Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Ezekiel 47:15
And this [shall be] the border of the land toward the north side, from the great sea, the way of Hethlon, as men go to Zedad;
15. The northern border. The two ends of the line of delimitation on the N. are the great sea on the west and Hazar Enon on the east. The line passes from west to east, bending, towards its termination at least, towards S.E. In its way it skirts the territory of Hamath and that of Damascus.
as men go to Zedad ] In Eze 47:20 and Eze 48:1 the reading is “as one goeth to Hamath,” a frequent phrase, sometimes rendered “the entering into Hamath” (Jos 13:5), or “the entering in of Hamath” (Jdg 3:3; 1Ki 8:65), or “the entrance of Hamath” (Num 34:8). In 1Ki 8:65 the phrase seems to mean the southern boundary of Hamath. Unfortunately the point on the western sea from which the line starts is not specified, as the situation of Hethlon is unknown. The entrance to Hamath must be either the mouth of the Buk’, the great plain between the Libanus on the W. and the Anti-libanus on the E., by which one goes N. to Hamath, or it must be the plain between the North end of the Libanus and the Nusairyeh mountains, opening from the sea and running east. This would throw the boundary-line north of Tripoli, and south of Arvad. In Jos 13:5, the land of the Giblites, i.e. Gebal (Byblus) to the N. of Beirut, is regarded as part of Israel’s possession. In Num 34:8, where the northern boundary is described, the reading is the “entrance of Hamath,” Zedad being mentioned afterwards. Except in 1Ch 5:9 the phrase is only used of Hamath. Following Eze 48:1, and Num 34:8, the place of Zedad and Hamath may be changed, as LXX. also seems to have read Hamath before Zedad. 15 “And this shall be the boundary of the land: on the N. side, from the great sea by the way of Hethlon, where the way goeth unto Hamath, by Zedad, 16 Berothah, Sibraim, which is between the border of Damascus and the border of Hamath, even unto Hazar-hattikon, which is by the border of Hauran.” If we could suppose the entry to Hamath not the southern one by the plain of Cle Syria, but the western one from the sea to the N. of Tripoli, Hethlon might be the modern Heitela (Robinson’s Map, 1852). Zedad has been supposed to be Sadad, S. of Emesa (Homs) and not far from Riblah. With Berotha, cf. Berothai, 2Sa 8:8. In Num 34:9 Ziphran seems to occupy the place of Sibraim here. In Numb, the line appears to run E. as far as Zedad, and then to change its direction to the S. till it ends at Hazar Enan.
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
The borders of the land follow closely Num. 34, where they begin from the south, as the people came up from Egypt; in Ezekiel, they begin from the north, as they might return from Babylon. The occupation is ideal, but is grounded, as usual, on an actual state of things.
The border of the land toward the north – Names of places in the actual northern border are given (marginal references) not to mark exact geographical position, but to show that the original promise will be fulfilled.
The way of Hethlon, was probably the defile between the ranges of Libanus and Anti-libanus, from the sea to Hamath. Hamath Amo 6:2, at the foot of Mount Hermon, on the Orontes. was the ancient capital of the Hittites. Its Scripture history may be traced in Gen 10:18; 2Sa 8:9; 2Ki 18:34. It was never included in the possessions of Israel. The border ran considerably south of the town at the entrance of Hamath, the northern opening of Coele-Syria.
Fuente: Albert Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
Verse 15. The way of Hethlon, us men go to Zedad.] Probably Hethlon is the same as Cuthlon, a city of Syria, between Antioch and Laodicea, according to Antoninus. Some of these places are not known; but see the same kind of division, Nu 34:7-12.
Fuente: Adam Clarke’s Commentary and Critical Notes on the Bible
In bounding the land, the prophet is informed what is the north border first. The great sea; called so, not that it is the greatest, for it is the Mediterranean here spoken of, but with respect to the Jews; this to them was the greatest they knew or traded on: from this sea doth the measuring of the land begin, from the west point along to Hethlon.
Hethlon is called Hethalon by Adrichmius, in the tribe of Asher, at the foot or near the Mount Herman or Senir, as Eze 27:5 calls that mount: this city was in the north-east of Ashers lot, and on the north-west of Naphtalis lot, in the old division of the land.
