48:1 Et haec nomina tribuum a finibus aquilonis, juxta viam Hethalon, pergentibus Emath, atrium Enan terminus Damasci ad aquilonem, juxta viam Emath : et erit ei plaga orientalis mare, Dan una.
*H And these are the names of the tribes from the borders of the north, by the way of Hethalon, as they go to Emath, the court of Enan the border of Damascus northward, by the way off Emath. And from the east side thereof to the sea shall be one portion for Dan.
Ver. 1. Dan. This division is very different from that of Josue, and was never literally executed, being rather of a mystical nature. The limits are not marked out, as each lot was equal. C. See C. xlv. 1. and xlvii. 14. H. — By the twelve tribes all the glorified saints are meant. No cities of refuge occur, because in heaven all are perfect, all secure. S. Jer. W.
48:2 Et super terminum Dan, a plaga orientali usque ad plagam maris, Aser una.
And by the border of Dan, from the east side even to the side of the sea, one portion for Aser:
48:3 Et super terminum Aser, a plaga orientali usque ad plagam maris, Nephthali una.
And by the border of Aser, from the east side even to the side of the sea one portion for Nephthali.
48:4 Et super terminum Nephthali, a plaga orientali usque ad plagam maris, Manasse una.
And by the border of Nephthali, from the east side even to the side of the one portion for Manasses.
48:5 Et super terminum Manasse, a plaga orientali usque ad plagam maris, Ephraim una.
And by the border of Manasses, from the east side even to the side of the sea, one portion for Ephraim.
48:6 Et super terminum Ephraim, a plaga orientali usque ad plagam maris, Ruben una.
And by the border of Ephraim, from the east side even to the side of the sea, one portion for Ruben.
48:7 Et super terminum Ruben, a plaga orientali usque ad plagam maris, Juda una.
And by the border of Ruben, from the east side even to the side of the sea, one portion for Juda.
48:8 Et super terminum Juda, a plaga orientali usque ad plagam maris, erunt primitiae quas separabitis, viginti quinque millibus latitudinis et longitudinis, sicuti singulae partes a plaga orientali usque ad plagam maris : et erit sanctuarium in medio ejus.
*H And by the border of Juda, from the east side even to the side of the sea, shall be the firstfruits which you shall set apart, five and twenty thousand in breadth, and length, as every one of the portions from the east side to the side of the sea: and the sanctuary shall be in the midst thereof.
Ver. 8. Apart, for the Levitical tribe and the prince. C. — As the first-born and things which spring first, so also the land consecrated to the Lord is called first-fruits. W. — Thousand cubits (C. xlv. 1.) or 12,500 paces, (H.) allowing two cubits for each. This would not reach to the Jordan. But thrice that space must be reckoned, the king having two of them (C.) on each side of the temple, namely, towards the sea, and on the other side of the Jordan. H.
48:9 Primitiae quas separabitis Domino, longitudo viginti quinque millibus, et latitudo decem millibus.
The firstfruits which you shall set apart for the Lord will be the length of five and twenty thousand, and the breadth of ten thousand.
48:10 Hae autem erunt primitiae sanctuarii sacerdotum, ad aquilonem longitudinis viginti quinque millia, et ad mare latitudinis decem millia, sed et ad orientem latitudinis decem millia, et ad meridiem longitudinis viginti quinque millia : et erit sanctuarium Domini in medio ejus.
And these shall be the firstfruits of the sanctuary for the priests: toward the north five and twenty thousand in length, and toward the sea ten thousand in breadth, and toward the east also ten thousand in breadth, and toward the south five and twenty thousand in length: and the sanctuary of the Lord shall be in the midst thereof.
48:11 Sacerdotibus sanctuarium erit de filiis Sadoc, qui custodierunt caeremonias meas, et non erraverunt cum errarent filii Israel, sicut erraverunt et Levitae.
*H The sanctuary shall be for the priests of the sons of Sadoc, who kept my ceremonies, and went not astray when the children of Israel went astray, as the Levites also went astray.
Ver. 11. Astray, &c. By this we see, that in the worst of times God always preserved some of the priests from going astray; and that the synagogue never fell so universally into idolatry, but that a remnant was still left free from this corruption. Ch.
48:12 Et erunt eis primitiae de primitiis terrae Sanctum sanctorum, juxta terminum Levitarum.
And for them shall be the firstfruits of the firstfruits of the land holy of holies, by the border of the Levites,
48:13 Sed et Levitis similiter, juxta fines sacerdotum, viginti quinque millia longitudinis, et latitudinis decem millia. Omnis longitudo viginti et quinque millium, et latitudo decem millium.
