本日經文提要(以西結書 46:1~但以理書 2:49 )
結46:1主耶和華如此說：內院朝東的門，在辦理事務的六日內，必須關閉，惟有安息日，和月朔，必須敞開。
結46:2王要從這門的廊進入站在門框旁邊，祭司要為他豫備燔祭，和平安祭，他就要在門檻那裡敬拜，然後出去，這門直到晚上，不可關閉。
結46:3在安息日和月朔，國內的居民，要在這門口耶和華面前敬拜。
結46:4安息日王所獻與耶和華的燔祭，要用無殘疾的羊羔六隻，無殘疾的公綿羊一隻。
結46:5同獻的素祭要為公綿羊獻一伊法細麵，為羊羔照他的力量而獻，一伊法細麵加油一欣。
結46:6當月朔要獻無殘疾的公牛犢一隻，羊羔六隻，公綿羊一隻，都要無殘疾的。
結46:7他也要豫備素祭，為公牛獻一伊法細麵，為公綿羊獻一伊法細麵，為羊羔照他的力量而獻，一伊法細麵加油一欣。
結46:8王進入的時候，必由這門的廊而入，也必由此而出。
結46:9在各節期，國內居民朝見耶和華的時候，從北門進入敬拜的，必由南門而出，從南門進入的，必由北門而出，不可從所入的門而出，必要直往前行，由對門而出。
結46:10民進入，王也要在民中進入，民出去，王也要一同出去。
結46:11在節期和聖會的日子同獻的素祭，要為一隻公牛獻一伊法細麵，為一隻公綿羊獻一伊法細麵，為羊羔照他的力量而獻，一伊法細麵加油一欣。
結46:12王豫備甘心獻的燔祭，或平安祭，就是向耶和華甘心獻的，當有人為他開朝東的門，他就豫備燔祭，和平安祭，與安息日豫備的一樣，獻畢就出去，他出去之後，當有人將門關閉。
結46:13每日你要豫備無殘疾一歲的羊羔一隻，獻與耶和華為燔祭，要每早晨豫備。
結46:14每早晨，也要豫備同獻的素祭，細麵一伊法六分之一，並油一欣三分之一，調和細麵，這素祭要常獻與耶和華為永遠的定例。
結46:15每早晨要這樣豫備羊羔，素祭，並油為常獻的燔祭。
結46:16主耶和華如此說：王若將產業賜給他的兒子，就成了他兒子的產業，那是他們承受為業的。
結46:17倘若王將一分產業賜給他的臣僕，就成了他臣僕的產業，到自由之年仍要歸與王，至於王的產業，必歸與他的兒子。
結46:18王不可奪取民的產業，以致驅逐他們離開所承受的，他要從自己的地業中，將產業賜給他兒子，免得我的民分散，各人離開所承受的。
結46:19那帶我的，將我從門旁進入之處，領進為祭司豫備的聖屋，是朝北的，見後頭西邊有一塊地。
結46:20他對我說：這是祭司煮贖愆祭，贖罪祭，烤素祭之地，免得帶到外院，使民成聖。
結46:21他又帶我到外院，使我經過院子的四拐角，見每拐角各有一個院子。
結46:22院子四拐角的院子，周圍有牆，每院長四十肘，寬三十肘，四拐角院子的尺寸，都是一樣。
結46:23其中周圍有一排房子，房子內有煮肉的地方。
結46:24他對我說：這都是煮肉的房子，殿內的僕役，要在這裡煮民的祭物。
結47:1他帶我回到殿門，見殿的門檻下有水往東流出，（原來殿面朝東）這水從檻下，由殿的右邊，在祭壇的南邊往下流。
結47:2他帶我出北門，又領我從外邊轉到朝東的外門，見水從右邊流出。
結47:3他手拿準繩往東出去的時候，量了一千肘，使我蹚過水，水到踝子骨。
結47:4他又量了一千肘，使我蹚過水，水就到膝。再量了一千肘，使我蹚過水，水便到腰。
結47:5又量了一千肘，水便成了河，使我不能蹚過，因為水勢漲起，成為可洑的水，不可蹚的河。
結47:6他對我說：人子阿，你看見了甚麼，他就帶我回到河邊。
結47:7我回到河邊的時候，見在河這邊，與那邊的岸上，有極多的樹木。
結47:8他對我說：這水往東方流去，必下到亞拉巴，直到海，所發出來的水，必流入鹽海，使水變甜。〔原文作得醫治下同〕
結47:9這河水所到之處，凡滋生的動物，都必生活，並且因這流來的水，必有極多的魚，海水也變甜了，這河水所到之處，百物都必生活。
結47:10必有漁夫站在河邊，從隱基底直到隱以革蓮，都作曬〔或作張〕網之處，那魚各從其類，好像大海的魚甚多。
結47:11只是泥濘之地，與窪濕之處，不得治好，必為鹽地。
結47:12在河這邊，與那邊的岸上，必生長各類的樹木，其果可作食物，葉子不枯乾，果子不斷絕，每月必結新果子，因為這水是從聖所流出來的，樹上的果子，必作食物，葉子乃為治病。
結47:13主耶和華如此說：你們要照地的境界，按以色列十二支派，分地為業，約瑟必得兩分。
結47:14你們承受這地為業，要彼此均分，因為我曾起誓應許將這地賜與你們的列祖，這地必歸你們為業。
結47:15地的四界，乃是如此，北界從大海往希特倫，直到西達達口。
結47:16又往哈馬，比羅他，西伯蓮，（西伯蓮在大馬色與哈馬兩界中間）到浩蘭邊界的哈撒哈提干。
結47:17這樣，境界從海邊往大馬色地界上的哈薩以難，北邊以哈馬地為界，這是北界。
結47:18東界在浩蘭，大馬色，基列，和以色列地的中間，就是約但河，你們要從北界量到東海，這是東界。
