the Mediterranean). Tamar has been linked to a site about 20 miles (c. 30 kilometers) southwest of the Dead Sea. The “torrent” probably designates the wadi of Egypt that is commonly identified with Wadi el-‛Arish in the Sinai Peninsula. Meribath-kadesh may have been a place southeast of the wadi of Egypt and southwest of the Dead Sea. (48:28)
The Lord YHWH declared that the land was to be allotted according to the designated portions as an inheritance to the tribes of Israel. (48:29)
The exists of the city located in the holy contribution were to be as follows: “On the north side,” with a dimension of 4,500 (c. 1½ miles; c. 2.4 kilometers) (48:30; see the Notes section), three gates, each one named after a tribe — gate of Reuben, gate of Judah, and gate of Levi (48:31); “on the east side,” with a dimension of 4,500 (c. 1½ miles; c. 2.4 kilometers), three gates, each one named after a tribe — gate of Joseph, gate of Benjamin, and gate of Dan (48:32; see the Notes section); “on the south side,” with a dimension of 4,500 (c. 1½ miles; c. 2.4 kilometers), three gates, each one named after a tribe — gate of Simeon, gate of Issachar, and gate of Zebulun. (48:33; see the Notes section); “on the west side,” with a dimension of 4,500 (c. 1½ miles; c. 2.4 kilometers), three gates, each one named after a tribe — gate of Gad, gate of Asher, and gate of Naphtali. (48:34; see the Notes section.)
The circumference of the square city located in the holy contribution would be 18,000 (c. 6 miles; c. 9.600 kilometers). From then (literally, that “day”) onward, this city was to be named YHWH-Shammah (“YHWH is there”), indicating that YHWH would be present with his people. (48:35; see the Notes section.)
Notes
See the “Expository comments” in the Notes section of chapter 47.
In verses 8 -10, 13, 15-18, 20, 21, 30, 32-35, the unit by which distances are measured is not specified. It is commonly assumed that the unit is the long cubit. On the basis of this assumption, the approximate corresponding dimensions in feet or miles and meters or kilometers have been provided in the commentary section. There is a possibility, however, that the assumption about the cubit is in error, and that the reference is to the reed. This would mean that the dimensions actually are six times greater.
Verse 22 in the Septuagint does not contain a corresponding Hebrew word for the singular prince. It says “leaders.”
In verse 35, the Septuagint does not include a name for the city.