Ezekiel 47

1Then he brought me back to the entrance of the temple, and I saw water flowing out from under the threshold of the temple toward the east, for the temple faced east. The water was flowing down from under the right side of the temple, south of the altar.

2Then he brought me out by way of the north gate and led me around on the outside to the outer gate that faces east, and I saw water trickling out from the right side.

3As the man went out toward the east with a measuring line in his hand, he measured a thousand cubits and led me through the water. It was ankle-deep.

4He measured another thousand and led me through the water, and it was knee-deep. He measured another thousand and led me through, and the water was up to my waist.

5He measured another thousand, and it was a river I could not cross, because the water had risen. It was deep enough to swim in, a river that could not be crossed.

6He said to me, “Son of man, have you seen this?” Then he led me back to the bank of the river.

7When I returned, I saw a great many trees on the bank of the river, on both sides.

8He said to me, “This water flows out toward the eastern region and goes down into the Arabah. It enters the sea, and when it flows into the sea, the water there will be healed.

9Wherever the river goes, every living creature that swarms will live, and there will be a great many fish, because this water goes there, and the waters are healed. So everything will live wherever the river goes.

10Fishermen will stand beside it. From En-gedi to En-eglaim there will be places for spreading nets. Its fish will be of many kinds, like the fish of the Great Sea, very many.

11But its swamps and marshes will not be healed; they will be left for salt.

12All kinds of trees for food will grow on both banks of the river. Their leaves will not wither, and their fruit will not fail. Every month they will bear fresh fruit, because their water flows from the sanctuary. Their fruit will be for food and their leaves for healing.

13This is what Lord Yahweh says: These are the boundaries by which you are to divide the land as an inheritance among the twelve tribes of Israel, with two portions for Joseph.

14You are to divide it equally, each the same as his brother. I swore with raised hand to give it to your ancestors, and this land will fall to you as your inheritance.

15This is to be the boundary of the land: On the north side it will run from the Great Sea by way of Hethlon, as one goes to Zedad,

16to Hamath, Berothah, and Sibraim, which lies between the border of Damascus and the border of Hamath, as far as Hazer-hatticon, which is on the border of Hauran.

17So the boundary will run from the sea to Hazar-enan, at the border of Damascus, with the border of Hamath to the north. This is the north side.

18On the east side, the boundary will run between Hauran and Damascus, and along the Jordan between Gilead and the land of Israel. You are to measure from the northern border to the eastern sea. This is the east side.

19On the south side, toward the south, it will run from Tamar to the waters of Meribah-kadesh, then along the Wadi to the Great Sea. This is the south side.

20On the west side, the Great Sea will be the boundary as far as a point opposite Lebo-hamath. This is the west side.

21You are to divide this land among yourselves according to the tribes of Israel.

22You are to allot it as an inheritance for yourselves and for the foreigners who reside among you and have had children among you. You are to treat them like native-born Israelites; along with you they are to be allotted an inheritance among the tribes of Israel.

23In whatever tribe the foreigner resides, there you are to give him his inheritance, declares Lord Yahweh.