Ezekiel 45 Study Notes: A Holy Portion and Just Rulers
Ezekiel’s vision sets apart a holy share of the land for the LORD, with space for the sanctuary, priests, Levites, the city and the prince. God calls Israel’s rulers to stop oppressing His people, requires honest weights and measures, and describes the offerings the prince provides for the feasts.
General
When Israel divides up the land, what are they told to set apart (45:1-4)?
Answer: A holy share belonging to the LORD, with His sanctuary in it
When the land is divided among the tribes, a portion is to be set apart for the LORD, and the whole of it is holy (45:1). Inside it stands the sanctuary, which is the holiest place of all, along with room for the homes of the priests who serve there (45:3-4). Next to it lie an area where the Levites will live and an area for the city (45:5-6), much as the law had first given the Levites towns of their own (Numbers 35:2). Setting apart God’s share first reflects what the law had long taught: the land belongs to Him, and Israel lived on it as His tenants (Leviticus 25:23). Later the vision adds that this holy portion may never be sold or traded (48:14).
- Ezekiel 45:1 (BSB)““When you divide the land by lot as an inheritance, you are to set aside a portion for the LORD, a holy portion of the land 25,000 cubits long and 20,000 cubits wide. This entire tract of land will be holy.”When the land is allotted, a holy portion is set aside for the LORD, and the whole of it is holy.
- Ezekiel 45:3-4 (BSB)“From this holy portion, you are to measure off a length of 25,000 cubits and a width of 10,000 cubits, and in it will be the sanctuary, the Most Holy Place. It will be a holy portion of the land to be used by the priests who minister in the sanctuary, who draw near to minister before the LORD. It will be a place for their houses, as well as a holy area for the sanctuary.”Within the holy portion stands the sanctuary, with room for the houses of the priests who minister there.
- Ezekiel 48:14 (BSB)“They must not sell or exchange any of it, and they must not transfer this best part of the land, for it is holy to the LORD.”The holy portion may never be sold or exchanged, because it is the best of the land and holy to the LORD.
- Leviticus 25:23 (BSB)“The land must not be sold permanently, because it is Mine, and you are but foreigners and residents with Me.”The law taught that the land belongs to the LORD and that Israel lived on it as His tenants.
- Numbers 35:2 (BSB)““Command the Israelites to give, from the inheritance they will possess, cities for the Levites to live in and pasturelands around the cities.”From the beginning the other tribes were to give the Levites towns to live in out of the land they inherited.
Theological
What is to be consecrated when the land is allotted to the tribes (45:1-4)?
Answer: A holy share belonging to the LORD, with His sanctuary in it
Before the tribes receive their shares, a holy portion is consecrated to the LORD, all of it holy (45:1). Within it lies the sanctuary, the holiest place of all, together with space for the dwellings of the priests who come near to serve (45:3-4), with adjoining areas for the Levites and the city (45:5-6). Setting apart God’s share first expresses the principle that the whole land is the LORD’s (Leviticus 25:23). The portion is inalienable, never to be sold or exchanged (48:14), and the Levites’ towns echo the original provision of Numbers 35:2.
- Ezekiel 45:1 (BSB)““When you divide the land by lot as an inheritance, you are to set aside a portion for the LORD, a holy portion of the land 25,000 cubits long and 20,000 cubits wide. This entire tract of land will be holy.”When the land is allotted, a holy portion is set aside for the LORD, and the whole of it is holy.
- Ezekiel 45:3-4 (BSB)“From this holy portion, you are to measure off a length of 25,000 cubits and a width of 10,000 cubits, and in it will be the sanctuary, the Most Holy Place. It will be a holy portion of the land to be used by the priests who minister in the sanctuary, who draw near to minister before the LORD. It will be a place for their houses, as well as a holy area for the sanctuary.”Within the holy portion stands the sanctuary, with room for the houses of the priests who minister there.
- Ezekiel 48:14 (BSB)“They must not sell or exchange any of it, and they must not transfer this best part of the land, for it is holy to the LORD.”The holy portion may never be sold or exchanged, because it is the best of the land and holy to the LORD.