結47:19南界是從他瑪到米利巴加低斯的水，延到埃及小河，直到大海，這是南界。
結47:20西界就是大海，從南界直到哈馬口對面之地，這是西界。
結47:21你們要按著以色列的支派，彼此分這地。
結47:22要拈鬮分這地為業，歸與自己和你們中間寄居的外人，就是在你們中間生養兒女的外人，你們要看他們如同以色列人中所生的一樣，他們在以色列支派中要與你們同得地業。
結47:23外人寄居在那支派中，你們就在那裡分給他地業，這是主耶和華說的。
結48:1眾支派按名所得之地，記在下面，從北頭，由希特倫，往哈馬口，到大馬色地界上的哈薩以難，北邊靠著哈馬地，（各支派的地都有東西的邊界。）是但的一分。
結48:2挨著但的地界，從東到西，是亞設的一分。
結48:3挨著亞設的地界，從東到西，是拿弗他利的一分。
結48:4挨著拿弗他利的地界，從東到西，是瑪拿西的一分。
結48:5挨著瑪拿西的地界，從東到西，是以法蓮的一分。
結48:6挨著以法蓮的地界，從東到西，是流便的一分。
結48:7挨著流便的地界，從東到西，是猶大的一分。
結48:8挨著猶大的地界，從東到西，必有你們所當獻的供地，寬二萬五千肘，從東界到西界，長短與各分之地相同，聖地當在其中。
結48:9你們獻與耶和華的供地，要長二萬五千肘，寬一萬肘。
結48:10這聖供地要歸與祭司，北長二萬五千肘，西寬一萬肘，東寬一萬肘，南長二萬五千肘，耶和華的聖地，當在其中。
結48:11這地要歸與撒督的子孫中成為聖的祭司，就是那守我所吩咐的，當以色列人走迷的時候，他們不像那些利未人走迷了。
結48:12這要歸與他們為供地，是全地中至聖的，供地挨著利未人的地界。
結48:13利未人所得的地，要長二萬五千肘，寬一萬肘，與祭司的地界相等，都長二萬五千肘，寬一萬肘。
結48:14這地不可賣，不可換，初熟之物也不可歸與別人，因為是歸耶和華為聖的。
結48:15這二萬五千肘，前面所剩下五千肘寬之地，要作俗用，作為造城蓋房郊野之地。城要在當中。
結48:16城的尺寸乃是如此，北面四千五百肘，南面四千五百肘，東面四千五百肘，西面四千五百肘。
結48:17城必有郊野，向北二百五十肘，向南二百五十肘，向東二百五十肘，向西二百五十肘。
結48:18靠著聖供地的餘地，東長一萬肘，西長一萬肘，要與聖供地相等，其中的土產，要作城內工人的食物。
結48:19所有以色列支派中，在城內作工的，都要耕種這地。
結48:20你們所獻的聖供地，連歸城之地，是四方的，長二萬五千肘，寬二萬五千肘。
結48:21聖供地連歸城之地，兩邊的餘地要歸與王，供地東邊，南北二萬五千肘，東至東界，西邊南北二萬五千肘西至西界，與各分之地相同，都要歸王，聖供地和殿的聖地，要在其中。
結48:22並且利未人之地，與歸城之地的東西兩邊延長之地，（這兩地在王地中間）就是在猶大和便雅憫兩界中間，要歸與王。
結48:23論到其餘的支派，從東到西，是便雅憫的一分。
結48:24挨著便雅憫的地界，從東到西，是西緬的一分。
結48:25挨著西緬的地界，從東到西，是以薩迦的一分。
結48:26挨著以薩迦的地界，從東到西，是西布倫的一分。
結48:27挨著西布倫的地界，從東到西，是迦得的一分。
結48:28迦得地的南界，是從他瑪到米利巴加低斯的水，延到埃及小河，直到大海。
結48:29這就是你們要拈鬮分給以色列支派為業之地，乃是他們各支派所得之分，這是主耶和華說的。
結48:30城的北面四千五百肘，出城之處如下。
結48:31城的各門要按以色列支派的名字，北面有三門，一為流便門，一為猶大門，一為利未門。
結48:32東面四千五百肘，有三門，一為約瑟門，一為便雅憫門，一為但門。
結48:33南面四千五百肘，有三門，一為西緬門，一為以薩迦門，一為西布倫門。
結48:34西面四千五百肘，有三門，一為迦得門，一為亞設門，一為拿弗他利門。
結48:35城四圍共一萬八千肘，從此以後，這城的名字，必稱為耶和華的所在。
但1:1猶大王約雅敬在位第三年，巴比倫王尼布甲尼撒來到耶路撒冷，將城圍困。
但1:2主將猶大王約雅敬，並神殿中器皿的幾分交付他手，他就把這器皿帶到示拿地，收入他神的廟裡，放在他神的庫中。
但1:3王吩咐太監長亞施毘拿，從以色列人的宗室和貴冑中，帶進幾個人來，
但1:4就是年少沒有殘疾，相貌俊美，通達各樣學問，知識聰明俱備，足能侍立在王宮裡的，要教他們迦勒底的文字言語。
但1:5王派定將自己所用的膳，和所飲的酒，每日賜他們一分，養他們三年，滿了三年，好叫他們在王面前侍立。
但1:6他們中間有猶大族的人，但以理，哈拿尼雅，米沙利，亞撒利雅。
但1:7太監長給他們起名，稱但以理為伯提沙撒，稱哈拿尼雅為沙得拉，稱米沙利為米煞，稱亞撒利雅為亞伯尼歌。
但1:8但以理卻立志，不以王的膳，和王所飲的酒，玷污自己，所以求太監長容他不玷污自己。
