ezekiel 47 and 48

Read Ezekiel 47 and 48 at Bible Gateway.

The Hebrew paragraph divisions:

Eze 46:17-47:12 {p} The prince’s gift to his servants from his own inheritance/ kitchens/ the river of life
Eze 47:13-23 {p} The borders of Israel, to divide as an inheritance for both tribes + strangers dwelling among you
Eze 48:1-29 {s} The borders of the inheritance of the tribes + holy district + city + prince
Eze 48:30-35 {p} The measurements, gates, and exits for the city, named THE LORD IS THERE

A chiastic structure for the book of Ezekiel:

introduction) Eze 1:1-3:27 {px4+s+px5} Vision of God’s glory/ Ezekiel’s commission as a watchman;

1a) Eze 4:1-14:11, Vision of the desolation of Jerusalem/ present temple full of abominations;

1a.1) Eze 4:1-17 {p+sx3+p} Object lesson of the clay tablet: bread + water by measure in the siege of Jerusalem;
1a.2) Eze 5:1-17 {p+s+p+s+p} Object lesson of the shaved hair: fall by famine, sword, scattered to the winds;
1a.3) Eze 6:1-14 {p+p} Prophecy against the mountains of Israel: idol altars + idolaters destroyed;
1a.4) Eze 7:1-27 (px3} Now the end + they shall know that I am YHVH/ Their idols will not deliver them;

central axis) Eze 8:1-11:25, Vision of the present temple + city, full of abominations/ departure of the glory of God;

2a.2) Eze 12:1-16 {p+p} Object lesson of the luggage: exile for the prince of Jerusalem;
2a.1) Eze 12:17-20 {p} Object lesson of bread + water: so shall Jerusalem eat + drink with quaking;
2a.4) Eze 12:21-28 {p+p} The vision will not be postponed, but the word I speak will come to pass;
2a.3) Eze 13:1-14:11 {s+s+p+s+p+sx3+p} Prophecy against false prophets + idolaters;

1b) Eze 14:12-17:24, Jerusalem’s judgment/ allegories illustrating Israel’s corruption;

1a) Eze 14:12-23 {p+p} Jerusalem’s unfaithfulness, yet the righteous remnant will be delivered;
1b) Eze 15:1-8 {s+p} The allegory of the useless wood of the vine, and its application to Jerusalem;
1c) Eze 16:1-35 {p} YHVH entered into a marriage covenant with Jerusalem, but she was an adulterous wife;
1d) Eze 16:36-37, Jerusalem’s shame in the sight of her lovers, when her nakedness is uncovered;
1e) Eze 16:38-41a, Jerusalem’s judgment that of an adulterous wife;
1f) Eze 16:41b, And I will make you cease playing the harlot, and you shall no longer hire lovers;
1g) Eze 16:42, I will lay to rest My fury + My jealousy toward you/ I will be quiet, and be angry no more;
central axis) Eze 16:43a, Because you did not remember Me but provoked Me;
2g) Eze 16:43b, I will recompense you your deeds;
2f) Eze 16:43c, You shall not commit lewdness in addition to all your abominations;
2e) Eze 16:44-51 {s} Jerusalem more corrupt than Sodom + Samaria, who loathed husband, children;
2d) Eze 16:52-58 {s} Jerusalem’s pride before her wickedness was uncovered;
2c) Eze 16:59-63 {p} Nevertheless YHVH shall remember His covenant/ Jerusalem shall be ashamed of her sins;
2b) Eze 17:1-21 {p+s} The parable of the withered vine, and its application to Jehoiachin;
2a) Eze 17:19-24 {p+p} Jehoiachin’s unfaithfulness, yet the tender cedar established on the mountains of Israel;

1c) Eze 18:1-32 {sx3+p} Prophecy: individual responsibility (fathers + sons) and YHVH’s justice;

1d) Eze 19:1-14 {p+p} Lamentation over the kings in exile among the nations;

central axis) Eze 20:1-24:27 Israel’s harlotries will cease when purified by the fire of YHVH’s wrath;

1a) Eze 20:1-44 {sx5} Israel’s abominations like her fathers’, but her restoration under the rule of YHVH;
1b) Eze 20:45-22:31 {p+ s+px3+s+p+s+px3+s+p+p} Fire of YHVH’s wrath;
central axis) Eze 23:1-49 {s+s+p+sx4+p} The two sisters Samaria + Jerusalem , their harlotries will cease;
2b) Eze 24:1-14 {p+p} Woe to the bloody city/ make the fire hot that her filthiness may be consumed;
2a) Eze 24:15-27 {s+p} The death of Ezekiel’s wife, like the destruction of YHVH’s temple;

2d) Eze 25:1-33:20, Prophecies against + lamentations for the nations;

1a) Eze 25:1-28:24, Prophecies against the nations who lifted themselves up against YHVH + Judah;
central axis) Eze 28:25-26 {p} The house of Israel regathered to dwell in safety when YHVH judges the nations;
2a) Eze 29:1-32:32, Prophecies against Egypt: her heart was lifted up;

2c) Eze 33:1-20 {px4} Prophecy: individual responsibility (righteous + wicked) and YHVH’s judgment;

2b) Eze 33:21-39:29, Restoration of Israel, brought back from captivity: life + breath + one shepherd, king;

1a) Eze 33:21-34:31 [p+s+s+p+p+s+p+p} Flock of Israel made desolate/ restored under one shepherd;
1b) Eze 35:1-15 {s+s+p} Mt. Seir + Edom against Israel, and their desolation;
1c) Eze 36:1-36 {s+p+p+s+s} Israel’s restoration for the sake of YHVH’s holy name;
central axis) Eze 37:1-14 {s+p} Valley of dry bones resurrected with new life;
2c) Eze 37:15-28 {p} Divided kingdom of Israel made one under the rule of one king;
2b) Eze 38:1-39:29 {sx6+p+s+p} Gog + Magog against Israel, and their destruction;
2a) Eze 39:25-29 {p} YHVH to bring back the captivity of Jacob;

2a) Eze 40:1-48:35, Vision of the future temple faithfulness, Israel’s prince, future land;

1a) Eze 40:1-42:20 The measurements + divisions of the temple;
1b) Eze 43:1-9 {s} Arrival of the glory of God from the east;
1c) Eze 43:10-44:31 {sx3+p+p} Temple regulations: the altar + sacrifices, burnt offerings;
central axis) Eze 45:1-8 {p} Measurements of the land’s holy district/ city district/ prince’s district;
2c) Eze 45:9-46:24 {p+sx3+p+s+s} Temple regulations: worship on the set apart days + prince’s gifts;
2b) Eze 47:1-12 {p} Departure of the river of life to the east;
2a) Eze 47:13-48:35 {p+s+p} Measurements + divisions of the land of Israel.

Even though Ezekiel is thought of as a book of prophetic judgments because of Israel’s unfaithfulness, the theme of the book is Israel’s washing, regeneration, and restoration under one king, the glory of God inhabiting her. From His presence flows the river of life, bringing life and healing to the waters and nations of the world. The fire of His wrath burned hot against her, but He was not against her — it was a tool which purified her of her wickedness and uncleanness, and caused her to repent of her sins, so that she might receive her new life, her new heart, and her new spirit. It is a beautiful prophetic picture of our salvation under the kingship of Yeshua our Good Shepherd, God dwelling with us, and through His gift of the Holy Spirit, rivers of living water flowing from us to bring life and healing! ♥