Ezekiel 47:19
“On the south side, it shall run from Tamar as far as the waters of Meribah-kadesh, from there along the Brook of Egypt to the Great Sea. This shall be the south side.
English Standard Version (ESV)
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The verse deliberately names the "waters of Meribah-kadesh," calling to mind Israel's place of rebellion and God's provision in the wilderness. This boundary isn't just geographical; it's a reminder of how deeply God's past faithfulness and human failings are woven into the land He promised.
Ezekiel is describing the divinely allotted borders of the restored land, continuing from the previous verses that detailed the eastern and northern boundaries. This verse specifically outlines the southern edge, extending from a place called Tamar to the significant "waters of strife" at Kadesh, and then following the ancient "river of Egypt" (a wadi or dry stream bed) to the Great Sea (the Mediterranean). This detailed geographical description is part of a larger vision of a renewed and just Israel, emphasizing the completeness and order God intends for His people.
Ever wonder what the edges of God's promises look like? Ezekiel's vision draws a clear line, connecting seemingly distant points.
Ezekiel 47:19 lays out the southern boundary of the restored land. It begins at 'Tamar' and extends to the 'waters of Meribah-Kadesh'.
Defining the Edge
A Tale of Two Places
Connecting these two points isn't just geography; it's a theological statement. It spans from a place suggesting life and abundance to a place marked by human failure and God's disciplinary response. This boundary encompasses both the blessings God intends and the challenging history of His people.
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Boundaries aren't just lines on a map; they often lead to the widest horizons. See how this southern edge opens up to a vast expanse.
The verse continues the southern border by mentioning its path 'along the Brook of Egypt to the Great Sea.'
The Final Frontier
Embracing the Fullness
This final leg of the boundary is crucial. It signifies not just a territorial limit but the completeness of God's provision. From the established land of promise, defined by its historical markers and natural borders, the vision expands to the limitless sea. It's a powerful image of the ultimate, expansive blessing God intends for His people, reaching to the ends of the known world.
Understand the original words
Meribah · Hebrew Proper Noun
Derived from the root 'to quarrel' or 'to strive,' this place name commemorates the site where the Israelites contended with Moses and God regarding the lack of water. It serves as a reminder of human unbelief and God's holiness.
Qadesh · Hebrew Proper Noun
A place of sanctuary, the name 'Kadesh' relates to holiness or consecration. In the wilderness narrative, it was a central location for Israel’s encampment and acts as a significant point of reference for the land's borders.
Ezekiel's description of the southern boundary refers back to the divinely ordained borders established during the initial conquest and tribal allotment, but with a renewed sense of divine order and territorial integrity envisioned for the post-exilic community.
c. 1405 BC
Israel Enters the Promised Land
Following the Exodus from Egypt and 40 years of wandering, the Israelites, under Joshua, crossed the Jordan River and began conquering the land of Canaan, establishing their presence in the region.
c. 1400-1350 BC
Tribal Allotment of Land
After the conquest, the land of Canaan was divided by lot among the twelve tribes of Israel. Detailed boundaries, including references to Tamar and Kadesh-barnea, were established for these tribal territories.
c. 931 BC
Division of the Kingdom
Following the death of King Solomon, the unified kingdom of Israel split into two: the northern Kingdom of Israel (ten tribes) and the southern Kingdom of Judah (two tribes), altering political and geographical understanding of the land.
586 BC
Fall of Jerusalem and Babylonian Exile
The Babylonians conquered Jerusalem, destroyed the Temple, and exiled a significant portion of the population. This event marked a profound disruption of Israelite life and a loss of their land.
c. 570 BC— this verse
Ezekiel's Vision of the Restored Temple and Land
During the Babylonian exile, Ezekiel received prophetic visions of a future restored Jerusalem, a new Temple, and a precisely re-defined, divinely appointed land. Ezekiel 47:19 is part of this detailed geographical vision.
c. 539 BC
Return from Exile
The Persian Empire, under Cyrus the Great, conquered Babylon and allowed the Jewish exiles to return to Jerusalem and rebuild their Temple. This marked the beginning of the Second Temple period.
This passage provides the original definition of the southern boundary of the Promised Land, establishing the same key landmarks like Tamar and Kadesh-Barnea that Ezekiel references, highlighting the continuity of God's promises for the land.
Joshua 15:1-4This chapter details the actual inheritance of the southern territory by the tribe of Judah, showing how the divinely appointed borders described by Ezekiel and Numbers were realized in the allocation of the land.
Genesis 15:18This foundational promise from God to Abraham outlines the extent of the land He would give to his descendants, stretching from the river of Egypt to the great river Euphrates, of which Ezekiel's southern boundary is a critical part.
Jeremiah 2:18This prophetic lament mentions journeying to Egypt and Assyria, illustrating the historical and geographical context of the 'river of Egypt' as a significant marker in Israel's relationship with its neighbors and its promised land.
jfbEzekiel 47:19: "And the south side southward, from Tamar even to the waters of strife in Kadesh, the river to the great sea. And this is the south side southward."
- Tamar—not Tadmor in the desert, but Tamar, the last town of Judea, by the Dead Sea. Meaning "palm tree"; so called from palm trees abounding near it.
barnesEzekiel 47:19: "And the south side southward, from Tamar even to the waters of strife in Kadesh, the river to the great sea. And this is the south side southward."
The south border (compare Numbers 34:4 ) commences with "Tamar," probably a village near the southern end of the Dead Sea. The word means "palm-tree;" and is given to more than one city in the holy land. The river to the great sea - literally, "riverward to the great sea." By the "river" is meant the torrent-stream entering the Medit…
The verse deliberately names the "waters of Meribah-kadesh," calling to mind Israel's place of rebellion and God's provision in the wilderness. This boundary isn't just geographical; it's a reminder of how deeply God's past faithfulness and human failings are woven into the land He promised.
Ezekiel is describing the divinely allotted borders of the restored land, continuing from the previous verses that detailed the eastern and northern boundaries. This verse specifically outlines the southern edge, extending from a place called Tamar to the significant "waters of strife" at Kadesh, and then following the ancient "river of Egypt" (a wadi or dry stream bed) to the Great Sea (the Mediterranean). This detailed geographical description is part of a larger vision of a renewed and just Israel, emphasizing the completeness and order God intends for His people.
Ezekiel is describing the divinely allotted borders of the restored land, continuing from the previous verses that detailed the eastern and northern boundaries. This verse specifically outlines the southern edge, extending from a place called Tamar to the significant "waters of strife" at Kadesh, and then following the ancient "river of Egypt" (a wadi or dry stream bed) to the Great Sea (the Mediterranean). This detailed geographical description is part of a larger vision of a renewed and just Israel, emphasizing the completeness and order God intends for His people.
"“On the south side, it shall run from Tamar as far as the waters of Meribah-kadesh, from there along the Brook of Egypt to the Great Sea. This shall be the south side." — The verse deliberately names the "waters of Meribah-kadesh," calling to mind Israel's place of rebellion and God's provision in the wilderness. This boundary isn't just geographical; it's a reminder…
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