但1:9神使但以理在太監長眼前蒙恩惠，受憐憫。
但1:10太監長對但以理說：我懼怕我主我王，他已經派定你們的飲食，倘若他見你們的面貌，比你們同歲的少年人肌瘦，怎麼好呢，這樣，你們就使我的頭在王那裡難保。
但1:11但以理對太監長所派管理但以理，哈拿尼雅，米沙利，亞撒利雅的委辦說：
但1:12求你試試僕人們十天，給我們素菜吃，白水喝，
但1:13然後看看我們的面貌，和用王膳那少年人的面貌，就照你所看的待僕人罷。
但1:14委辦便允准他們這件事，試看他們十天。
但1:15過了十天，見他們的面貌，比用王膳的一切少年人更加俊美肥胖。
但1:16於是委辦撤去他們用的膳，飲的酒，給他們素菜吃。
但1:17這四個少年人，神在各樣文字學問上，〔學問原文作智慧〕賜給他們聰明知識，但以理又明白各樣的異象和夢兆。
但1:18尼布甲尼撒王豫定帶進少年人來的日期滿了，太監長就把他們帶到王面前。
但1:19王與他們談論，見少年人中，無一人能比但以理，哈拿尼雅，米沙利，亞撒利雅，所以留他們在王面前侍立。
但1:20王考問他們一切事，就見他們的智慧聰明，比通國的術士，和用法術的，勝過十偣。
但1:21到古列王元年，但以理還在。
但2:1尼布甲尼撒在位第二年，他作了夢，心裡煩亂，不能睡覺。
但2:2王吩咐人將術士，用法術的，行邪術的，和迦勒底人召來，要他們將王的夢告訴王，他們就來站在王前。
但2:3王對他們說：我作了一夢，心裡煩亂，要知道這是甚麼夢。
但2:4迦勒底人，用亞蘭的言語對王說：願王萬歲，請將那夢告訴僕人，僕人就可以講解。
但2:5王回答迦勒底人說：夢我已經忘了，〔或作我已定命八節同〕你們若不將夢和夢的講解告訴我，就必被凌遲，你們的房屋必成為糞堆。
但2:6你們若將夢和夢的講解告訴我，就必從我這裡得贈品，和賞賜，並大尊榮。現在你們要將夢和夢的講解告訴我。
但2:7他們第二次對王說：請王將夢告訴僕人，僕人就可以講解。
但2:8王回答說：我准知道你們是故意遲延，因為你們知道那夢我已經忘了。
但2:9你們若不將夢告訴我，只有一法待你們，因為你們豫備了謊言亂語向我說：要等候時勢改變。現在你們要將夢告訴我，因我知道你們能將夢的講解告訴我。
但2:10迦勒底人在王面前回答說：世上沒有人能將王所問的事說出來，因為沒有君王，大臣，掌權的，向術士，或用法術的，或迦勒底人，問過這樣的事。
但2:11王所問的事甚難，除了不與世人同居的神明，沒有人在王面前能說出來。
但2:12因此王氣忿忿的大發烈怒，吩咐滅絕巴比倫所有的哲士。
但2:13於是命令發出，哲士將要見殺，人就尋找但以理和他的同伴，要殺他們。
但2:14王的護衛長亞略出來，要殺巴比倫的哲士，但以理就用婉言回答他，
但2:15向王的護衛長亞略說：王的命令為何這樣緊急呢，亞略就將情節告訴但以理。
但2:16但以理遂進去求王寬限，就可以將夢的講解告訴王。
但2:17但以理回到他的居所，將這事告訴他的同伴哈拿尼雅，米沙利，亞撒利雅，
但2:18要他們祈求天上的神施憐憫，將這奧秘的事指明，免得但以理和他的同伴，與巴比倫其餘的哲士，一同滅亡。
但2:19這奧秘的事，就在夜間異象中，給但以理顯明。但以理便稱頌天上的神。
但2:20但以理說：神的名是應當稱頌的，從亙古直到永遠，因為智慧能力都屬乎他。
但2:21他改變時候，日期，廢王，立王，將智慧賜與智慧人，將知識賜與聰明人。
但2:22他顯明深奧隱秘的事，知道暗中所有的，光明也與他同居。
但2:23我列袓的神阿，我感謝你，讚美你，因你將智慧才能賜給我，允准我們所求的，把王的事給我們指明。
但2:24於是但以理進去見亞略，就是王所派滅絕巴比倫哲士的，對他說：不要滅絕巴比倫的哲士，求你領我到王面前，我要將夢的講解告訴王。
但2:25亞略就急忙將但以理領到王面前，對王說：我在被擄的猶大人中遇見一人，他能將夢的講解告訴王。
但2:26王問稱為伯提沙撒的但以理說：你能將我所作的夢，和夢的講解，告訴我麼。
但2:27但以理在王面前回答說：王所問的那奧秘事，哲士，用法術的，術士，觀兆的，都不能告訴王。
但2:28只有一位在天上的神，能顯明奧秘的事他已將日後必有的事，指示尼布甲尼撒王，你的夢，和你在床上腦中的異象是這樣。
但2:29王阿，你在床上想到後來的事，那顯明奧秘事的主，把將來必有的事指示你。
但2:30至於那奧秘的事顯明給我，並非因我的智慧勝過一切活人，乃為使王知道夢的講解，和心裡的思念。
但2:31王阿，你夢見一個大像，這像甚高，極其光耀，站在你面前，形狀甚是可怕。
但2:32這像的頭是精金的，胸膛和膀臂是銀的，肚腹和腰是銅的，
但2:33腿是鐵的，腳是半鐵半泥的。
但2:34你觀看，見有一塊非人手鑿出來的石頭，打在這像半鐵半泥的腳上，把腳砸碎，
