River of the Temple, Division of the Land and Its Boundaries
1 And he brought me back to the doorway of the temple and, look! There was water coming out from under the threshold of the temple eastward, because the face of the temple was eastwards; and the water was coming down from under the south side of the temple, from south of the altar. 2 And he brought me out by the way of the north gate and he led me around by the way leading to the outside of the outer gateLiterally "way of the outside to the gate of the outside" by way of the gate facing east, and look, there was water trickling from the south side. 3 As the man went eastward a measuring line was in his hand, and he measured a thousand cubits.Literally "in the cubit"; about 1,750 feet And he led me through on into the water; it was ankle deep.Literally "water of ankles"4 And he measured a thousand cubits,About 1,750 feet and he brought me over into the waters and it was knee deep.Literally "water of knees" And he measured a thousand cubits,About 1,750 feet and he brought me over into the waters and it was waist deep.Literally "water of waist"5 And he measured a thousand cubits,About 1,750 feet and it became a stream that I was not able to cross, because the water rose, waters a person could swim in,Literally "water of swimming" and became a stream that could not be crossed. 6 And he asked me, "Son of man,Or "mortal," or "son of humankind" did you see this?" And he made me go, and he brought me back along the bank of the stream.
7 When I returned,Literally "At my returning" then look! On the bank of the river were many trees on both sides.Literally "from this and from this"8 And he said to me, "These waters are going out to the eastern region, and they go down to the Jordan Valley,Literally "Arabah" and they come to the seaClearly refers to the Dead Sea and flow into the sea where they issue out,Literally "being brought out/are issued out" and the waters in the sea will be healed.Or "made fresh"9 And then every living creature with which it teems,Or "swarms" to every place the waters comeLiterally "to all of which they come there the water" it will live; and very many fish will live because these waters came there, and so the water will be healedOr "fresh" and everything will be alive everywhere thatLiterally "all that" the stream will come.Literally "that it will come there the stream"10 And then fishersOr "fishermen" from En Gedi and on up to En Eglaim will stand beside it, a sea-girt drying yard for nets; their fish for the dragnets will be of every kind,Literally "to the" like the fish of the great sea,That is, the Mediterranean and very many. 11 But its marshes and its swamps will not be cured, for they were given for salt. 12 And along the stream will go up on its banks from both sidesLiterally "from this and from this" every tree producing food;Literally "of food" its leaf will not wither and it will not cease producing its fruit. Every monthLiterally "for its months" it will bear early fruit, for its waters are going out from the sanctuary, and its fruit will be as food, and its leaf for healing."
13 Thus says the Lord Yahweh: "This is the boundary by which you shall distribute the land for the twelveLiterally "two ten" tribes of Israel: Two shares shall be for Joseph. 14 And you must take possession of it, each one a share like his brother, of this land which I sworeLiterally "I raised my hand" to give it to your fathers, and so this land shall fall to you as an inheritance. 15 AndOr "Bow" this is the boundary of the land: On the north side,Literally "to the side of the north" from the great sea by the way of Hethlon until you come to Zedad,Literally "to the arriving at Zedad"16 HamathOr "Lebo-Hamath to Zeded" (cf. NRSV, NJPS) to Berothath to Sibraim, which isOr "are" between the boundary of Damascus and the boundary of Hamath, on to Hazer Hatticon, which is on the boundary of Hauran. 17 And so the boundary will be from the seaThat is, the Mediterranean to Hazar Enan at the boundary of Damascus northwards and the boundary of Hamath to the north, and this is the boundary on the side of the north. 18 And the eastern boundaryLiterally "and the side of the east" will be between Hauran and Damascus, and from between Gilead and the land of Israel along the Jordan River fromOr "to" the boundary on the eastern sea to Tamar. AndOr "Now" this is the border on the east.Literally "and this is the side of the east"19 And on the south side the borderLiterally "and the side of the south to south" will run from Tamar up to the waters of Meribot Kadesh and along the wadiThat is, the Wadi of Egypt to the Great Sea.That is, the Mediterranean And this is the boundary to the south.Literally "and this is the side of south to the south"20 And on the west sideLiterally "and the side of the west" the Great SeaThat is, the Mediterranean shall be the boundary up to opposite Lebo-Hamath. This is the western boundary.Literally "this is the side of the west"
21 You shall divide this land for yourselves according to the tribes of Israel. 22 And then you shall allocate it as an inheritance for yourselves and for the aliens dwelling as aliens in the midst of you who have children in the midst of you, and so they shall be to you just like full citizens among the Israelites.Literally "sons/children of Israel" With you they shall be allotted with an inheritance in the midst of the tribes of Israel. 23 And then in the tribe in which an alien who is with you dwells, there you shall give his inheritance," declaresLiterally "declaration of" the Lord Yahweh.