The Prince’s Offerings

¹“This is what the Lord GOD says: ‘The gate of the inner court that faces east must be kept shut during the six days of work, but on the Sabbath day and on the day of the New Moon it shall be opened.

²The prince is to enter from the outside through the portico of the gateway and stand by the gatepost, while the priests sacrifice his burnt offerings and peace offerings. He is to bow in worship at the threshold of the gate and then depart, but the gate must not be shut until evening.

³On the Sabbaths and New Moons the people of the land are also to bow in worship before the LORD at the entrance to that gateway.

⁴The burnt offering that the prince presents to the LORD on the Sabbath day shall be six unblemished male lambs and an unblemished ram.

⁵The grain offering with the ram shall be one ephah,and the grain offering with the lambs shall be as much as he is able, along with a hin of oil per ephah.

⁶On the day of the New Moon he shall offer a young, unblemished bull, six lambs, and a ram without blemish.

⁷He is to provide a grain offering of an ephah with the bull, an ephah with the ram, and as much as he is able with the lambs, along with a hin of oil per ephah.

⁸When the prince enters, he shall go in through the portico of the gateway, and he shall go out the same way.

⁹When the people of the land come before the LORD at the appointed feasts, whoever enters by the north gate to worship must go out by the south gate, and whoever enters by the south gate must go out by the north gate. No one is to return through the gate by which he entered, but each must go out by the opposite gate.

¹⁰When the people enter, the prince shall go in with them, and when they leave, he shall leave.

¹¹At the festivals and appointed feasts, the grain offering shall be an ephah with a bull, an ephah with a ram, and as much as one is able to give with the lambs, along with a hin of oil per ephah.

¹²When the prince makes a freewill offering to the LORD, whether a burnt offering or a peace offering, the gate facing east must be opened for him. He is to offer his burnt offering or peace offering just as he does on the Sabbath day. Then he shall go out, and the gate must be closed after he goes out.

¹³And you shall provide an unblemished year-old lamb as a daily burnt offering to the LORD; you are to offer it every morning.

¹⁴You are also to provide with it every morning a grain offering of a sixth of an ephahwith a third of a hin of oilto moisten the fine flour—a grain offering to the LORD. This is a permanent statute.

¹⁵Thus they shall provide the lamb, the grain offering, and the oil every morning as a regular burnt offering.’

¹⁶This is what the Lord GOD says: ‘If the prince gives a gift to any of his sons as an inheritance, it will belong to his descendants. It will become their property by inheritance.

¹⁷But if he gives a gift from his inheritance to one of his servants, it will belong to that servant until the year of freedom; then it will revert to the prince. His inheritance belongs only to his sons; it shall be theirs.

¹⁸The prince must not take any of the inheritance of the people by evicting them from their property. He is to provide an inheritance for his sons from his own property, so that none of My people will be displaced from his property.’”

The Courts for Boiling and Baking

¹⁹Then the man brought me through the entrance at the side of the gate into the holy chambers facing north, which belonged to the priests, and he showed me a place there at the far western end

²⁰and said to me, “This is the place where the priests shall boil the guilt offering and the sin offering, and where they shall bake the grain offering, so that they do not bring them into the outer court and transmit holiness to the people.”

²¹Then he brought me into the outer court and led me around to its four corners, and I saw a separate court in each of its corners.

²²In the four corners of the outer court there were enclosed courts, each forty cubits long and thirty cubits wide.Each of the four corner areas had the same dimensions.

²³Around the inside of each of the four courts was a row of masonry with ovens built at the base of the walls on all sides.

²⁴And he said to me, “These are the kitchens where those who minister at the temple will cook the sacrifices offered by the people.”

The Portions for the Tribes

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.

²Asher will have one portion bordering the territory of Dan from east to west.

³Naphtali will have one portion bordering the territory of Asher from east to west.

⁴Manasseh will have one portion bordering the territory of Naphtali from east to west.

⁵Ephraim will have one portion bordering the territory of Manasseh from east to west.

⁶Reuben will have one portion bordering the territory of Ephraim from east to west.

⁷Judah will have one portion bordering the territory of Reuben from east to west.

The Portions for the Priests and Levites

⁸Bordering the territory of Judah, from east to west, will be the portion you are to set apart. It will be 25,000 cubits wide,and the length of a tribal portion from east to west. In the center will be the sanctuary.

⁹The special portion you set apart to the LORD shall be 25,000 cubits long and 10,000 cubits wide.

¹⁰This will be the holy portion for the priests. It will be 25,000 cubits long on the north side, 10,000 cubits wide on the west side, 10,000 cubits wide on the east side, and 25,000 cubits long on the south side. In the center will be the sanctuary of the LORD.

¹¹It will be for the consecrated priests, the descendants of Zadok, who kept My charge and did not go astray as the Levites did when the Israelites went astray.

¹²It will be a special portion for them set apart from the land, a most holy portionadjacent to the territory of the Levites.

¹³Bordering the territory of the priests, the Levites shall have an area 25,000 cubits long and 10,000 cubits wide. The whole length will be 25,000 cubits, and the width 10,000 cubits.