但2:35於是金，銀，銅，鐵，泥，都一同砸得粉碎，成如夏天禾場上的糠秕，被風吹散，無處可尋，打碎這像的石頭，變成一座大山，充滿天下。
但2:36這就是那夢，我們在王面前要講解那夢。
但2:37王阿，你是諸王之王，天上的神已將國度，權柄，能力，尊榮，都賜給你。
但2:38凡世人所住之地的走獸，並天空的飛鳥，他都交付你手，使你掌管這一切，你就是那金頭。
但2:39在你以後必另興一國，不及於你，又有第三國，就是銅的，必掌管天下。
但2:40第四國，必堅壯如鐵，鐵能打碎剋制百物，又能壓碎一切，那國也必打碎壓制列國。
但2:41你既見像的腳和腳指頭，一半是窯匠的泥，一半是鐵，那國將來也必分開，你既見鐵與泥攙雜，那國也必有鐵的力量。
但2:42那腳指頭，既是半鐵半泥，那國也必半強半弱。
但2:43你既見鐵與泥攙雜，那國民也必與各種人攙雜，卻不能彼此相合，正如鐵與泥不能相合一樣。
但2:44當那列王在位的時候，天上的神必另立一國，永不敗壞，也不歸別國的人，卻要打碎滅絕那一切國，這國必存到永遠。
但2:45你既看見非人手鑿出來的一塊石頭，從山而出，打碎金，銀，銅，鐵，泥，那就是至大的神把後來必有的事給王指明，這夢準是這樣，這講解也是確實的。
但2:46當時尼布甲尼撒王，俯伏在地，向但以理下拜，並且吩咐人給他奉上供物和香品。
但2:47王對但以理說：你既能顯明這奧秘的事，你們的神，誠然是萬神之神，萬王之主，又是顯明奧秘事的。
但2:48於是王高抬但以理，賞賜他許多上等禮物，派他管理巴比倫全省，又立他為總理，掌管巴比倫的一切哲士。
但2:49但以理求王，王就派沙得拉，米煞，亞伯尼歌，管理巴比倫省的事務，只是但以理常在朝中侍立。
46 “‘This is what the Sovereign Lord says: The gate of the inner court facing east is to be shut on the six working days, but on the Sabbath day and on the day of the New Moon it is to be opened. 2 The prince is to enter from the outside through the portico of the gateway and stand by the gatepost. The priests are to sacrifice his burnt offering and his fellowship offerings. He is to bow down in worship at the threshold of the gateway and then go out, but the gate will not be shut until evening. 3 On the Sabbaths and New Moons the people of the land are to worship in the presence of the Lord at the entrance of that gateway. 4 The burnt offering the prince brings to the Lord on the Sabbath day is to be six male lambs and a ram, all without defect. 5 The grain offering given with the ram is to be an ephah,[a] and the grain offering with the lambs is to be as much as he pleases, along with a hin[b] of olive oil for each ephah. 6 On the day of the New Moon he is to offer a young bull, six lambs and a ram, all without defect. 7 He is to provide as a grain offering one ephah with the bull, one ephah with the ram, and with the lambs as much as he wants to give, along with a hin of oil for each ephah. 8 When the prince enters, he is to go in through the portico of the gateway, and he is to come out the same way.