*H And the Levites in like manner shall have by the borders of the priests five and twenty thousand in length, and ten thousand in breadth. All the length shall be five and twenty thousand, and the breadth ten thousand.
Ver. 13. Ten. Their city was only 18,000 cubits in circumference. v. 16.
48:14 Et non venundabunt ex eo, neque mutabunt : neque transferentur primitiae terrae, quia sanctificatae sunt Domino.
And they shall not sell thereof, nor exchange, neither shall the firstfruits of the land be alienated, because they are sanctified to the Lord.
48:15 Quinque millia autem quae supersunt in latitudine per viginti quinque millia, profana erunt urbis in habitaculum et in suburbana : et erit civitas in medio ejus.
*H But the five thousand that remain in the breadth over against the five and twenty thousand, shall be a profane place for the city for dwelling, and for suburbs and the city shall be in the midst thereof.
Ver. 15. Profane, where servants of the priests may reside. C. — On the north and south, (H.) 1000 cubits broad and 25,000 long were left for fields, gardens, &c. C.
48:16 Et hae mensurae ejus : ad plagam septentrionalem, quingenta et quatuor millia : et ad plagam meridianam, quingenta et quatuor millia : et ad plagam orientalem, quingenta et quatuor millia : et ad plagam occidentalem, quingenta et quatuor millia.
*H And these are the measures thereof: on the north side four thousand and five hundred: and on the south side four thousand and five hundred: and on the east side four thousand and five hundred: and on the west side four thousand and five hundred.
Ver. 16. Five. Heb. has, "five five hundred:" but one five is properly omitted in several MSS. and in all the ancient versions. Kennicott. — Four thousand five hundred cubits was the length and breadth of the town and temple, which were 18,000 cubits round, (C.) or so many reeds, which would make 36 miles of 1000 paces each. As the earthly Jerusalem was certainly never so large, the modern rabbins assert that the Messias will build it to that extent; but Catholic doctors understand it mystically of the Church. Thus S. John saw the New Jerusalem or Church triumphant. Apoc. xxi. and xxii. W.
48:17 Erunt autem suburbana civitatis ad aquilonem, ducenta quinquaginta : et ad meridiem, ducenta quinquaginta : et ad orientem, ducenta quinquaginta : et ad mare, ducenta quinquaginta.
*H And the suburbs of the city shall be to the north two hundred and fifty, and the south two hundred and fifty, and to the east two hundred and fifty, and to the sea two hundred and fifty.
Ver. 17. Suburbs, separating the Levites from laics, different from what is mentioned v. 15.
48:18 Quod autem reliquum fuerit in longitudine secundum primitias sanctuarii, decem millia in orientem, et decem millia in occidentem, erunt sicut primitiae sanctuarii : et erunt fruges ejus in panes his qui serviunt civitati.
*H And the residue in length by the firstfruits of the sanctuary, ten thousand toward the east, and ten thousand toward the west, shall be as the firstfruits of the sanctuary: and the fruit thereof shall be for bread to them that serve the city.
Ver. 18. As the, &c. They shall not be alienated, as some might infer from its being said to be profane, which term is used because it was the habitation of laymen.
48:19 Servientes autem civitati, operabuntur ex omnibus tribubus Israel.
*H And they that serve the city, shall serve it out of all the tribes of Israel.
Ver. 19. Israel. People from all parts might serve the Levites. This tribe was not to engage in labourious or sordid employments, being attached to the service of the Lord, and bound to instruct others. But this was more perfectly fulfilled in the Christian Church, where the clergy enjoy great immunities, and are forbidden to exercise any trade or employment which may take them off from their more important spiritual concerns, or render their ministry contemptible. See Ex. xix. 6.
48:20 Omnes primitiae viginti quinque millium, per viginti quinque millia in quadrum, separabuntur in primitias sanctuarii, et in possessionem civitatis.
*H All the firstfruits, of five and twenty thousand, by five and twenty thousand foursquare, shall be set apart for the firstfruits of the sanctuary, and for the possession of the city.
Ver. 20. City, where the Levites and their servants, artisans, &c. dwelt. C.
48:21 Quod autem reliquum fuerit, principis erit ex omni parte primitiarum sanctuarii, et possessionis civitatis e regione viginti quinque millium primitiarum usque ad terminum orientalem : sed et ad mare, e regione viginti quinque millium, usque ad terminum maris, similiter in partibus principis erit : et erunt primitiae sanctuarii, et sanctuarium templi, in medio ejus.
