The prophets
Distribution of the Land and Holy Offerings
God gives detailed instructions through Ezekiel on how the land is to be distributed: a holy district is set apart for the priests and Levites, a portion for the city, and land on both sides for the prince. The people are to use correct weights and measures, and the prince shall receive gifts of wheat, barley, oil, and livestock. The chapter concludes with regulations for cleansing the sanctuary, celebrating Passover, and the festival in the seventh month, including offering gifts that the prince must present to make atonement for the house of Israel.
Ezekiel 45,1-25
1When you divide the land by lot as an inheritance, you shall set apart a portion for the LORD as a holy district out of the land: twenty-five thousand long and ten thousand wide.[^1]
[^1]: The Hebrew does not state the unit of measure; cubits are commonly assumed. Some ancient witnesses read twenty thousand for the width.
וּבְהַפִּֽילְכֶ֨ם אֶת־הָאָ֜רֶץ בְּנַחֲלָ֗ה תָּרִימוּ֩ תְרוּמָ֨ה לַיהוָ֥ה ׀ קֹדֶשׁ֮ מִן־הָאָרֶץ֒ אֹ֗רֶךְ חֲמִשָּׁ֨ה וְעֶשְׂרִ֥ים אֶ֙לֶף֙ אֹ֔רֶךְ וְרֹ֖חַב עֲשָׂ֣רָה אָ֑לֶף קֹדֶשׁ־ה֥וּא בְכָל־גְּבוּלָ֖הּ סָבִֽיב׃
2Of this, a square of five hundred by five hundred shall be for the sanctuary, with fifty cubits of open land around it.
יִהְיֶ֤ה מִזֶּה֙ אֶל־הַקֹּ֔דֶשׁ חֲמֵ֥שׁ מֵא֛וֹת בַּחֲמֵ֥שׁ מֵא֖וֹת מְרֻבָּ֣ע סָבִ֑יב וַחֲמִשִּׁ֣ים אַמָּ֔ה מִגְרָ֥שׁ ל֖וֹ סָבִֽיב׃
3From this district you shall measure off a section twenty-five thousand long and ten thousand wide, and in it shall stand the sanctuary, the Most Holy Place.
וּמִן־הַמִּדָּ֤ה הַזֹּאת֙ תָּמ֔וֹד אֹ֗רֶךְ *חמש **חֲמִשָּׁ֤ה וְעֶשְׂרִים֙ אֶ֔לֶף וְרֹ֖חַב עֲשֶׂ֣רֶת אֲלָפִ֑ים וּבֽוֹ־יִהְיֶ֥ה הַמִּקְדָּ֖שׁ קֹ֥דֶשׁ קָדָשִֽׁים׃
4It is the holy portion of the land; it shall belong to the priests who minister in the sanctuary, who draw near to serve the LORD. It shall be the place for their houses and a holy place for the sanctuary.
קֹ֣דֶשׁ מִן־הָאָ֜רֶץ ה֗וּא לַכֹּ֨הֲנִ֜ים מְשָׁרְתֵ֤י הַמִּקְדָּשׁ֙ יִֽהְיֶ֔ה הַקְּרֵבִ֖ים לְשָׁרֵ֣ת אֶת־יְהוָ֑ה וְהָיָ֨ה לָהֶ֤ם מָקוֹם֙ לְבָ֣תִּ֔ים וּמִקְדָּ֖שׁ לַמִּקְדָּֽשׁ׃
5Another section, twenty-five thousand long and ten thousand wide, shall belong to the Levites who minister in the temple, as their possession, with twenty chambers.
וַחֲמִשָּׁ֨ה וְעֶשְׂרִ֥ים אֶ֙לֶף֙ אֹ֔רֶךְ וַעֲשֶׂ֥רֶת אֲלָפִ֖ים רֹ֑חַב *יהיה **וְֽהָיָ֡ה לַלְוִיִּם֩ מְשָׁרְתֵ֨י הַבַּ֧יִת לָהֶ֛ם לַאֲחֻזָּ֖ה עֶשְׂרִ֥ים לְשָׁכֹֽת׃
6As the possession of the city you shall assign an area five thousand wide and twenty-five thousand long, alongside the holy district. It shall belong to the whole house of Israel.