- Leviticus 25:23 (BSB)“The land must not be sold permanently, because it is Mine, and you are but foreigners and residents with Me.”The law taught that the land belongs to the LORD and that Israel lived on it as His tenants.
- Numbers 35:2 (BSB)““Command the Israelites to give, from the inheritance they will possess, cities for the Levites to live in and pasturelands around the cities.”From the beginning the other tribes were to give the Levites towns to live in out of the land they inherited.
General
True or False: After rebuking Israel’s princes, the LORD leaves weights and measures to the merchants as something outside His concern (45:9-10).
Answer: False
This is false. Right after calling the princes to stop their violence and act rightly (45:9), the LORD commands honest scales and fair measures (45:10) and then sets fixed standards for them (45:11-12). Fair dealing in everyday buying and selling is part of the justice He requires. The law had already forbidden dishonest weights (Leviticus 19:35-36), and Proverbs says that false scales are detestable to the LORD (Proverbs 11:1) and that every weight in the bag is His concern (Proverbs 16:11).
- Ezekiel 45:10 (BSB)“You must use honest scales, a just ephah, and a just bath.”Right after the call to justice, God requires honest scales and fair measures.
- Leviticus 19:35-36 (BSB)“You must not use dishonest measures of length, weight, or volume. You shall maintain honest scales and weights, an honest ephah, and an honest hin. I am the LORD your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt.”The law forbade dishonest measures and required honest scales and weights, grounding the command in God’s redemption of Israel.
- Proverbs 11:1 (BSB)“Dishonest scales are an abomination to the LORD, but an accurate weight is His delight.”Dishonest scales are detestable to the LORD, while an accurate weight pleases Him.
- Proverbs 16:11 (BSB)“Honest scales and balances are from the LORD; all the weights in the bag are His concern.”Honest scales come from the LORD, and every weight in the bag is His concern.
Theological
True or False: Having rebuked the princes, the LORD treats weights and measures as a commercial matter outside His concern (45:9-10).
Answer: False
This is false. The command to the princes to forsake violence and practice justice (45:9) moves straight into a requirement of honest scales and just measures (45:10), followed by fixed standards (45:11-12). Justice in God’s restored order reaches the marketplace. The requirement restates the law (Leviticus 19:35-36), and wisdom literature affirms that false balances are detestable to Him (Proverbs 11:1) and that honest weights are His concern (Proverbs 16:11).
- Ezekiel 45:10 (BSB)“You must use honest scales, a just ephah, and a just bath.”Right after the call to justice, God requires honest scales and fair measures.
- Leviticus 19:35-36 (BSB)“You must not use dishonest measures of length, weight, or volume. You shall maintain honest scales and weights, an honest ephah, and an honest hin. I am the LORD your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt.”The law forbade dishonest measures and required honest scales and weights, grounding the command in God’s redemption of Israel.
- Proverbs 11:1 (BSB)“Dishonest scales are an abomination to the LORD, but an accurate weight is His delight.”Dishonest scales are detestable to the LORD, while an accurate weight pleases Him.
- Proverbs 16:11 (BSB)“Honest scales and balances are from the LORD; all the weights in the bag are His concern.”Honest scales come from the LORD, and every weight in the bag is His concern.
General
Why is the prince given his own land on either side of the holy district (45:7-8)?
Answer: So rulers stop oppressing the people and leave them land
In this vision the prince is Israel’s ruler. He receives his own land on both sides of the sacred district and the city’s land (45:7). The stated reason is that God’s rulers will stop crushing His people and will leave the remaining territory to Israel’s tribes (45:8). Later the vision adds that the prince may not seize the people’s inheritance by driving them off their land (46:18). Israel’s rulers had used their strength to kill (22:6), and Samuel had warned that a king would seize the best fields (1 Samuel 8:14). God provides for the ruler so that the ruler will not prey on His people.
- Ezekiel 45:7-8 (BSB)“Now the prince will have the area bordering each side of the area formed by the holy district and the property of the city, extending westward from the western side and eastward from the eastern side, running lengthwise from the western boundary to the eastern boundary and parallel to one of the tribal portions. This land will be his possession in Israel. And My princes will no longer oppress My people, but will give the rest of the land to the house of Israel according to their tribes.”The prince receives his own land on each side of the holy district, so that God’s princes will no longer oppress His people but leave the land to the tribes.
