The river that flows from the Temple
1 ① The man brought me back to the entrance of the Temple and I saw water coming out from the threshold of the Temple and flowing eastwards. The Temple faced the east and the water flowed from the south side of the Temple, from the south side of the altar. 2He then brought me out through the north gate and led me around the outside to the outer gate facing the east and there I saw the stream coming from the south side.
3The man had a measuring cord in his hand. As he went towards the east he measured off a thousand cubits and led me across the water which was up to my ankles. 4He measured off another thousand cubits and made me cross the water which came to my knees. He measured off another thousand cubits and we crossed the water which was up to my waist. 5When he had again measured a thousand cubits, I could not cross the torrent for it had swollen to a depth which was impossible to cross without swimming.
6The man then said to me, “Son of man, did you see?” He led me on further and then brought me back to the bank of the river. 7There I saw a number of trees on both sides of the river. 8He said to me, “This water goes to the east, down to the Arabah, and when it flows into the sea of foul-smelling water, the water will become wholesome. 9Wherever the river flows, swarms of creatures will live in it; fish will be plentiful and the sea water will become fresh. Wherever it flows, life will abound. 10Fishermen will stand on the banks and spread nets from En Gedi to En Eglaim. Fish of many kinds will be found there, like the fish of the open sea and very plentiful. 11The swamps and the marshes will not become wholesome; they will be used as saltbeds.
12Near the river on both banks there will be all kinds of fruit trees with foliage that will not wither and fruit that will never fail; each month they will bear a fresh crop because the water comes from the Temple. The fruit will be good to eat and the leaves will be used for healing.
The frontiers of the land
13Yahweh says this: Here are the boundaries of the territories to be allotted between the twelve tribes of Israel, with two portions for Joseph. 14You must share it out equally between you, since I swore to your ancestors that I would give them this land which now falls to you as your inheritance. 15Here are the frontiers of the land. On the north, from the Great Sea by the way of Hethlon to the Pass of Hamath and on to Zedad, 16Berothah, Sibraim lying between the territories of Damascus and Hamath – and to Hazer-hatticon on the borders of Hauran. 17The frontier will extend from the sea to Hazar-enon, marching with Damascus and Hamath on the north; this is the northern frontier. 18On the east the Jordan will serve as frontier between Hauran and Damascus, between Gilead and the land of Israel, down to the Eastern Sea as far as Tamar; this is for the eastern frontier. 19On the south, from Tamar southward to the waters of Meribah in Kadesh, to the torrent of Egypt and the Great Sea; this is for the southern frontier. 20On the west the Great Sea will serve as frontier straight up towards Hamath; so much for the western frontier. 21You are to share out this land among yourselves, between the tribes of Israel. 22You are to divide it into inheritances for yourselves and the aliens settled among you who have had children among you, since you are to treat them as citizens of Israel. They are to draw lots with you for their inheritance, with the tribes of Israel. 23You must give the alien his inheritance in the tribe in which he is living – it is Yahweh who speaks.
- Ezk 47,1 Note the vision of the river which makes the land fruitful and starts from the place where God is present. The invisible God manifests himself in the life which he gives to people. The Holy Spirit, imaged in the stream of living water (see Jn 7:38), makes all the seeds of life blossom again in the world. The stream flows to the Salt Sea or the Dead Sea. (Its waters are so salty that there are no fish. No plants can grow on the shores.) This serves as an image of the healing that God brings to a world, sterile because of its sins. The fruit will be good to eat and the leaves will be used for healing (12).
