Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Ezekiel 48:13
And over against the border of the priests the Levites [shall have] five and twenty thousand in length, and ten thousand in breadth: all the length [shall be] five and twenty thousand, and the breadth ten thousand.
13. The portion of the oblation of land assigned to the Levites. The portion of the Levites is of the same extent as that of the priests, 25,000 long (E. to W.) by 10,000 broad (N. to S.). It runs “over against,” i.e. along side of the priests’ domain, and lies to the north of it.
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
See this verse explained Eze 45:5. The Levites portion ran parallel with the priests, whose northern limits were next to the southern limits of the Levites.
Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole
And over against the border of the priests,…. Next to their border, close to it, running parallel with it:
the Levites shall have five and twenty thousand in length, and ten thousand in breadth; for accommodations for them; for chambers to lodge in, and other uses; all concerned in the house and worship of God shall be provided for with everything necessary and convenient for them;
[See comments on Eze 45:5]:
all the length shall be five and twenty thousand, and the breadth ten thousand; all the length of the land, both for the priests and Levites, should be five and twenty thousand reeds, and the breadth of the land for both ten thousand reeds: this is repeated for the certainty of it, and to prevent any mistake about it.
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
13, 14. The Levites’ portion adjoins that of the priests to the north and is exactly equal to it. This territory and its first fruits were sacred to Jehovah and could not be disposed of at the will of its occupants (xlv, 1; compare Lev 25:24; Lev 25:32).
Fuente: Whedon’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
“And answerable to the border of the priests, the Levites will have twenty five thousand in length, and ten thousand in breadth. All the length shall be twenty five thousand, and the breadth ten thousand. And they will not sell in it, nor barter in it, nor will the firstfruits of the land be alienated, for it is holy to Yahweh.”
The portion for the Levites is also upgraded. It is now holy to Yahweh. As the land is being given to the people, so are the priests’ and Levites’ portions upgraded another stage to be closer in significance to the heavenly sanctuary. All earthly trade is forbidden in the Levites’ portion. The mention of the alienating of the firstfruits might suggest that the Levites had actually, under the kings, been selling the firstfruits, which were for them alone, to outsiders for profit. Now their minds are to be on heavenly things alone. They must seek God alone.
Fuente: Commentary Series on the Bible by Peter Pett
Eze 48:13. And over against the border And beside the border.
Fuente: Commentary on the Holy Bible by Thomas Coke
Eze 48:13 And over against the border of the priests the Levites [shall have] five and twenty thousand in length, and ten thousand in breadth: all the length [shall be] five and twenty thousand, and the breadth ten thousand.
Ver. 13. The Levites shall have. ] But after the priests. There are degrees of officers in the Church, and good order must be well observed there.
Five and twenty thousand in length.
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
five and twenty thousand in: Eze 45:3, Deu 12:19, Luk 10:7
Reciprocal: Eze 45:5 – the five Eze 48:15 – for the city
Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
Eze 48:13. The Levites as a tribe were to have this assignment, even though most of them would not be eligible for the priesthood.
Fuente: Combined Bible Commentary
Eze 48:13-14. Over against the border of the priests It might be better translated, just by, or beside the border of the priests. The words import, that the border of the Levites should run parallel to that of the priests. And in the same sense the words should be translated in the 15th, 18th, and 21st verses of this chapter. And they shall not sell it, neither exchange Or, transfer, &c. As it was Gods portion, they were not to sell, or part with it, upon any pretence of advantage, or of greater convenience. This portion of land is called the first-fruits, as it is styled an oblation, Eze 48:8; Eze 48:12, to denote that the whole land was Gods property.
Fuente: Joseph Bensons Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
The other Levitical priests would have an allotment the same size next to the allotment of the Zadokite priests. They were not to sell or exchange any of this land for other land because it was holy to the Lord.