*H And the residue shall be for the prince on every side of the firstfruits of the sanctuary, and of the possession of the city over against the five and twenty thousand of the firstfruits unto the east border: toward the sea also over against the five and twenty thousand, unto the border of the sea, shall likewise be the portion of the prince: and the firstfruits of the sanctuary, and the sanctuary of the temple shall be in the midst thereof.
Ver. 21. Thereof. The domains of the prince touched the limits of Juda on the north, and of Benjamin on the south, as the portion of Levi did also. The prince occupied the east and west square of this division. H.
48:22 De possessione autem Levitarum, et de possessione civitatis in medio partium principis, erit inter terminum Juda et inter terminum Benjamin, et ad principem pertinebit.
And from the possession of the Levites, and from the possession of the city which are in the midst of the prince's portions: what shall be to the border of Juda, and to the border of Benjamin, shall also belong to the prince.
48:23 Et reliquis tribubus, a plaga orientali usque ad plagam occidentalem, Benjamin una.
And for the rest of the tribes: from the east side to the west side, one portion for Benjamin.
48:24 Et contra terminum Benjamin, a plaga orientali usque ad plagam occidentalem, Simeon una.
And over against the border of Benjamin, from the east side to the west side, one portion for Simeon.
48:25 Et super terminum Simeonis, a plaga orientali usque ad plagam occidentalem, Issachar una.
And by the border of Simeon, from the east side to the west side, one portion for Issachar.
48:26 Et super terminum Issachar, a plaga orientali usque ad plagam occidentalem, Zabulon una.
And by the border of Issachar, from the east side to the west side, one portion for Zabulon.
48:27 Et super terminum Zabulon, a plaga orientali usque ad plagam maris, Gad una.
And by the border of Zabulon, from the east side to the side of the sea, one portion for Gad.
48:28 Et super terminum Gad, ad plagam austri in meridie : et erit finis de Thamar usque ad aquas contradictionis Cades : haereditas contra mare magnum.
*H And by the border of Gad, the south side southward: and the border shall be from Thamar, even to the waters of contradiction of Cades, the inheritance over against the great sea.
Ver. 28. Inheritance. Heb. nachal, signifies also "torrent;" and S. Jerom seems to prefer this meaning, as he explains it of the torrent which goes by Rhinocorura, and is commonly supposed to be the southern boundary. C.
48:29 Haec est terra quam mittetis in sortem tribubus Israel, et hae partitiones earum, ait Dominus Deus.
This is the land which you shall divide by lot to the tribes of Israel: and these are the portions of them, saith the Lord God.
48:30 Et hi egressus civitatis : a plaga septentrionali, quingentos et quatuor millia mensurabis.
*H And these are the goings out of the city: on the north side thou shalt measure four thousand and five hundred.
Ver. 30. Out, or gates. H. — There were three on each of the four sides. C.
48:31 Et portae civitatis ex nominibus tribuum Israel : portae tres a septentrione : porta Ruben una, porta Juda una, porta Levi una.
And the gates of the city according to the names of the tribes of Israel, three gates on the north side, the gate of Ruben one, the gate of Juda one, the gate of Levi one.
48:32 Et ad plagam orientalem, quingentos et quatuor millia, et portae tres : porta Joseph una, porta Benjamin una, porta Dan una.
And at the east side, four thousand and five hundred: and three gates, the gate of Joseph one, the gate of Benjamin one, the gate of Dan one.
48:33 Et ad plagam meridianam, quingentos et quatuor millia metieris, et portae tres : porta Simeonis una, porta Issachar una, porta Zabulon una.
And at the south side, thou shalt measure four thousand and five hundred: and three gates, the gate of Simeon one, the gate of Issachar one, the gate of Zabulon one.
48:34 Et ad plagam occidentalem, quingentos et quatuor millia, et portae eorum tres : porta Gad una, porta Aser una, porta Nephthali una.
And at the west side, four thousand and five hundred, and their three gates, the gate of Gad one, the gate of Aser one, the gate of Nephthali one.
48:35 Per circuitum, decem et octo millia : et nomen civitatis ex illa die, Dominus ibidem.
*H Its circumference was eighteen thousand: and the name of the city from that day, The Lord is there.
Ver. 35. The Lord is there. This name is here given to the city; that is, the Church of Christ; because the Lord is always with her till the end of the world. Mat. xxviii. 20. Ch. — He always adorns the Church triumphant; (Apoc. xxii.) but has deserted the synagogue. Mat. xxiii. 38. W. — Jerusalem certainly never bore this name, nor is it requisite that she should, if the prophecy had been literally understood. It would suffice, if she could justly claim such a prerogative. See Is. vii. 14. and 2 K. xii. 25. The Church of Christ possesses God for ever. C.