Zedad is Sedada, a small town under the same hill, and near the head of the river Eleutherus, anciently Gebat.
Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole
15. Zedadon the northboundary of Canaan.
Fuente: Jamieson, Fausset and Brown’s Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
And this shall be the border of the land toward the north side,…. The description of the borders of the land begins on the north side; because the Gospel, and the interest of Christ, would be, as they now are, chiefly in the northern part of the world, before the latter day glory takes place, and from thence spread into the other parts of it:
from the great sea, the way of Hethlon, as men go to Zedad; the line of this border shall begin at the Mediterranean sea, commonly called the great sea, and so proceed to Hethlon, a city in Syria Damascene, and from thence to Zedad; of which see Nu 34:8, the description is taken all along from the places which were on the border of Canaan, or in countries adjacent to it, which plainly point out the enlargement of it.
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
(15) This shall be the border of the land.The boundaries are essentially the same as those given in Num. 34:1-15, only that there the southern boundary is given first to the Israelites coming up from Egypt, while here the northern is first described for the people supposed to be returning from Babylon. There is also more detail given in Numbers, and as the points mentioned here are the same, it is fair to fill out this description from the earlier one. It is remarkable that in both cases the eastern boundary is the Jordan. The inheritance of the tribes on the east of that river having been a modification of the original allotment, and not being taken into consideration at all here, portions are assigned on the west of the river to the two and a half tribes who had lived all through Israels history on the east.
The way of Hethlon.The boundary begins at the Mediterranean, but at what precise point cannot be determined; for although it is evident that the lines between the tribes were straight and parallel, yet it does not appear whether they were perpendicular to the Jordan, which would be substantially parallel to the lines of latitude, or perpendicular to the Mediterranean, which would make a small angle with them. Hethlon is mentioned only here and in Eze. 48:1, and has not been identified. It was probably a place of little importance, as its situation is described as men go to Zedad. The latter place is mentioned in Num. 34:8 as one of the points in the original northern border of the land. It is clear from the passage in Numbers that it lay eastward of the entrance to Hamath, and has been identified by some writers with the modern village of Sadad, but this is thirty miles from the entrance of Hamath, which seems quite too far. Ezekiel may have passed through it when carried captive to Babylon.
Fuente: Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers (Old and New Testaments)
15-17. “This is the border of the land on the north: from the Great Sea (the Mediterranean) by Hethlon to the frontier of Hamath as far as Zedad, thence on to Beroth-Sibraim, which is on the line between the territories of Damascus and Hamath, and to Hazar-enan, which is on the border of Hauran: that is, the border shall run from the sea to Hazar-enan, the territory of Damascus lying to the north. This is the northern border.” Toy. Most of these sites cannot now be identified. Damascus is well known. (See map facing page 232.) Hauran is almost certainly the modern Hauran (Auranitis). Hamath was on the Orontes, north of Mount Hermon (compare Amo 6:2; Jos 13:5; Jdg 3:3); but this refers not to the city, but to the district of Hamath. Hazar-enan is possibly the modern Hader, at the foot of Mount Hermon. Toy connects Hethlon with the modern Adlun, near Tyre, and Hazar-enan with Hazureh, a little northward of Banias, adding, “the line seems to have started from a point on the Mediterranean Sea, near Tyre, and to have run eastward, near the parallel of 33 15’ to Dan (Banias).” Orelli connects Hethlon with the modern Heitela, and Zedad with the modern Sadad. “Thus,” says he, “the northern frontier inclosed the whole of Lebanon, and this is in full accord with the Mosaic program.”
Fuente: Whedon’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
“And this will be the border of the land. On the north side from the Great Sea by the way of Hethlon, to the entering in of Zedad. Hamath, Berothah, Sibraim, which is between the border of Damascus and the border of Hamath, Hazer-hatticon, which is by the border of Hauran. And the border from the sea will be Hazar-enon at the border of Damascus, and on the north, northward, is the border of Hamath. This is the north side.”