- Ezekiel 46:18 (BSB)“The prince must not take any of the inheritance of the people by evicting them from their property. He is to provide an inheritance for his sons from his own property, so that none of My people will be displaced from his property.’””Later the prince is forbidden to take the people’s inheritance by driving them off their property.
- Ezekiel 22:6 (BSB)“See how every prince of Israel within you has used his power to shed blood.”The LORD had charged that every prince of Israel used his power to shed blood.
- 1 Samuel 8:14 (BSB)“He will take the best of your fields and vineyards and olive groves and give them to his servants.”Samuel had warned that a king would take the best fields and vineyards and give them to his servants.
Theological
What purpose is given for granting the prince a fixed possession bordering the holy district (45:7-8)?
Answer: So rulers stop oppressing the people and leave them land
The prince receives land on both sides of the sacred district and city land (45:7), so that God’s rulers will cease crushing His people and will hand over the remaining territory to Israel tribe by tribe (45:8). The provision is reinforced by the later ban on the prince evicting people from their inheritance (46:18). It answers Ezekiel’s indictment of princes who used their power for bloodshed (22:6) and the long-standing royal abuse Samuel predicted (1 Samuel 8:14). God orders the ruler’s provision to protect His people from the ruler’s greed.
- Ezekiel 45:7-8 (BSB)“Now the prince will have the area bordering each side of the area formed by the holy district and the property of the city, extending westward from the western side and eastward from the eastern side, running lengthwise from the western boundary to the eastern boundary and parallel to one of the tribal portions. This land will be his possession in Israel. And My princes will no longer oppress My people, but will give the rest of the land to the house of Israel according to their tribes.”The prince receives his own land on each side of the holy district, so that God’s princes will no longer oppress His people but leave the land to the tribes.
- Ezekiel 46:18 (BSB)“The prince must not take any of the inheritance of the people by evicting them from their property. He is to provide an inheritance for his sons from his own property, so that none of My people will be displaced from his property.’””Later the prince is forbidden to take the people’s inheritance by driving them off their property.
- Ezekiel 22:6 (BSB)“See how every prince of Israel within you has used his power to shed blood.”The LORD had charged that every prince of Israel used his power to shed blood.
- 1 Samuel 8:14 (BSB)“He will take the best of your fields and vineyards and olive groves and give them to his servants.”Samuel had warned that a king would take the best fields and vineyards and give them to his servants.
General
Who is to supply the offerings for Israel’s festivals, new-moon days, and Sabbaths (45:16-17)?
Answer: The prince, using the contribution the people bring him
Everyone in the land is to bring a contribution to the prince, and in turn it is his duty to supply the offerings for the festivals, the new-moon days, the Sabbaths, and all of Israel’s appointed times, so that atonement is made for the nation (45:16-17). Atonement means the covering of sin so that the people are put right with God. The chapter then describes cleansing the sanctuary at the start of the year, also on behalf of anyone who wanders astray without meaning to (45:18-20), and the keeping of the Passover, at which the prince supplies a sin offering that covers both himself and all the people (45:21-22). The ruler leads the worship, yet he too needs atonement, and he comes in and goes out among the worshipers (46:10). King Hezekiah offers a related precedent, giving from his own goods for the regular offerings and holy days (2 Chronicles 31:3).
- Ezekiel 45:16-17 (BSB)“All the people of the land must participate in this contribution for the prince in Israel. And it shall be the prince’s part to provide the burnt offerings, grain offerings, and drink offerings for the feasts, New Moons, and Sabbaths—for all the appointed feasts of the house of Israel. He will provide the sin offerings, grain offerings, burnt offerings, and peace offerings to make atonement for the house of Israel.”All the people bring their contribution to the prince, and he supplies the offerings for Israel’s feasts and holy days to make atonement for the nation.