וַאֲחֻזַּ֨ת הָעִ֜יר תִּתְּנ֗וּ חֲמֵ֤שֶׁת אֲלָפִים֙ רֹ֔חַב וְאֹ֗רֶךְ חֲמִשָּׁ֤ה וְעֶשְׂרִים֙ אֶ֔לֶף לְעֻמַּ֖ת תְּרוּמַ֣ת הַקֹּ֑דֶשׁ לְכָל־בֵּ֥ית יִשְׂרָאֵ֖ל יִהְיֶֽה׃
7The prince shall have the land on both sides of the holy district and the city's possession, bordering the holy district and the city's possession, extending westward on the west side and eastward on the east side, its length running alongside one of the tribal portions, from the western boundary to the eastern boundary.
וְלַנָּשִׂ֡יא מִזֶּ֣ה וּמִזֶּה֩ לִתְרוּמַ֨ת הַקֹּ֜דֶשׁ וְלַאֲחֻזַּ֣ת הָעִ֗יר אֶל־פְּנֵ֤י תְרֽוּמַת־הַקֹּ֙דֶשׁ֙ וְאֶל־פְּנֵי֙ אֲחֻזַּ֣ת הָעִ֔יר מִפְּאַת־יָ֣ם יָ֔מָּה וּמִפְּאַת־קֵ֖דְמָה קָדִ֑ימָה וְאֹ֗רֶךְ לְעֻמּוֹת֙ אַחַ֣ד הַחֲלָקִ֔ים מִגְּב֥וּל יָ֖ם אֶל־גְּב֥וּל קָדִֽימָה׃
8This land shall be his possession in Israel. My princes shall no longer oppress my people, but shall give the house of Israel the land according to their tribes.
לָאָ֛רֶץ יִֽהְיֶה־לּ֥וֹ לַֽאֲחֻזָּ֖ה בְּיִשְׂרָאֵ֑ל וְלֹא־יוֹנ֨וּ ע֤וֹד נְשִׂיאַי֙ אֶת־עַמִּ֔י וְהָאָ֛רֶץ יִתְּנ֥וּ לְבֵֽית־יִשְׂרָאֵ֖ל לְשִׁבְטֵיהֶֽם׃ ס
9Thus says the Lord GOD: Enough, you princes of Israel! Put away violence and plundering, and do what is just and right. Stop dispossessing my people, declares the Lord GOD.
כֹּֽה־אָמַ֞ר אֲדֹנָ֣י יְהוִ֗ה רַב־לָכֶם֙ נְשִׂיאֵ֣י יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל חָמָ֤ס וָשֹׁד֙ הָסִ֔ירוּ וּמִשְׁפָּ֥ט וּצְדָקָ֖ה עֲשׂ֑וּ הָרִ֤ימוּ גְרֻשֹֽׁתֵיכֶם֙ מֵעַ֣ל עַמִּ֔י נְאֻ֖ם אֲדֹנָ֥י יְהוִֽה׃
10You shall have honest scales, an honest ephah, and an honest bath.
מֹֽאזְנֵי־צֶ֧דֶק וְאֵֽיפַת־צֶ֛דֶק וּבַת־צֶ֖דֶק יְהִ֥י לָכֶֽם׃
11The ephah and the bath shall be of the same measure: the bath a tenth of a homer, and the ephah a tenth of a homer. The homer shall be the standard for both.
הָאֵיפָ֣ה וְהַבַּ֗ת תֹּ֤כֶן אֶחָד֙ יִֽהְיֶ֔ה לָשֵׂ֕את מַעְשַׂ֥ר הַחֹ֖מֶר הַבָּ֑ת וַעֲשִׂירִ֤ת הַחֹ֙מֶר֙ הָֽאֵיפָ֔ה אֶל־הַחֹ֖מֶר יִהְיֶ֥ה מַתְכֻּנְתּֽוֹ׃
12The shekel shall be twenty gerahs; twenty shekels plus twenty-five shekels plus fifteen shekels shall be your mina.
