CHAPTER 47
Then the man brought me back
to
the entrance
of the temple,
and I saw
water
flowing
from under
the threshold
of the temple
toward the east
(for
the temple
faced
east).
The water
was coming down
from under
the south
side
of the temple,
south
of the altar.
Next he brought me out
through
the north
gate
and led me around
the outside
to
the outer
gate
facing
east,
and there I saw
the water
trickling out
from
the south
side.
As the man
went
eastward
with a measuring line
in his hand,
he measured off
a thousand
cubits
and led me through
ankle-deep
water.
Then he measured off
a thousand cubits
and led me through
knee-deep
water
vvv.
Again he measured
a thousand cubits
and led me through
waist-deep
water.
Once again he measured off
a thousand cubits,
but now it was a river
that
I could
not
cross,
because
the water
had risen
and
was deep enough for swimming—
a river
that
could not
be crossed on foot.
And he said
to me,
“This
water
flows out
to
the eastern
region
and goes down
into
the Arabah.
When it empties
into
the sea,
the water there
becomes fresh.
Wherever
the river
flows,
there will be
swarms
of living
creatures
and
a great number of
fish,
because
it
flows
there
and makes the waters fresh;
so wherever
the river
flows,
everything
will flourish.
Fishermen
will stand
by the shore;
from En-gedi
to
En-eglaim
they will
spread
their nets
to catch fish
of many
kinds,
like the fish
of the Great
Sea.
Along
both
banks
of the river,
fruit
trees
of all kinds
will grow.
Their leaves
will not
wither,
and their fruit
will not
fail.
Each month
they will bear fruit,
because
the water
from
the sanctuary
flows to them.
Their fruit
will be used
for food
and their leaves
for healing.
This is what
the Lord
GOD
says:
‘These are
the boundaries
by which
you are to divide the land
as an inheritance
among the twelve
tribes
of Israel;
Joseph
shall receive two portions.
You are to divide
it
equally
among them.
Because
I swore with an uplifted
hand
to give
it to your forefathers,
this
land
will fall to you
as an inheritance.
This
shall be the boundary
of the land:
On the north
side
it will extend from
the Great
Sea
by way
of Hethlon
through Lebo-hamath
to Zedad,
Berothah,
and Sibraim
(which
is between
the border
of Damascus
and
of Hamath),
as far as Hazer-hatticon,
which
is on
the border
of Hauran.
So the border
will run
from
the Sea
to
Hazar-enan,
along the northern
border
of Damascus,
with the territory
of Hamath
to the north.
This will be the northern
boundary.
On the east
side
it will run between
Hauran
and Damascus,
along the Jordan
between
Gilead
and the land
of Israel,
from the northern border
to
the Eastern
Sea
and
as far as Tamar.
This will be the eastern
boundary.
On the south
side
it will run from Tamar
to
the waters
of Meribath-kadesh,
and along the Brook of Egypt
to
the Great
Sea.
This will be the southern
boundary.
And on the west
side,
the Great
Sea
will be the boundary
up to
a point opposite
Lebo-hamath.
This
will be the western
boundary.
You shall allot
it
as an inheritance
for yourselves
and for the foreigners
who dwell
among you
and who
have
children.
You are to treat them
as native-born
Israelites;
along with you,
they shall be allotted
an inheritance
among
the tribes
of Israel.
In whatever
tribe
the foreigner
dwells,
you are to assign
his inheritance
there,
declares
the Lord
GOD.’