¹⁴They must not sell or exchange any of it, and they must not transfer this best part of the land, for it is holy to the LORD.

The Common Portion

¹⁵The remaining area, 5,000 cubitswide and 25,000 cubits long, will be for common use by the city, for houses, and for pastureland. The city will be in the center of it

¹⁶and will have these measurements: 4,500 cubitson the north side, 4,500 cubits on the south side, 4,500 cubits on the east side, and 4,500 cubits on the west side.

¹⁷The pastureland of the city will extend 250 cubitsto the north, 250 cubits to the south, 250 cubits to the east, and 250 cubits to the west.

¹⁸The remainder of the length bordering the holy portion and running adjacent to it will be 10,000 cubits on the east side and 10,000 cubits on the west side. Its produce will supply food for the workers of the city.

¹⁹The workers of the city who cultivate it will come from all the tribes of Israel.

²⁰The entire portion will be a square, 25,000 cubits by 25,000 cubits. You are to set apart the holy portion, along with the city property.

The Portion for the Prince

²¹The remaining area on both sides of the holy portion and of the property of the city will belong to the prince. He will own the land adjacent to the tribal portions, extending eastward from the 25,000 cubits of the holy district toward the eastern border, and westward from the 25,000 cubits to the western border. And in the center of them will be the holy portion and the sanctuary of the temple.

²²So the Levitical property and the city property will lie in the center of the area belonging to the prince—the area between the borders of Judah and Benjamin.

The Portions for the Remaining Tribes

²³As for the rest of the tribes:Benjamin will have one portion extending from the east side to the west side.

²⁴Simeon will have one portion bordering the territory of Benjamin from east to west.

²⁵Issachar will have one portion bordering the territory of Simeon from east to west.

²⁶Zebulun will have one portion bordering the territory of Issachar from east to west.

²⁷And Gad will have one portion bordering the territory of Zebulun from east to west.

²⁸The southern border of Gad will run from Tamar to the waters of Meribath-kadesh, then along the Brook of Egyptand out to the Great Sea.

²⁹This is the land you are to allot as an inheritance to the tribes of Israel, and these will be their portions,” declares the Lord GOD.

The City Gates and Dimensions

³⁰“These will be the exits of the city:Beginning on the north side, which will be 4,500 cubits long,

³¹the gates of the city will be named after the tribes of Israel. On the north side there will be three gates: the gate of Reuben, the gate of Judah, and the gate of Levi.

³²On the east side, which will be 4,500 cubits long, there will be three gates: the gate of Joseph, the gate of Benjamin, and the gate of Dan.

³³On the south side, which will be 4,500 cubits long, there will be three gates: the gate of Simeon, the gate of Issachar, and the gate of Zebulun.

³⁴And on the west side, which will be 4,500 cubits long, there will be three gates: the gate of Gad, the gate of Asher, and the gate of Naphtali.

³⁵The perimeter of the city will be 18,000 cubits,and from that day on the name of the city will be:THE LORD IS THERE.”

The Divisions of the Gatekeepers

¹These were the divisions of the gatekeepers:From the Korahites: Meshelemiah son of Kore, one of the sons of Asaph.

²Meshelemiah had sons: Zechariah the firstborn, Jediael the second, Zebadiah the third, Jathniel the fourth,

³Elam the fifth, Jehohanan the sixth, and Eliehoenai the seventh.

⁴And Obed-edom also had sons: Shemaiah the firstborn, Jehozabad the second, Joah the third, Sachar the fourth, Nethanel the fifth,

⁵Ammiel the sixth, Issachar the seventh, and Peullethai the eighth. For God had blessed Obed-edom.

⁶Also to his son Shemaiah were born sons who ruled over their families because they were strong, capable men.

⁷Shemaiah’s sons were Othni, Rephael, Obed, and Elzabad; his brothers were Elihu and Semachiah, also capable men.

⁸All these were descendants of Obed-edom; they and their sons and brothers were capable men with strength to do the work—62 in all from Obed-edom.

⁹Meshelemiah also had sons and brothers who were capable men—18 in all.

¹⁰Hosah the Merarite also had sons: Shimri the first (although he was not the firstborn, his father had appointed him as the first),

¹¹Hilkiah the second, Tebaliah the third, and Zechariah the fourth. The sons and brothers of Hosah numbered 13 in all.

¹²These divisions of the gatekeepers, through their chief men, had duties for ministering in the house of the LORD, just as their relatives did.

¹³They cast lots for each gate, according to their families, young and old alike.

¹⁴The lot for the East Gate fell to Shelemiah.Then lots were cast for his son Zechariah, a wise counselor, and the lot for the North Gate fell to him.

¹⁵The lot for the South Gate fell to Obed-edom, and the lot for the storehouses to his sons.

¹⁶The lots for the West Gate and the Shallecheth Gate on the ascending highwayfell to Shuppim and Hosah.There were guards stationed at every watch.

¹⁷Each day there were six Levites on the east, four on the north, four on the south, and two pairs at the storehouse.

¹⁸As for the courton the west, there were four at the highway and two at the court.

¹⁹These were the divisions of the gatekeepers who were descendants of Korah and Merari.

