Ezekiel 47:21
So shall ye divide this land unto you according to the tribes of Israel.
Original Language Analysis
אֶת
H853
אֶת
Strong's:
H853
Word #:
2 of 7
properly, self (but generally used to point out more definitely the object of a verb or preposition, even or namely)
Historical Context
Original land division (Joshua 13-21) allocated territories tribally. After exile, tribal identities blurred (though Judah, Benjamin, Levi remained distinct). Ezekiel's vision restores full tribal structure, demonstrating millennial kingdom's return to covenantal order. Whether literal or symbolic, the vision affirms God's faithfulness to twelve-tribe structure and patriarchal promises. Israel's identity, though challenged through history, ultimately endures.
Questions for Reflection
- Why does God maintain twelve-tribe structure throughout history and into millennium?
- What does preserved tribal identity teach about God's covenant faithfulness?
- How does tribal diversity in unity relate to church diversity in unity?
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Analysis & Commentary
So shall ye divide this land unto you according to the tribes of Israel—After boundaries established (vv. 13-20), division instructions: וְחִלַּקְתֶּם אֶת־הָאָרֶץ הַזֹּאת לָכֶם לְשִׁבְטֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל (wĕḥillaqqtem ʾet-hāʾāreṣ hazzōʾt lākhem lĕshivṭê yiśrāʾēl, 'and you shall divide this land to yourselves according to tribes of Israel').
Land division by tribe maintains patriarchal structure—tribal identity preserved even in millennial kingdom. This demonstrates continuity: Israel remains Israel, tribes remain distinct. God's covenant with Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, and twelve sons endures eternally. Tribal distinctiveness doesn't create division but ordered diversity—unity in variety. New Testament parallel: church has many members with different gifts (1 Corinthians 12), united in Christ while maintaining distinct functions.