1
Then he brought me back to 1the door of the temple, and behold, 2water was issuing from below 3the threshold of the temple toward the east (for the temple faced east). The water was flowing down from below the south end of the threshold of the temple, south of 4the altar.
2
Then he brought me out by way of 5the north gate and led me around on the outside to 6the outer gate that faces toward the east; and behold, the water was trickling out on the south side.
3
Going on eastward with a measuring line in his hand, 7the man measured a thousand cubits,a and then led me through the water, and it was ankle-deep.
4
Again he measured a thousand, and led me through the water, and it was knee-deep. Again he measured a thousand, and led me through the water, and it was waist-deep.
5
Again he measured a thousand, and it was a river that I could not pass through, for the water had risen. It was deep enough to swim in, a river that could not be passed through.
6
And he said to me, 8"Son of man, 9have you seen this?"Then he led me back to the bank of the river.
7
As I went back, I saw on the bank of the river 10very many trees on the one side and on the other.
8
And he said to me, "This water flows toward the eastern region and goes down into 11the Arabah, and enters the sea;b when the water flows into 12the sea, the water will become fresh.c
9
And wherever the river goes,d every living creature that swarms will live, and there will be very many fish. For this water goes there, that the waters of the seae may become fresh; so everything will live where the river goes.
10
Fishermen will stand beside the sea. From 13Engedi to 14Eneglaim it will be a place for the spreading of nets. Its fish will be of very many kinds, like the fish of 15the Great Sea.f
11
But its swamps and marshes will not become fresh; they are to be left for salt.
12
And on the banks, 16on both sides of the river, there will grow 17all kinds of trees for food. 18Their leaves will not wither, nor their fruit fail, 19but they will bear fresh fruit every month, because the water for them flows from the sanctuary. Their fruit will be for food, and 20their leaves for healing."
13
Thus says the Lord GOD: "This is the boundaryg by which 21you shall divide the land for inheritance among the twelve tribes of Israel. 22Joseph shall have two portions.
14
And you shall divide equally what 23I swore 24to give to your fathers. 25This land shall fall to you as your inheritance.
15
"This shall be the boundary of the land: On the north side, from 26the Great Sea 27by way of Hethlon to Lebo-hamath, and on to 28Zedad,h
1629Berothah, Sibraim (which lies on the border between 30Damascus and 31Hamath), as far as Hazer-hatticon, which is on the border of Hauran.
17
So the boundary shall run from the sea to 32Hazar-enan, which is on the northern border of Damascus, with the border of Hamath to the north.i This shall be the north side.j
18
"On the east side, the boundary shall run between Hauran and Damascus; along the Jordan between 33Gilead and the land of Israel; to 34the eastern sea and as far as Tamar.k This shall be the east side.
19
"On the south side, it shall run from 35Tamar as far as 36the waters of Meribah-kadesh, from there along 37the Brook of Egyptl to 38the Great Sea. This shall be the south side.
20
"On the west side, the Great Sea shall be the boundary to a point 39opposite Lebo-hamath. This shall be the west side.
2140"So you shall divide this land among you according to the tribes of Israel.
2241You shall allot it as an inheritance for yourselves and 42for the sojourners who reside among you and have had children among you. 43They shall be to you as native-born children of Israel. With you they shall be allotted an inheritance among the tribes of Israel.
23
In whatever tribe the sojourner resides, there you shall assign him his inheritance, declares the Lord GOD.