9 “‘When the people of the land come before the Lord at the appointed festivals, whoever enters by the north gate to worship is to go out the south gate; and whoever enters by the south gate is to go out the north gate. No one is to return through the gate by which they entered, but each is to go out the opposite gate. 10 The prince is to be among them, going in when they go in and going out when they go out. 11 At the feasts and the appointed festivals, the grain offering is to be an ephah with a bull, an ephah with a ram, and with the lambs as much as he pleases, along with a hin of oil for each ephah.
12 “‘When the prince provides a freewill offering to the Lord—whether a burnt offering or fellowship offerings—the gate facing east is to be opened for him. He shall offer his burnt offering or his fellowship offerings as he does on the Sabbath day. Then he shall go out, and after he has gone out, the gate will be shut.
13 “‘Every day you are to provide a year-old lamb without defect for a burnt offering to the Lord; morning by morning you shall provide it. 14 You are also to provide with it morning by morning a grain offering, consisting of a sixth of an ephah[c] with a third of a hin[d] of oil to moisten the flour. The presenting of this grain offering to the Lord is a lasting ordinance. 15 So the lamb and the grain offering and the oil shall be provided morning by morning for a regular burnt offering.
16 “‘This is what the Sovereign Lord says: If the prince makes a gift from his inheritance to one of his sons, it will also belong to his descendants; it is to be their property by inheritance. 17 If, however, he makes a gift from his inheritance to one of his servants, the servant may keep it until the year of freedom; then it will revert to the prince. His inheritance belongs to his sons only; it is theirs. 18 The prince must not take any of the inheritance of the people, driving them off their property. He is to give his sons their inheritance out of his own property, so that not one of my people will be separated from their property.’”
19 Then the man brought me through the entrance at the side of the gate to the sacred rooms facing north, which belonged to the priests, and showed me a place at the western end. 20 He said to me, “This is the place where the priests are to cook the guilt offering and the sin offering[e] and bake the grain offering, to avoid bringing them into the outer court and consecrating the people.”
21 He then brought me to the outer court and led me around to its four corners, and I saw in each corner another court. 22 In the four corners of the outer court were enclosed[f] courts, forty cubits long and thirty cubits wide;[g] each of the courts in the four corners was the same size. 23 Around the inside of each of the four courts was a ledge of stone, with places for fire built all around under the ledge. 24 He said to me, “These are the kitchens where those who minister at the temple are to cook the sacrifices of the people.”
The River From the Temple
47 The man brought me back to the entrance to the temple, and I saw water coming out from under the threshold of the temple toward the east (for the temple faced east). The water was coming down from under the south side of the temple, south of the altar. 2 He then brought me out through the north gate and led me around the outside to the outer gate facing east, and the water was trickling from the south side.
3 As the man went eastward with a measuring line in his hand, he measured off a thousand cubits[a] and then led me through water that was ankle-deep. 4 He measured off another thousand cubits and led me through water that was knee-deep. He measured off another thousand and led me through water that was up to the waist. 5 He measured off another thousand, but now it was a river that I could not cross, because the water had risen and was deep enough to swim in—a river that no one could cross. 6 He asked me, “Son of man, do you see this?”
Then he led me back to the bank of the river. 7 When I arrived there, I saw a great number of trees on each side of the river. 8 He said to me, “This water flows toward the eastern region and goes down into the Arabah,[b] where it enters the Dead Sea. When it empties into the sea, the salty water there becomes fresh. 9 Swarms of living creatures will live wherever the river flows. There will be large numbers of fish, because this water flows there and makes the salt water fresh; so where the river flows everything will live. 10 Fishermen will stand along the shore; from En Gedi to En Eglaim there will be places for spreading nets. The fish will be of many kinds—like the fish of the Mediterranean Sea. 11 But the swamps and marshes will not become fresh; they will be left for salt. 12 Fruit trees of all kinds will grow on both banks of the river. Their leaves will not wither, nor will their fruit fail. Every month they will bear fruit, because the water from the sanctuary flows to them. Their fruit will serve for food and their leaves for healing.”
