Ezekiel 48:29
This is the land which ye shall divide by lot unto the tribes of Israel for inheritance, and these are their portions, saith the Lord GOD.
Original Language Analysis
Historical Context
This declaration recalls the original land distribution under Joshua (Joshua 13-21), when lots were cast at Shiloh before the Lord (Joshua 18:10). That distribution was never fully realized—many tribes failed to possess their full inheritance (Judges 1), and the northern tribes were lost to Assyrian conquest (722 BCE), followed by Judah's Babylonian exile (586 BCE). Ezekiel's exilic audience had lost everything; this vision promised comprehensive restoration. The phrase "saith the Lord GOD" occurs over 200 times in Ezekiel, emphasizing divine authority and certainty in a context where all human security had collapsed.
Questions for Reflection
- How does the emphasis on divine declaration ('saith the Lord GOD') strengthen faith when circumstances suggest God's promises have failed?
- What does the concept of 'inheritance' rather than 'earned possession' teach about our relationship to God's blessings?
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Analysis & Commentary
This is the land which ye shall divide by lot unto the tribes of Israel for inheritance, and these are their portions, saith the Lord GOD. This solemn conclusion to the land distribution section emphasizes divine authority: ne'um Adonai YHWH (נְאֻם אֲדֹנָי יְהוִה, "declares the Lord GOD"). The phrase tappilu nachalaḥ (תַּפִּילוּ נַחֲלָה, "divide by lot for inheritance") recalls the original conquest distribution under Joshua (Joshua 14-19), where casting lots acknowledged God's sovereign assignment of territories.
The use of nachalah (נַחֲלָה, "inheritance") rather than mere eretz ("land") emphasizes that this is covenant gift, not conquest reward. Israel's possession of Canaan was always predicated on God's promise to the patriarchs, not Israel's merit. This eschatological redistribution demonstrates that exile did not void God's covenant—"the gifts and calling of God are without repentance" (Romans 11:29). What God promises, He performs. The double emphasis on divine speech ("ye shall divide" and "saith the Lord GOD") undergirds the certainty of this restoration.