Tuesday - Ezekiel 45 - The Land & It's Prince

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URING the days of General Joshua, the land of Israel was divided among the tribes of Israel. Obviously, those land assignments have long since been abandoned. But somehow, it appears that they will be redrawn during the millennial reign of Christ. When these assignments are made again, (Ezekiel 45:1 teaches us) a sizable section will be set aside for God. It appears that the section will be approximately 20 miles wide and 50 miles long. The sanctuary (or temple) complex, which we have been studying now from the past 5 chapters, will stand within this holy province (Ezekiel 45:2). And, this area will be the home of the Levites (Ezekiel 45:4-5). Hence, the tribe of Levi (who did not have an area of land to possess in the Old Testament) will be given a possession during the kingdom of Christ. Also, a section of land half the size of that holy province will be drawn out beside it, and it will be zoned as a metropolitan area in which any Jew can live regardless of their tribal affiliation (Ezekiel 45:6). Finally, the land surrounding the city and the holy province will belong to an unspecified "prince" who is mentioned in Ezekiel 44:3, 45:7, 16, 17, 22, 46:2, 4, 8, 10, 12, 16-18 & 48:21-22. Some think this prince is the Messiah Himself. Others think that these verses as well as Ezekiel 34:24 & 37:25 speak literally of the Psalmist, David.