The Boundaries of the Land
13 This is what the Sovereign Lord says: “These are the boundaries of the land that you will divide among the twelve tribes of Israel as their inheritance, with two portions for Joseph. 14 You are to divide it equally among them. Because I swore with uplifted hand to give it to your ancestors, this land will become your inheritance.
15 “This is to be the boundary of the land:
“On the north side it will run from the Mediterranean Sea by the Hethlon road past Lebo Hamath to Zedad, 16 Berothah[c] and Sibraim (which lies on the border between Damascus and Hamath), as far as Hazer Hattikon, which is on the border of Hauran. 17 The boundary will extend from the sea to Hazar Enan,[d] along the northern border of Damascus, with the border of Hamath to the north. This will be the northern boundary.
18 “On the east side the boundary will run between Hauran and Damascus, along the Jordan between Gilead and the land of Israel, to the Dead Sea and as far as Tamar.[e] This will be the eastern boundary.
19 “On the south side it will run from Tamar as far as the waters of Meribah Kadesh, then along the Wadi of Egypt to the Mediterranean Sea. This will be the southern boundary.
20 “On the west side, the Mediterranean Sea will be the boundary to a point opposite Lebo Hamath. This will be the western boundary.
21 “You are to distribute this land among yourselves according to the tribes of Israel. 22 You are to allot it as an inheritance for yourselves and for the foreigners residing among you and who have children. You are to consider them as native-born Israelites; along with you they are to be allotted an inheritance among the tribes of Israel. 23 In whatever tribe a foreigner resides, there you are to give them their inheritance,” declares the Sovereign Lord.
The Division of the Land
48 “These are the tribes, listed by name: At the northern frontier, Dan will have one portion; it will follow the Hethlon road to Lebo Hamath; Hazar Enan and the northern border of Damascus next to Hamath will be part of its border from the east side to the west side.
2 “Asher will have one portion; it will border the territory of Dan from east to west.
3 “Naphtali will have one portion; it will border the territory of Asher from east to west.
4 “Manasseh will have one portion; it will border the territory of Naphtali from east to west.
5 “Ephraim will have one portion; it will border the territory of Manasseh from east to west.
6 “Reuben will have one portion; it will border the territory of Ephraim from east to west.
7 “Judah will have one portion; it will border the territory of Reuben from east to west.
8 “Bordering the territory of Judah from east to west will be the portion you are to present as a special gift. It will be 25,000 cubits[a] wide, and its length from east to west will equal one of the tribal portions; the sanctuary will be in the center of it.
9 “The special portion you are to offer to the Lord will be 25,000 cubits long and 10,000 cubits[b] wide. 10 This will be the sacred 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 of it will be the sanctuary of the Lord. 11 This will be for the consecrated priests, the Zadokites, who were faithful in serving me and did not go astray as the Levites did when the Israelites went astray. 12 It will be a special gift to them from the sacred portion of the land, a most holy portion, bordering the territory of the Levites.
13 “Alongside the territory of the priests, the Levites will have an allotment 25,000 cubits long and 10,000 cubits wide. Its total length will be 25,000 cubits and its width 10,000 cubits. 14 They must not sell or exchange any of it. This is the best of the land and must not pass into other hands, because it is holy to the Lord.
15 “The remaining area, 5,000 cubits[c] wide and 25,000 cubits long, will be for the common use of the city, for houses and for pastureland. The city will be in the center of it 16 and will have these measurements: the north side 4,500 cubits,[d] the south side 4,500 cubits, the east side 4,500 cubits, and the west side 4,500 cubits. 17 The pastureland for the city will be 250 cubits[e] on the north, 250 cubits on the south, 250 cubits on the east, and 250 cubits on the west. 18 What remains of the area, bordering on the sacred portion and running the length of 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. 19 The workers from the city who farm it will come from all the tribes of Israel. 20 The entire portion will be a square, 25,000 cubits on each side. As a special gift you will set aside the sacred portion, along with the property of the city.
21 “What remains on both sides of the area formed by the sacred portion and the property of the city will belong to the prince. It will extend eastward from the 25,000 cubits of the sacred portion to the eastern border, and westward from the 25,000 cubits to the western border. Both these areas running the length of the tribal portions will belong to the prince, and the sacred portion with the temple sanctuary will be in the center of them. 22 So the property of the Levites and the property of the city will lie in the center of the area that belongs to the prince. The area belonging to the prince will lie between the border of Judah and the border of Benjamin.
23 “As for the rest of the tribes: Benjamin will have one portion; it will extend from the east side to the west side.
24 “Simeon will have one portion; it will border the territory of Benjamin from east to west.
25 “Issachar will have one portion; it will border the territory of Simeon from east to west.
26 “Zebulun will have one portion; it will border the territory of Issachar from east to west.
27 “Gad will have one portion; it will border the territory of Zebulun from east to west.