The Treasurers, Officers, and Judges

²⁰Now their fellow Levites werein charge of the treasuries of the house of God and the treasuries of the dedicated things.

²¹From the descendants of Ladan, who were Gershonites through Ladanand heads of the families of Ladan the Gershonite, were Jehieli,

²²the sons of Jehieli, Zetham, and his brother Joel. They were in charge of the treasuries of the house of the LORD.

²³From the Amramites, the Izharites, the Hebronites, and the Uzzielites:

²⁴Shebuel, a descendant of Gershom son of Moses, was the officer in charge of the treasuries.

²⁵His relatives through Eliezer included Rehabiah his son, Jeshaiahhis son, Joram his son, Zichri his son, and Shelomith his son.

²⁶This Shelomith and his brothers were in charge of all the treasuries for the things dedicated by King David, by the heads of families who were the commanders of thousands and of hundreds, and by the army commanders.

²⁷They had dedicated some of the plunder from their battles to the repair of the house of the LORD.

²⁸Everything that had been dedicated by Samuel the seer, Saul son of Kish, Abner son of Ner, and Joab son of Zeruiah, along with everything else that was dedicated, was under the care of Shelomith and his brothers.

²⁹From the Izharites, Chenaniah and his sons had the outside dutiesas officers and judges over Israel.

³⁰From the Hebronites, Hashabiah and his relatives, 1,700 capable men, had charge of the affairs of Israel west of the Jordan for all the work of the LORD and for the service of the king.

³¹As for the Hebronites, Jerijahwas the chief of the Hebronites, according to the genealogies of his ancestors. In the fortieth year of David’s reign the records were searched, and strong, capable men were found among the Hebronites at Jazer in Gilead.

³²Among Jerijah’s relatives there were 2,700 capable men who were heads of families. King David appointed them over the Reubenites, the Gadites, and the half-tribe of Manasseh for every matter pertaining to God and for the affairs of the king.

Tell of His Wonders

¹Give thanks to the LORD, call upon His name;make known His deeds among the nations.

²Sing to Him, sing praises to Him;tell of all His wonders.

³Glory in His holy name;let the hearts of those who seek the LORD rejoice.

⁴Seek out the LORD and His strength;seek His face always.

⁵Remember the wonders He has done,His marvels, and the judgments He has pronounced,

⁶O offspring of His servant Abraham,O sons of Jacob, His chosen ones.

⁷He is the LORD our God;His judgments carry throughout the earth.

⁸He remembers His covenant forever,the word He ordained for a thousand generations—

⁹the covenant He made with Abraham,and the oath He swore to Isaac.

¹⁰He confirmed it to Jacob as a decree,to Israel as an everlasting covenant:

¹¹“I will give you the land of Canaanas the portion of your inheritance.”

¹²When they were few in number,few indeed, and strangers in the land,

¹³they wandered from nation to nation,from one kingdom to another.

¹⁴He let no man oppress them;He rebuked kings on their behalf:

¹⁵“Do not touch My anointed ones!Do no harm to My prophets!”

¹⁶He called down famine on the landand cut off all their suppliesof food.

¹⁷He sent a man before them—Joseph, sold as a slave.

¹⁸They bruised his feet with shacklesand placed his neck in irons,

¹⁹until his prediction came trueand the word of the LORD proved him right.

²⁰The king sent and released him;the ruler of peoples set him free.

²¹He made him master of his household,ruler over all his substance,

²²to instructhis princes as he pleasedand teach his elders wisdom.

²³Then Israel entered Egypt;Jacob dwelt in the land of Ham.

²⁴And the LORD made His people very fruitful,more numerous than their foes,

²⁵whose hearts He turned to hate His people,to conspire against His servants.

²⁶He sent Moses His servant,and Aaron, whom He had chosen.

²⁷They performed His miraculous signs among them,and wonders in the land of Ham.

²⁸He sent darkness, and it became dark—yet they defied His words.

²⁹He turned their waters to bloodand caused their fish to die.

³⁰Their land teemed with frogs,even in their royal chambers.

³¹He spoke, and insects swarmed—gnats throughout their country.

³²He gave them hail for rain,with lightning throughout their land.

³³He struck their vines and fig treesand shattered the trees of their country.

³⁴He spoke, and the locusts came—young locusts without number.

³⁵They devoured every plant in their landand consumed the produce of their soil.

³⁶Then He struck all the firstborn in their land,the firstfruits of all their vigor.

³⁷He brought Israel out with silver and gold,and none among His tribes stumbled.

³⁸Egypt was glad when they departed,for the dread of Israel had fallen on them.

³⁹He spread a cloud as a coveringand a fire to light up the night.

⁴⁰They asked, and He brought quailand satisfied them with the bread of heaven.

⁴¹He opened a rock, and water gushed out;it flowed like a river in the desert.

⁴²For He remembered His holy promiseto Abraham His servant.

⁴³He brought forth His people with rejoicing,His chosen with shouts of joy.

⁴⁴He gave them the lands of the nations,that they might inherit the fruit of others’ labor,

⁴⁵that they might keep His statutesand obey His laws.Hallelujah!