- Ezekiel 45:21-22 (BSB)“On the fourteenth day of the first month you are to observe the Passover, a feast of seven days, during which unleavened bread shall be eaten. On that day the prince shall provide a bull as a sin offering for himself and for all the people of the land.”At the Passover the prince supplies a sin offering on his own behalf and for all the people of the land.
- Ezekiel 45:18-20 (BSB)“This is what the Lord GOD says: ‘On the first day of the first month you are to take a young bull without blemish and purify the sanctuary. And the priest is to take some of the blood from the sin offering and put it on the doorposts of the temple, on the four corners of the ledge of the altar, and on the gateposts of the inner court. You must do the same thing on the seventh day of the month for anyone who strays unintentionally or in ignorance. In this way you will make atonement for the temple.”The year begins with cleansing the sanctuary with blood from a sin offering, and the same is done for anyone who strays unintentionally.
- Ezekiel 46:10 (BSB)“When the people enter, the prince shall go in with them, and when they leave, he shall leave.”In the vision the prince does not stand apart but goes in and out with the people when they come to worship.
- 2 Chronicles 31:3 (BSB)“The king contributed from his own possessions for the regular morning and evening burnt offerings and for the burnt offerings on the Sabbaths, New Moons, and appointed feasts, as written in the Law of the LORD.”A related precedent: King Hezekiah gave from his own possessions for the regular burnt offerings and those of the holy days and feasts.
Theological
Upon whom does the duty fall to furnish the offerings for Israel’s festivals, new-moon days, and Sabbaths (45:16-17)?
Answer: The prince, using the contribution the people bring him
The whole people bring their contribution to the prince, and he bears responsibility to furnish the offerings for every festival, new-moon day, Sabbath, and appointed time, so that atonement is made for the whole nation (45:16-17). The chapter goes on to the annual cleansing of the sanctuary, which also covers those who stray in ignorance (45:18-20), and to the Passover, where the prince supplies a sin offering that covers himself together with all the people (45:21-22). The ruler is chief provider of worship, yet he stands among the people as one who himself needs atonement, entering and leaving with them (46:10). A related precedent is Hezekiah’s provision out of his own goods toward the regular and festal offerings (2 Chronicles 31:3).
- Ezekiel 45:16-17 (BSB)“All the people of the land must participate in this contribution for the prince in Israel. And it shall be the prince’s part to provide the burnt offerings, grain offerings, and drink offerings for the feasts, New Moons, and Sabbaths—for all the appointed feasts of the house of Israel. He will provide the sin offerings, grain offerings, burnt offerings, and peace offerings to make atonement for the house of Israel.”All the people bring their contribution to the prince, and he supplies the offerings for Israel’s feasts and holy days to make atonement for the nation.
- Ezekiel 45:21-22 (BSB)“On the fourteenth day of the first month you are to observe the Passover, a feast of seven days, during which unleavened bread shall be eaten. On that day the prince shall provide a bull as a sin offering for himself and for all the people of the land.”At the Passover the prince supplies a sin offering on his own behalf and for all the people of the land.
- Ezekiel 45:18-20 (BSB)“This is what the Lord GOD says: ‘On the first day of the first month you are to take a young bull without blemish and purify the sanctuary. And the priest is to take some of the blood from the sin offering and put it on the doorposts of the temple, on the four corners of the ledge of the altar, and on the gateposts of the inner court. You must do the same thing on the seventh day of the month for anyone who strays unintentionally or in ignorance. In this way you will make atonement for the temple.”The year begins with cleansing the sanctuary with blood from a sin offering, and the same is done for anyone who strays unintentionally.
- Ezekiel 46:10 (BSB)“When the people enter, the prince shall go in with them, and when they leave, he shall leave.”In the vision the prince does not stand apart but goes in and out with the people when they come to worship.
- 2 Chronicles 31:3 (BSB)“The king contributed from his own possessions for the regular morning and evening burnt offerings and for the burnt offerings on the Sabbaths, New Moons, and appointed feasts, as written in the Law of the LORD.”A related precedent: King Hezekiah gave from his own possessions for the regular burnt offerings and those of the holy days and feasts.
General
What command does the Lord GOD give the princes of Israel (45:9)?