28 “The southern boundary of Gad will run south from Tamar to the waters of Meribah Kadesh, then along the Wadi of Egypt to the Mediterranean Sea.
29 “This is the land you are to allot as an inheritance to the tribes of Israel, and these will be their portions,” declares the Sovereign Lord.
The Gates of the New City
30 “These will be the exits of the city: Beginning on the north side, which is 4,500 cubits long, 31 the gates of the city will be named after the tribes of Israel. The three gates on the north side will be the gate of Reuben, the gate of Judah and the gate of Levi.
32 “On the east side, which is 4,500 cubits long, will be three gates: the gate of Joseph, the gate of Benjamin and the gate of Dan.
33 “On the south side, which measures 4,500 cubits, will be three gates: the gate of Simeon, the gate of Issachar and the gate of Zebulun.
34 “On the west side, which is 4,500 cubits long, will be three gates: the gate of Gad, the gate of Asher and the gate of Naphtali.
35 “The distance all around will be 18,000 cubits.[f]
“And the name of the city from that time on will be:
the Lord is there.”
Daniel’s Training in Babylon
1 In the third year of the reign of Jehoiakim king of Judah, Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon came to Jerusalem and besieged it. 2 And the Lord delivered Jehoiakim king of Judah into his hand, along with some of the articles from the temple of God. These he carried off to the temple of his god in Babylonia[a] and put in the treasure house of his god.
3 Then the king ordered Ashpenaz, chief of his court officials, to bring into the king’s service some of the Israelites from the royal family and the nobility— 4 young men without any physical defect, handsome, showing aptitude for every kind of learning, well informed, quick to understand, and qualified to serve in the king’s palace. He was to teach them the language and literature of the Babylonians.[b] 5 The king assigned them a daily amount of food and wine from the king’s table. They were to be trained for three years, and after that they were to enter the king’s service.
6 Among those who were chosen were some from Judah: Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael and Azariah. 7 The chief official gave them new names: to Daniel, the name Belteshazzar; to Hananiah, Shadrach; to Mishael, Meshach; and to Azariah, Abednego.
8 But Daniel resolved not to defile himself with the royal food and wine, and he asked the chief official for permission not to defile himself this way. 9 Now God had caused the official to show favor and compassion to Daniel, 10 but the official told Daniel, “I am afraid of my lord the king, who has assigned your[c] food and drink. Why should he see you looking worse than the other young men your age? The king would then have my head because of you.”
11 Daniel then said to the guard whom the chief official had appointed over Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael and Azariah, 12 “Please test your servants for ten days: Give us nothing but vegetables to eat and water to drink. 13 Then compare our appearance with that of the young men who eat the royal food, and treat your servants in accordance with what you see.” 14 So he agreed to this and tested them for ten days.
15 At the end of the ten days they looked healthier and better nourished than any of the young men who ate the royal food. 16 So the guard took away their choice food and the wine they were to drink and gave them vegetables instead.
17 To these four young men God gave knowledge and understanding of all kinds of literature and learning. And Daniel could understand visions and dreams of all kinds.
18 At the end of the time set by the king to bring them into his service, the chief official presented them to Nebuchadnezzar. 19 The king talked with them, and he found none equal to Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael and Azariah; so they entered the king’s service. 20 In every matter of wisdom and understanding about which the king questioned them, he found them ten times better than all the magicians and enchanters in his whole kingdom.
21 And Daniel remained there until the first year of King Cyrus.
Nebuchadnezzar’s Dream
2 In the second year of his reign, Nebuchadnezzar had dreams; his mind was troubled and he could not sleep. 2 So the king summoned the magicians, enchanters, sorcerers and astrologers[a] to tell him what he had dreamed. When they came in and stood before the king, 3 he said to them, “I have had a dream that troubles me and I want to know what it means.[b]”
4 Then the astrologers answered the king,[c] “May the king live forever! Tell your servants the dream, and we will interpret it.”
5 The king replied to the astrologers, “This is what I have firmly decided: If you do not tell me what my dream was and interpret it, I will have you cut into pieces and your houses turned into piles of rubble. 6 But if you tell me the dream and explain it, you will receive from me gifts and rewards and great honor. So tell me the dream and interpret it for me.”
7 Once more they replied, “Let the king tell his servants the dream, and we will interpret it.”
8 Then the king answered, “I am certain that you are trying to gain time, because you realize that this is what I have firmly decided: 9 If you do not tell me the dream, there is only one penalty for you. You have conspired to tell me misleading and wicked things, hoping the situation will change. So then, tell me the dream, and I will know that you can interpret it for me.”
10 The astrologers answered the king, “There is no one on earth who can do what the king asks! No king, however great and mighty, has ever asked such a thing of any magician or enchanter or astrologer. 11 What the king asks is too difficult. No one can reveal it to the king except the gods, and they do not live among humans.”
