How are the tribal portions arranged around the sanctuary and city?

Atlas of Saints · Chapter summary

Northern and southern tribal portions surround reserved land, a measured city and princely residue.

Chapter breakdown

The tribal portions extend from east to sea, beginning in the north by Hethalon toward Emath, the court of Enan and Damascus's northern border. Dan receives the first portion, followed southward by Aser, Nephthali, Manasses, Ephraim, Ruben and Juda.

Beside Juda, the firstfruits set apart are twenty-five thousand broad, extending in length like the tribal portions from east to sea, with the sanctuary in their midst. The Lord's firstfruits are twenty-five thousand long and ten thousand broad. This sanctuary portion belongs to the priests descended from Sadoc, who kept the Lord's ceremonies when Israel and the Levites strayed. It is the firstfruits of the firstfruits, holy of holies, beside the Levites' portion. The Levites likewise receive twenty-five thousand by ten thousand. This sanctified land must not be sold, exchanged or alienated. The chapter gives these measurements without naming a unit.

The remaining breadth of five thousand, opposite the twenty-five thousand, is common land for the city, dwellings and suburbs, with the city in its midst. Each city side measures four thousand five hundred; suburbs extend two hundred fifty in every direction. The remaining ten thousand to the east and ten thousand to the west yield food for those serving the city, who come from all Israel's tribes. Altogether, twenty-five thousand by twenty-five thousand is set apart for the sanctuary's firstfruits and city possession. The prince receives the residue eastward and westward toward the borders, with the sanctuary, Levites' possession and city between his portions, bounded also by Juda and Benjamin.

Southward, the remaining tribal portions belong successively to Benjamin, Simeon, Issachar, Zabulon and Gad. Gad's southern boundary runs from Thamar to the waters of contradiction at Cades, facing the great sea. These are the portions to be divided by lot.

The city has three gates on each side: Ruben, Juda and Levi on the north; Joseph, Benjamin and Dan on the east; Simeon, Issachar and Zabulon on the south; Gad, Aser and Nephthali on the west. Its circumference is eighteen thousand, and from that day its name is The Lord is there. The edition identifies this city with Christ's Church and explains that the Lord remains with her until the world's end, citing Matthew 28:20.

The story inside

Seven tribes lie north of the reserved portion and five south. Sanctified land is protected from sale, exchange and alienation. Twelve gates bear tribal names, and the city is named The Lord is there.

Lessons worth keeping

1
Seven tribes lie north of the reserved portion and five south.
2
Sanctified land is protected from sale, exchange and alienation.
3
Twelve gates bear tribal names, and the city is named The Lord is there.

Test your recall

Which three gates lie on the city’s north side?

Source edition and notes

Douay–Rheims, revised by Richard Challoner (1749–1752). Project Gutenberg no. 1581. Locators refer to lines in the admitted pg1581.txt edition. Source notes may include Challoner commentary.

Lines 96680–96683
48:1. 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 of Emath. And from the east side thereof to the sea shall be one portion for Dan.
Lines 96703–96707
48:8. 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.
Lines 96719–96724
48:11. 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. 48:12. And for them shall be the firstfruits of the firstfruits of the land holy of holies, by the border of the Levites,
Lines 96735–96746
48:15. 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. 48:16. 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. 48:17. And the suburbs of the city shall be to the north two hundred and fifty, and to the south two hundred and fifty, and to the east two hundred and fifty, and to the sea two hundred and fifty.
Lines 96795–96815
48:30. And these are the goings out of the city: on the north side thou shalt measure four thousand and five hundred. 48:31. 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. 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. 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. 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. Its circumference was eighteen thousand: and the name of the city from that day, The Lord is there.
Lines 96817–96819
The Lord is there.... This name is here given to the city, that is, to the church of Christ: because the Lord is always with her till the end of the world. Matt. 28.20.