The western boundary would naturally be the Mediterranean (the Great Sea), and the eastern boundary the Jordan (Eze 47:18). The northern boundary was more complicated and with our lack of knowledge difficult to define in more than a general way.
Hethlon may be modern ‘Adlun, a coastal town some sixteen kilometres (ten miles) north of Tyre. The ‘entering in of Zedad’ is some point south of Zedad. Zedad may be either modern Sadad, 110 kilometres (seventy miles) east-north-east of Byblos, or Khirbet Sirada, a few miles north of Dan (reading Sarad with LXX and the Samaritan text – d and r were easily confused in the ancient Hebrew script). Hamath probably refers to the southern border of the district of Hamath often called ‘the entering in of Hamath’ (or Lebo-Hamath), Berothah may be modern Breitan, south of Baalbek (compare 2Sa 8:8). Sibraim is said to be between the border of Hamath and the border of Damascus. Hazer-hatticon (‘middle Hazer’) may be the same as Hazar-enon at the border of Damascus. Hauran is east of the sea of Chinnereth (Galilee) around the Bashan area in north Transjordan. ‘The sea’ may be the Sea of Chinnereth (Tiberias/Galilee). Note that the border of Hamath is to the north of the territory being described.
Fuente: Commentary Series on the Bible by Peter Pett
Eze 47:15. Great sea Mediterranean sea.
Fuente: Commentary on the Holy Bible by Thomas Coke
Eze 47:15 And this [shall be] the border of the land toward the north side, from the great sea, the way of Hethlon, as men go to Zedad;
Ver. 15. And this shall be the border of the land, ] i.e., Of the Christian Church, the borders whereof are here set forth as far larger than those of the land of Canaan ever were.
From the great sea.
The way of Hethlon.
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
NASB (UPDATED) TEXT: Eze 47:15-17
15This shall be the boundary of the land: on the north side, from the Great Sea by the way of Hethlon, to the entrance of Zedad; 16Hamath, Berothah, Sibraim, which is between the border of Damascus and the border of Hamath; Hazer-hatticon, which is by the border of Hauran. 17The boundary shall extend from the sea to Hazar-enan at the border of Damascus, and on the north toward the north is the border of Hamath. This is the north side.
Eze 47:15-20 The southern boundaries are close to Joshua’ boundaries (cf. Num 34:1-12) and the kingdoms of David and Solomon, but the northern part is expanded northward and eastward as far as Hamath and including most of Syria.
Fuente: You Can Understand the Bible: Study Guide Commentary Series by Bob Utley
And this: Eze 47:17-20
Hethlon: Eze 48:1
Zedad: Num 34:8
Reciprocal: Num 34:6 – General Eze 47:10 – the great sea Eze 48:28 – the great sea Amo 6:14 – from
Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
Eze 47:15. The great sea iB the Mediterranean forming one boundary.
Fuente: Combined Bible Commentary
Eze 47:15-17. This shall be the border toward the north The northern border of the land was to begin from the west point, on which side lay the Mediterranean sea, and to go on northward toward Hethlon, a place between Tyre and Damascus, and so forward to Zedad, mentioned Num 34:8, Hamath, and other places here mentioned in these verses.
Fuente: Joseph Bensons Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
47:15 And this [shall be] the border {k} of the land toward the north side, from the great sea, the way of Hethlon, as men go to Zedad;
(k) By the land of promise he signifies the spiritual land of which this was a figure.
Fuente: Geneva Bible Notes
The Lord specified the boundaries by listing place names that the Israelites of Ezekiel’s day would have known. Not all of them are identifiable today.
The northern boundary would run from the Great (Mediterranean) Sea east, following the road to Hethlon, to the entrance of the town of Zedad, and through the region of Hamath (cf. 1Ki 8:65) near Berothah to Sibraim. It then ran through Hazar-hatticon (lit. the middle Hazar) on the border of the territory of Hauran. Hazar-enan (perhaps the same as Hazar-hatticon) seems to have been the easternmost town in this string. It apparently stood between the borders of the territories controlled by Damascus and Hamath. Some of these sites apparently stood within or adjacent to the region described, not just along its border.