12 This made the king so angry and furious that he ordered the execution of all the wise men of Babylon. 13 So the decree was issued to put the wise men to death, and men were sent to look for Daniel and his friends to put them to death.
14 When Arioch, the commander of the king’s guard, had gone out to put to death the wise men of Babylon, Daniel spoke to him with wisdom and tact. 15 He asked the king’s officer, “Why did the king issue such a harsh decree?” Arioch then explained the matter to Daniel. 16 At this, Daniel went in to the king and asked for time, so that he might interpret the dream for him.
17 Then Daniel returned to his house and explained the matter to his friends Hananiah, Mishael and Azariah. 18 He urged them to plead for mercy from the God of heaven concerning this mystery, so that he and his friends might not be executed with the rest of the wise men of Babylon. 19 During the night the mystery was revealed to Daniel in a vision. Then Daniel praised the God of heaven 20 and said:
“Praise be to the name of God for ever and ever;
wisdom and power are his.
21 He changes times and seasons;
he deposes kings and raises up others.
He gives wisdom to the wise
and knowledge to the discerning.
22 He reveals deep and hidden things;
he knows what lies in darkness,
and light dwells with him.
23 I thank and praise you, God of my ancestors:
You have given me wisdom and power,
you have made known to me what we asked of you,
you have made known to us the dream of the king.”
Daniel Interprets the Dream
24 Then Daniel went to Arioch, whom the king had appointed to execute the wise men of Babylon, and said to him, “Do not execute the wise men of Babylon. Take me to the king, and I will interpret his dream for him.”
25 Arioch took Daniel to the king at once and said, “I have found a man among the exiles from Judah who can tell the king what his dream means.”
26 The king asked Daniel (also called Belteshazzar), “Are you able to tell me what I saw in my dream and interpret it?”
27 Daniel replied, “No wise man, enchanter, magician or diviner can explain to the king the mystery he has asked about, 28 but there is a God in heaven who reveals mysteries. He has shown King Nebuchadnezzar what will happen in days to come. Your dream and the visions that passed through your mind as you were lying in bed are these:
29 “As Your Majesty was lying there, your mind turned to things to come, and the revealer of mysteries showed you what is going to happen. 30 As for me, this mystery has been revealed to me, not because I have greater wisdom than anyone else alive, but so that Your Majesty may know the interpretation and that you may understand what went through your mind.
31 “Your Majesty looked, and there before you stood a large statue—an enormous, dazzling statue, awesome in appearance. 32 The head of the statue was made of pure gold, its chest and arms of silver, its belly and thighs of bronze, 33 its legs of iron, its feet partly of iron and partly of baked clay. 34 While you were watching, a rock was cut out, but not by human hands. It struck the statue on its feet of iron and clay and smashed them. 35 Then the iron, the clay, the bronze, the silver and the gold were all broken to pieces and became like chaff on a threshing floor in the summer. The wind swept them away without leaving a trace. But the rock that struck the statue became a huge mountain and filled the whole earth.
36 “This was the dream, and now we will interpret it to the king. 37 Your Majesty, you are the king of kings. The God of heaven has given you dominion and power and might and glory; 38 in your hands he has placed all mankind and the beasts of the field and the birds in the sky. Wherever they live, he has made you ruler over them all. You are that head of gold.
39 “After you, another kingdom will arise, inferior to yours. Next, a third kingdom, one of bronze, will rule over the whole earth. 40 Finally, there will be a fourth kingdom, strong as iron—for iron breaks and smashes everything—and as iron breaks things to pieces, so it will crush and break all the others. 41 Just as you saw that the feet and toes were partly of baked clay and partly of iron, so this will be a divided kingdom; yet it will have some of the strength of iron in it, even as you saw iron mixed with clay. 42 As the toes were partly iron and partly clay, so this kingdom will be partly strong and partly brittle. 43 And just as you saw the iron mixed with baked clay, so the people will be a mixture and will not remain united, any more than iron mixes with clay.
44 “In the time of those kings, the God of heaven will set up a kingdom that will never be destroyed, nor will it be left to another people. It will crush all those kingdoms and bring them to an end, but it will itself endure forever. 45 This is the meaning of the vision of the rock cut out of a mountain, but not by human hands—a rock that broke the iron, the bronze, the clay, the silver and the gold to pieces.
“The great God has shown the king what will take place in the future. The dream is true and its interpretation is trustworthy.”
46 Then King Nebuchadnezzar fell prostrate before Daniel and paid him honor and ordered that an offering and incense be presented to him. 47 The king said to Daniel, “Surely your God is the God of gods and the Lord of kings and a revealer of mysteries, for you were able to reveal this mystery.”
48 Then the king placed Daniel in a high position and lavished many gifts on him. He made him ruler over the entire province of Babylon and placed him in charge of all its wise men. 49 Moreover, at Daniel’s request the king appointed Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego administrators over the province of Babylon, while Daniel himself remained at the royal court.
留言列表
