Bible Strands
Ezekiel 48:1
“Now these are the names of the tribes: At the northern frontier, Dan will have one portion bordering the road of Hethlon to Lebo-hamath and running on to Hazar-enan on the border of Damascus with Hamath to the north, and extending from the east side to the west side.
Berean Standard Bible
Follow its threads on the canvas →
Study note
Setting — Ezekiel addresses the exiled community by detailing the precise northern territorial allotment for the tribe of Dan within his vision of a restored land.
The words — The phrase מִקְצֵה צָפוֹנָה (miqṣê ṣāp̄ōnâ) translates literally to "from the end of northward," marking the geographic starting point for the division. The term יַד דֶּרֶךְ (yad derekh) means "hand of the road," identifying a specific landmark along that northern border.
The thread — This northern boundary description parallels Ezekiel 47:15, which traces the same frontier from the Great Sea through Hethlon to Lebo-hamath, while the specific allotment of Dan aligns with the tribal inheritance recorded in Joshua 19:40.
Why it lands — The text establishes a fixed, measured geography for each tribe, requiring the reader to accept the passage as a concrete administrative blueprint rather than a metaphorical promise.
Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.
The Hebrew words
King James Version
Now these are the names of the tribes. From the north end to the coast of the way of Hethlon, as one goeth to Hamath, Hazar–enan, the border of Damascus northward, to the coast of Hamath; for these are his sides east and west; a portion for Dan.
Cross-references
- Ezekiel 47:15 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,
- Joshua 19:40 The seventh lot came out for the clans of the tribe of Dan:
- Genesis 30:3 Then she said, “Here is my maidservant Bilhah. Sleep with her, that she may bear children for me, so that through her I too can build a family.”
- Exodus 1:1 These are the names of the sons of Israel who went to Egypt with Jacob, each with his family:
- Numbers 1:5 These are the names of the men who are to assist you: From the tribe of Reuben, Elizur son of Shedeur;
- Numbers 13:4 and these were their names: From the tribe of Reuben, Shammua son of Zaccur;
- Numbers 34:7 Your northern border will run from the Great Sea directly to Mount Hor,
- Judges 18:26 So the Danites went on their way, and Micah turned to go back home, because he saw that they were too strong for him.
- 2 Samuel 24:2 So the king said to Joab the commander of his army, who was with him, “Go now throughout the tribes of Israel from Dan to Beersheba and register the troops, so that I may know their number.”
- 1 Kings 12:28 After seeking advice, the king made two golden calves and said to the people, “Going up to Jerusalem is too much for you. Here, O Israel, are your gods, who brought you up out of the land of Egypt.”