« | Ezekiel 48 |
1 "Here is the list of the tribes of Israel and the territory each is to receive. The territory of Dan is in the extreme north. Its boundary line follows the Hethlon road to Lebo-hamath and then runs on to Hazar-enan on the border of Damascus, with Hamath to the north. Dan's territory extends all the way across the land of Israel from east to west.
2 "Asher's territory lies south of Dan's and also extends from east to west.
3 Naphtali's land lies south of Asher's, also extending from east to west.
4 Then comes Manasseh south of Naphtali, and its territory also extends from east to west.
5 South of Manasseh is Ephraim,
6 and then Reuben,
7 and then Judah, all of whose boundaries extend from east to west.
8 "South of Judah is the land set aside for a special purpose. It will be 8-1/3 miles wide and will extend as far east and west as the tribal territories, with the Temple at the center.
9 "The area set aside for the LORD's Temple will be 8-1/3 miles long and 6-2/3 miles wide.
10 For the priests there will be a strip of land measuring 8-1/3 miles long by 3-1/3 miles wide, with the LORD's Temple at the center.
11 This area is set aside for the ordained priests, the descendants of Zadok who served me faithfully and did not go astray with the people of Israel and the rest of the Levites.
12 It will be their special portion when the land is distributed, the most sacred land of all. Next to the priests' territory will lie the land where the other Levites will live.
13 "The land allotted to the Levites will be the same size and shape as that belonging to the priests-- 8-1/3 miles long and 3-1/3 miles wide. Together these portions of land will measure 8-1/3 miles long by 6-2/3 miles wide.
14 None of this special land may ever be sold or traded or used by others, for it belongs to the LORD; it is set apart as holy.
15 "An additional strip of land 8-1/3 miles long by 1-2/3 miles wide, south of the sacred Temple area, will be allotted for public use-- homes, pasturelands, and common lands, with a city at the center.
16 The city will measure 1-1/2 miles on each side-- north, south, east, and west.
17 Open lands will surround the city for 150 yards in every direction.
18 Outside the city there will be a farming area that stretches 3-1/3 miles to the east and 3-1/3 miles to the west along the border of the sacred area. This farmland will produce food for the people working in the city.
19 Those who come from the various tribes to work in the city may farm it.
20 This entire area-- including the sacred lands and the city-- is a square that measures 8-1/3 miles on each side.
21 "The areas that remain, to the east and to the west of the sacred lands and the city, will belong to the prince. Each of these areas will be 8-1/3 miles wide, extending in opposite directions to the eastern and western borders of Israel, with the sacred lands and the sanctuary of the Temple in the center.
22 So the prince's land will include everything between the territories allotted to Judah and Benjamin, except for the areas set aside for the sacred lands and the city.
23 "These are the territories allotted to the rest of the tribes. Benjamin's territory lies just south of the prince's lands, and it extends across the entire land of Israel from east to west.
24 South of Benjamin's territory lies that of Simeon, also extending across the land from east to west.
25 Next is the territory of Issachar with the same eastern and western boundaries.
26 "Then comes the territory of Zebulun, which also extends across the land from east to west.
27 The territory of Gad is just south of Zebulun with the same borders to the east and west.
28 The southern border of Gad runs from Tamar to the waters of Meribah at Kadesh and then follows the Brook of Egypt to the Mediterranean.
29 "These are the allotments that will be set aside for each tribe's exclusive possession. I, the Sovereign LORD, have spoken!
30 "These will be the exits to the city: On the north wall, which is 1-1/2 miles long,
31 there will be three gates, each one named after a tribe of Israel. The first will be named for Reuben, the second for Judah, and the third for Levi.
32 On the east wall, also 1-1/2 miles long, the gates will be named for Joseph, Benjamin, and Dan.
33 The south wall, also 1-1/2 miles long, will have gates named for Simeon, Issachar, and Zebulun.
34 And on the west wall, also 1-1/2 miles long, the gates will be named for Gad, Asher, and Naphtali.
35 "The distance around the entire city will be 6 miles. And from that day the name of the city will be 'The LORD Is There.' "
The New Living Translation (NLT)
The New Living Translation (NLT) is a modern English translation of the Bible that aims to make the Scriptures accessible and engaging for contemporary readers. First published in 1996 by Tyndale House Publishers, the NLT was conceived as an effort to create a translation that combines both accuracy and readability. Unlike many other translations that focus on a word-for-word rendering of the original texts, the NLT employs a thought-for-thought translation philosophy, also known as dynamic equivalence. This approach prioritizes conveying the meaning and message of the original texts in a way that is natural and understandable in modern English.
One of the defining features of the NLT is its commitment to clarity and simplicity. The translators, a team of over 90 evangelical scholars, aimed to create a text that would be approachable for a wide audience, including those who may find traditional translations challenging to read. The NLT’s language is contemporary and conversational, making it particularly effective for public reading, teaching, and personal study. This emphasis on readability helps ensure that the profound messages of the Bible are easily grasped and retained by readers from various backgrounds and levels of biblical knowledge.
The NLT also incorporates a rich array of study aids designed to enhance the reader’s understanding of the biblical text. These include book introductions, footnotes, cross-references, and explanatory notes that provide historical, cultural, and theological context. These features are particularly useful for readers who seek a deeper comprehension of the Scriptures and their application to modern life. The translation also includes clear and concise headings that help guide readers through the narrative and thematic structure of each book, making it easier to follow and comprehend the overall message.
Despite its many strengths, the New Living Translation has faced some criticism, particularly from those who favor more literal translations. Critics argue that the dynamic equivalence approach, while making the text more readable, can sometimes result in a loss of the precise nuances and literary qualities of the original languages. Some scholars believe that certain theological concepts might be oversimplified in the process of making the text more accessible. Nevertheless, the NLT remains one of the most popular and widely used translations today, valued for its readability, clarity, and ability to convey the timeless truths of the Bible in a way that resonates with contemporary readers.