Answer: Put an end to cruelty and exploitation and act justly
The Lord GOD tells Israel’s princes that He has had enough: they must give up violence and oppression, practice fairness and justice, and stop driving His people off their land (45:9). This echoes His earlier judgment on Israel’s shepherds, a picture of its leaders, who ruled the flock harshly instead of caring for it (34:2-4). Through Jeremiah God had given Judah’s king the same command to practice justice and rescue the oppressed (Jeremiah 22:3), and Micah summed up what the LORD asks as acting justly, loving mercy, and walking humbly with Him (Micah 6:8). God cares how rulers treat His people.
- Ezekiel 45:9 (BSB)“For this is what the Lord GOD says: ‘Enough, O princes of Israel! Cease your violence and oppression, and do what is just and right. Stop dispossessing My people, declares the Lord GOD.’”The Lord GOD tells Israel’s princes that enough is enough: they must give up violence, act justly, and stop driving His people from their land.
- Ezekiel 34:2-4 (BSB)““Son of man, prophesy against the shepherds of Israel. Prophesy and tell them that this is what the Lord GOD says: ‘Woe to the shepherds of Israel, who only feed themselves! Should not the shepherds feed their flock? You eat the fat, wear the wool, and butcher the fattened sheep, but you do not feed the flock. You have not strengthened the weak, healed the sick, bound up the injured, brought back the strays, or searched for the lost. Instead, you have ruled them with violence and cruelty.”God had condemned Israel’s shepherds, its leaders, for ruling the flock with violence and cruelty instead of caring for it.
- Jeremiah 22:3 (BSB)“This is what the LORD says: Administer justice and righteousness. Rescue the victim of robbery from the hand of his oppressor. Do no wrong or violence to the foreigner, the fatherless, or the widow. Do not shed innocent blood in this place.”Through Jeremiah the LORD had told Judah’s king to practice justice and righteousness and rescue the oppressed.
- Micah 6:8 (BSB)“He has shown you, O man, what is good. And what does the LORD require of you but to act justly, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God?”Micah summarizes what the LORD requires as acting justly, loving mercy, and walking humbly with God.
Theological
What is the Lord GOD’s charge to the rulers of Israel (45:9)?
Answer: Put an end to cruelty and exploitation and act justly
With a cry of enough, the Lord GOD commands Israel’s princes to put away violence and oppression, to practice justice and righteousness, and to cease evicting His people (45:9). The command answers the indictment of the shepherds who ruled with force and harshness (34:2-4), restates the royal duty pressed on Judah’s king through Jeremiah (Jeremiah 22:3), and accords with the summary of covenant obligation in Micah 6:8. Rule in God’s restored order is defined by justice toward His people, whom He calls His own.
- Ezekiel 45:9 (BSB)“For this is what the Lord GOD says: ‘Enough, O princes of Israel! Cease your violence and oppression, and do what is just and right. Stop dispossessing My people, declares the Lord GOD.’”The Lord GOD tells Israel’s princes that enough is enough: they must give up violence, act justly, and stop driving His people from their land.
- Ezekiel 34:2-4 (BSB)““Son of man, prophesy against the shepherds of Israel. Prophesy and tell them that this is what the Lord GOD says: ‘Woe to the shepherds of Israel, who only feed themselves! Should not the shepherds feed their flock? You eat the fat, wear the wool, and butcher the fattened sheep, but you do not feed the flock. You have not strengthened the weak, healed the sick, bound up the injured, brought back the strays, or searched for the lost. Instead, you have ruled them with violence and cruelty.”God had condemned Israel’s shepherds, its leaders, for ruling the flock with violence and cruelty instead of caring for it.
- Jeremiah 22:3 (BSB)“This is what the LORD says: Administer justice and righteousness. Rescue the victim of robbery from the hand of his oppressor. Do no wrong or violence to the foreigner, the fatherless, or the widow. Do not shed innocent blood in this place.”Through Jeremiah the LORD had told Judah’s king to practice justice and righteousness and rescue the oppressed.
- Micah 6:8 (BSB)“He has shown you, O man, what is good. And what does the LORD require of you but to act justly, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God?”Micah summarizes what the LORD requires as acting justly, loving mercy, and walking humbly with God.