A man led Ezekiel to the east gate of the temple, where waters flowed from under the threshold toward the east and south of the altar. The waters continued to flow, and the man measured their depth, which increased from ankle-deep to a profound torrent that could not be crossed. The waters would heal the land, bring life to all living things, and support a great multitude of fish, and fruit trees would grow on its banks. The Lord then described the borders of the land that would be divided among the twelve tribes of Israel, with the new arrivals also receiving a possession among them.
1 And he turned me back to the gate of the house. And behold, waters went out, from under the threshold of the house, toward the east. For the face of the house looked toward the east. But the waters descended on the right side of the temple, toward the south of the altar 2 And he led me out, along the way of the north gate, and he turned me back toward the way outside the exterior gate, the way which looked toward the east. And behold, the waters overflowed on the right side 3 Then the man who held the rope in his hand departed toward the east, and he measured one thousand cubits. And he led me forward, through the water, up to the ankles 4 And again he measured one thousand, and he led me forward, through the water, up to the knees 5 And he measured one thousand, and he led me forward, through the water, up to the waist. And he measured one thousand, into a torrent, through which I was not able to pass. For the waters had risen to become a profound torrent, which was not able to be crossed 6 And he said to me: "Son of man, certainly you have seen." And he led me out, and he turned me back to the bank of the torrent 7 And when I had turned myself around, behold, on the bank of the torrent, there were very many trees on both sides 8 And he said to me: "These waters, which go forth toward the hillocks of sand to the east, and which descend to the plains of the desert, will enter the sea, and will go out, and the waters will be healed 9 And every living soul that moves, wherever the torrent arrives, will live. And there will be more than enough fish, after these waters have arrived there, and they will be healed. And all things will live, where the torrent arrives 10 And fishermen will stand over these waters. There will be the drying of nets, from Engedi even to Eneglaim. There will be very many kinds of fish within it: a very great multitude, like the fish of the great sea 11 But on its shore and in the marshes, they will not be healed. For these will be made into salt pits 12 And above the torrent, on its banks on both sides, every kind of fruit tree will rise up. Their foliage will not fall away, and their fruit will not fail. Every single month they will bring forth first-fruits. For its waters will go forth from the sanctuary. And its fruits will be for food, and its leaves will be for medicine. 13 Thus says the Lord God: "This is the border, by which you shall possess the land, in accord with the twelve tribes of Israel. For Joseph shall have a double portion 14 And you shall possess it, each one in equal manner as his brother. I lifted up my hand over it, so that I might give it to your fathers. And this land shall fall to you as a possession 15 Now this is the border of the land toward the northern region, from the great sea, by the way of Hethlon, arriving at Zedad 16 Hamath, Berothah, Sibraim, which is between the border of Damascus and the confines of Hamath, the house of Ticon, which is beside the border of Hauran 17 and the border will be from the sea, even to the entrance of Enon, at the border of Damascus, and from the north to the north, at the border of Hamath, on the northern side 18 Moreover, the eastern region will be from the midst of Hauran, and from the midst of Damascus, and from the midst of Gilead, and from the midst of the land of Israel, to the Jordan, marking the boundary to the eastern sea. For so shall you measure the eastern region 19 Now the southern region, toward the meridian, will be from Tamar, even to the Waters of Contradiction at Kadesh, and from the Torrent, even to the great sea. And this is the southern region, toward the meridian 20 And the region toward the sea will have its confines from the great sea continuing directly until one arrives at Hamath. This is the region of the sea 21 And you shall divide this land among yourselves according to the tribes of Israel 22 And you shall distribute it by lot as an inheritance, for yourselves and for the new arrival who will be added to you, who will conceive sons in your midst. And they shall be to you as the indigenous among the sons of Israel. They shall divide the possession with you, in the midst of the tribes of Israel 23 And in whatever tribe the new arrival will be, there you shall give a possession to him, says the Lord God.