וְהַשֶּׁ֖קֶל עֶשְׂרִ֣ים גֵּרָ֑ה עֶשְׂרִ֨ים שְׁקָלִ֜ים חֲמִשָּׁ֧ה וְעֶשְׂרִ֣ים שְׁקָלִ֗ים עֲשָׂרָ֤ה וַחֲמִשָּׁה֙ שֶׁ֔קֶל הַמָּנֶ֖ה יִֽהְיֶ֥ה לָכֶֽם׃
13This is the offering you shall present: a sixth of an ephah from each homer of wheat, and a sixth of an ephah from each homer of barley.
זֹ֥את הַתְּרוּמָ֖ה אֲשֶׁ֣ר תָּרִ֑ימוּ שִׁשִּׁ֤ית הָֽאֵיפָה֙ מֵחֹ֣מֶר הַֽחִטִּ֔ים וְשִׁשִּׁיתֶם֙ הָֽאֵיפָ֔ה מֵחֹ֖מֶר הַשְּׂעֹרִֽים׃
14The required portion of oil, measured by the bath: a tenth of a bath from each kor—a kor is ten baths, that is, a homer, for ten baths make a homer.
וְחֹ֨ק הַשֶּׁ֜מֶן הַבַּ֣ת הַשֶּׁ֗מֶן מַעְשַׂ֤ר הַבַּת֙ מִן־הַכֹּ֔ר עֲשֶׂ֥רֶת הַבַּתִּ֖ים חֹ֑מֶר כִּֽי־עֲשֶׂ֥רֶת הַבַּתִּ֖ים חֹֽמֶר׃
15And one sheep from every flock of two hundred from the well-watered pastures of Israel, for a grain offering, a burnt offering, and peace offerings, to make atonement for them, declares the Lord GOD.
וְשֶׂה־אַחַ֨ת מִן־הַצֹּ֤אן מִן־הַמָּאתַ֙יִם֙ מִמַּשְׁקֵ֣ה יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל לְמִנְחָ֖ה וּלְעוֹלָ֣ה וְלִשְׁלָמִ֑ים לְכַפֵּ֣ר עֲלֵיהֶ֔ם נְאֻ֖ם אֲדֹנָ֥י יְהוִֽה׃
16All the people of the land shall be bound to bring this offering to the prince in Israel.
כֹּ֚ל הָעָ֣ם הָאָ֔רֶץ יִהְי֖וּ אֶל־הַתְּרוּמָ֣ה הַזֹּ֑את לַנָּשִׂ֖יא בְּיִשְׂרָאֵֽל׃
17It shall be the prince's duty to provide the burnt offerings, the grain offering, and the drink offering at the festivals, the new moons, and the Sabbaths—at all the appointed feasts of the house of Israel. He shall provide the sin offering, the grain offering, the burnt offering, and the peace offerings, to make atonement for the house of Israel.
וְעַֽל־הַנָּשִׂ֣יא יִהְיֶ֗ה הָעוֹל֣וֹת וְהַמִּנְחָה֮ וְהַנֵּסֶךְ֒ בַּחַגִּ֤ים וּבֶחֳדָשִׁים֙ וּבַשַּׁבָּת֔וֹת בְּכָֽל־מוֹעֲדֵ֖י בֵּ֣ית יִשְׂרָאֵ֑ל הֽוּא־יַעֲשֶׂ֞ה אֶת־הַחַטָּ֣את וְאֶת־הַמִּנְחָ֗ה וְאֶת־הָֽעוֹלָה֙ וְאֶת־הַשְּׁלָמִ֔ים לְכַפֵּ֖ר בְּעַ֥ד בֵּֽית־יִשְׂרָאֵֽל׃ ס
18Thus says the Lord GOD: In the first month, on the first day of the month, you shall take a young bull without blemish and purify the sanctuary.
