The River Flowing From the Temple
Water trickles from under the temple threshold and, measured at intervals, rises to ankle, knee, waist and then beyond swimming. It freshens the Dead Sea, fills it with fish, and lines the banks with trees fruiting monthly. Foreigners inherit land at our Father's command.
47 1Then he brought me back to the temple entrance, and water was flowing out from under the threshold eastward, for the temple faced east. The water flowed down from below the temple's south side, south of the altar. 2He led me out the north gate and around the outside to the outer gate facing east; water was trickling from the south side.
3As the man went east with a measuring line, he measured about 1,500 feet and led me through ankle-deep water. 4He measured another 1,500 feet and led me through—water knee-deep. He measured another 1,500 feet and led me through—water waist-deep. 5He measured another 1,500 feet—a river I could not cross, for the water had risen, water deep enough to swim in, a river that could not be crossed.
6He said to me, "Son of man, have you seen this?" Then he led me back to the riverbank.
7As I returned, I saw very many trees on both banks of the river. 8He said to me, "This water flows toward the eastern region, down into the Arabah, and enters the sea, the sea of stagnant waters, and the water becomes fresh. 9Wherever the river flows, every swarming living creature will live, and fish will be very many; for this water reaches there, the sea's waters turn fresh, and everything lives wherever the river goes. 10Fishermen will stand beside it; from En-gedi to En-eglaim, a place for spreading nets. Its fish, many kinds, like the fish of the Mediterranean Sea. Exceedingly many. 11But its swamps and marshes will not become fresh; they are left for salt. 12Fruit trees of every kind will grow on both banks. Their leaves won't wither or their fruit fail; each month they will bear fresh fruit, because its water flows from the sanctuary. Their fruit is food, their leaves healing." a a v12 The river from our Father's sanctuary, lined with trees whose leaves bring healing, flows again in John's vision—the river of life from the throne, with the tree whose leaves are for the healing of the nations (Revelation 22:1-2).
The Father Divides the Land
13The Sovereign Father says: "These are the boundaries for dividing the land as an inheritance among the twelve tribes of Israel: Joseph gets two portions. 14Divide it equally; I swore to give it to your fathers, and this land falls to you as your inheritance.
15This is the land's boundary: north, from the Mediterranean Sea through Hethlon to Lebo-hamath, Zedad,
16Berothah, Sibraim (between the borders of Damascus and Hamath), and Hazer-hatticon, on the border of Hauran. 17So the boundary runs from the sea to Hazar-enan, at Damascus's border, with Hamath's border to the north. This is the north side.
18The east side runs between Hauran and Damascus, along the Jordan between Gilead and the land of Israel, to the eastern sea as far as Tamar. This is the east side.
19The south side runs from Tamar to the waters of Meribath-kadesh, then along the Brook of Egypt to the Mediterranean Sea. This is the south side, toward the Negev.
20On the west side, the Mediterranean Sea forms the boundary up to opposite Lebo-hamath. This is the west side.
21So divide this land among yourselves according to the tribes of Israel. 22Allot it as inheritance for yourselves and the foreigners living among you who have had children among you. Treat them as native-born Israelites; with you they receive an inheritance among the tribes of Israel." 23In whatever tribe the foreigner resides, give him his inheritance there, declares the Sovereign Father.
