Chapter 48

And here is a list of the tribal domains. First Dan, with its northern frontier on a line from Hethalon, across the Emath pass, to the Syrian frontier-town of Hazar Enan, and marching with Emath all the way; its eastern limit … the sea.

Next, stretching from Israel’s eastern frontier to the sea, Aser;

next, in like manner, Nephthali;

next, in like manner, Manasses;

next, in like manner, Ephraim;

next, in like manner, Ruben;

next, in like manner, Juda.

Next, in like manner, comes the strip of dedicated land you are to set apart; in breadth, twenty-five thousand cubits, in length, stretching from Israel’s frontier to the sea like the rest; and in the heart of it, the sanctuary.

The Lord’s own domain will be twenty-five thousand cubits by ten thousand;

and in this holy plot, measuring twenty-five thousand cubits north and south, ten thousand cubits east and west, the priests are to dwell, with the sanctuary in their midst.

Priests, I say, of Sadoc’s line, that held fast by my observances and never went a-straying with strayed Israel, as the other Levites did;

first-fruit of the first-fruits their domain shall be, the domain of the Levites marching with it.

This neighbouring strip will be of the same size, twenty-five thousand cubits by ten thousand;

sell their land they may not, nor exchange it; the consecrated ground is unalienable.

The remaining strip of five thousand cubits’ breadth shall be for city’s buildings and city’s lands; the city itself standing in the middle;

north, south, east and west it shall measure four thousand five hundred cubits;

north, south, east and west it shall have purlieus two hundred and fifty cubits deep.

In length, it will fall short of the Lord’s domain by ten thousand cubits on the east, and as much on the west; but this remaining space will be city lands, like the sanctuary lands, growing food for the needs of labouring men in the city;

these shall have the right to cultivate it, come they from what tribe they will.

All the length and breadth of this square of territory, twenty-five thousand cubits either way, shall be sanctuary enclosure and city lands;

beyond this square of sanctuary and city, all that is left of the dedicated domain, eastwards to the Jordan and westwards to the sea, shall belong to the prince; the hallowed plot that surrounds the temple shall divide his lands in two.

Royal lands and Levite lands shall march with Juda, royal lands and city lands with Benjamin.

For the rest of the tribes, Benjamin comes first, stretching from Israel’s frontier on the east to the sea on the west;

next, in like manner, Simeon;

next, in like manner, Issachar;

next, in like manner, Zabulon;

next, in like manner, Gad.

Gad shall be the southernmost, facing the noon-day sun, with a frontier running from Thamar to the Waters of Challenge at Cades, and along the Brook3 to the Great Sea.

Such shall be the territory allotted to Israel’s tribes, the Lord God says, and thus allotted they shall be.

And these are the city’s limits; on the north side, measure four thousand five hundred cubits;

and here (for all must be named after Israel’s tribes) are three gates named after Ruben, Juda and Levi.

As many on the east, and here are gates named after Joseph, Benjamin, and Dan.

As many on the south, and here are gates named after Simeon, Issachar and Zabulon.

As many on the west, and here are gates named after Gad, Aser and Nephthali.

The whole circumference is one of eighteen thousand cubits. The lord is there; such is the name by which the city will be known ever after.