כֹּה־אָמַר֮ אֲדֹנָ֣י יְהוִה֒ בָּֽרִאשׁוֹן֙ בְּאֶחָ֣ד לַחֹ֔דֶשׁ תִּקַּ֥ח פַּר־בֶּן־בָּקָ֖ר תָּמִ֑ים וְחִטֵּאתָ֖ אֶת־הַמִּקְדָּֽשׁ׃
19The priest shall take some of the blood of the sin offering and put it on the doorposts of the temple, on the four corners of the ledge of the altar, and on the posts of the gate of the inner court.
וְלָקַ֨ח הַכֹּהֵ֜ן מִדַּ֣ם הַחַטָּ֗את וְנָתַן֙ אֶל־מְזוּזַ֣ת הַבַּ֔יִת וְאֶל־אַרְבַּ֛ע פִּנּ֥וֹת הָעֲזָרָ֖ה לַמִּזְבֵּ֑חַ וְעַ֨ל־מְזוּזַ֔ת שַׁ֖עַר הֶחָצֵ֥ר הַפְּנִימִֽית׃
20You shall do the same on the seventh day of the month for anyone who has sinned unintentionally or in ignorance. So you shall make atonement for the temple.
וְכֵ֤ן תַּֽעֲשֶׂה֙ בְּשִׁבְעָ֣ה בַחֹ֔דֶשׁ מֵאִ֥ישׁ שֹׁגֶ֖ה וּמִפֶּ֑תִי וְכִפַּרְתֶּ֖ם אֶת־הַבָּֽיִת׃
21In the first month, on the fourteenth day of the month, you shall observe the Passover, a feast of seven days, during which unleavened bread shall be eaten.
בָּ֠רִאשׁוֹן בְּאַרְבָּעָ֨ה עָשָׂ֥ר יוֹם֙ לַחֹ֔דֶשׁ יִהְיֶ֥ה לָכֶ֖ם הַפָּ֑סַח חָ֕ג שְׁבֻע֣וֹת יָמִ֔ים מַצּ֖וֹת יֵאָכֵֽל׃
22On that day the prince shall provide a bull as a sin offering for himself and for all the people of the land.
וְעָשָׂ֤ה הַנָּשִׂיא֙ בַּיּ֣וֹם הַה֔וּא בַּעֲד֕וֹ וּבְעַ֖ד כָּל־עַ֣ם הָאָ֑רֶץ פַּ֖ר חַטָּֽאת׃
23During the seven days of the feast he shall provide as a burnt offering to the LORD seven bulls and seven rams without blemish, daily for the seven days, and a male goat each day as a sin offering.
וְשִׁבְעַ֨ת יְמֵֽי־הֶחָ֜ג יַעֲשֶׂ֧ה עוֹלָ֣ה לַֽיהוָ֗ה שִׁבְעַ֣ת פָּ֠רִים וְשִׁבְעַ֨ת אֵילִ֤ים תְּמִימִם֙ לַיּ֔וֹם שִׁבְעַ֖ת הַיָּמִ֑ים וְחַטָּ֕את שְׂעִ֥יר עִזִּ֖ים לַיּֽוֹם׃
24As a grain offering he shall provide an ephah with each bull and an ephah with each ram, along with a hin of oil for every ephah.
וּמִנְחָ֗ה אֵיפָ֥ה לַפָּ֛ר וְאֵיפָ֥ה לָאַ֖יִל יַֽעֲשֶׂ֑ה וְשֶׁ֖מֶן הִ֥ין לָאֵיפָֽה׃
25In the seventh month, on the fifteenth day of the month, at the feast, he shall provide the same for seven days: the same sin offering, burnt offering, grain offering, and oil.
בַּשְּׁבִיעִ֡י בַּחֲמִשָּׁה֩ עָשָׂ֨ר י֤וֹם לַחֹ֙דֶשׁ֙ בֶּחָ֔ג יַעֲשֶׂ֥ה כָאֵ֖לֶּה שִׁבְעַ֣ת הַיָּמִ֑ים כַּֽחַטָּאת֙ כָּעֹלָ֔ה וְכַמִּנְחָ֖ה וְכַשָּֽׁמֶן׃ ס