Congregation Bible Study (30 min.): rr chap. 21 paras. 1-6, video and Box 21A.
1, 2. (a) What land must be set aside for a special purpose? (See the illustrated cover of this book.) b) What guarantee does this vision offer to the exiles?
In Ezekiel's last vision there is mention of a strip of land that has to be set aside for a special purpose. That land is not given as an inheritance to any tribe of Israel, but is set aside as a contribution to Jehovah. An extraordinary city with a very striking name is also mentioned. This part of the vision offers the exiles an all-important guarantee: Jehovah will be with them when they return to his beloved land.
Ezekiel describes that contribution in detail. Let us analyze this account full of meaning for us, the true servants of Jehovah.
ILLUSTRATION:
Aerial view of a portion of the land called "the entire contribution" and of the city called "Jehovah Is There". The temple of Ezekiel's vision resplendent with the glory of God; it is situated on top of a very high mountain through which a river flows.
The holy contribution together with the city
3. Thinking about the part of the country that Jehovah reserves for a special purpose, what five areas are mentioned in the vision, and what function do they serve? (See the box “The Contribution You Must Reserve.”)
Within that strip is land that measures 25,000 cubits (8 miles [13 km]) from north to south, and another 25,000 cubits from east to west. That square piece of land is called “the entire contribution”, and it is divided into three horizontal sections. The one above is for the Levites; the middle one is reserved for the temple and the priests. Those two sections together form the "holy contribution." And the lower section, or "the rest of the land," is the smallest and is intended "for community use of the city" (Ezek. 48:15, 20).
TOOLBOX 21A: “The contribution you must set aside”
Map of a portion of land called “the contribution” and set aside by Jehovah, and an inset of the portion of that land called “the entire contribution.”
Join Ezekiel as he describes the part of the land that Jehovah sets aside for a special purpose. Five areas are mentioned in the vision. Which are? What function do they have?
ILLUSTRATION:
Map of the land called “the contribution” and reserved by Jehovah, and, within that map, an inset showing a square area of 25,000 cubits (8 miles [13 km]) from north to south and 25,000 cubits from east to west. This square piece of land is called “the entire contribution” and is divided into three horizontal stripes: the upper section; the middle section, where the temple is; and the section below, where the city called "Jehovah Is There" is.
A. “The contribution”
It is a strip of land for government use and has an administrative purpose
EZEQ. 48:8
B. “The entire tax”
It is an area intended for the priests, the Levites and the city. In addition, there are members of the 12 tribes who enter there to worship Jehovah and support the administration
EZEQ. 48:20
C. “The territory of the chief”
“That land will be your property in Israel” “It will belong to the chief”
EZEQ. 45:7, 8; 48:21, 22
D. “The holy contribution”
The section above is "for the Levites" and "is something holy." The one in the middle is “the holy contribution for the priests”. It is "a place for their houses and a sacred place for the sanctuary" or temple
EZEQ. 45:1-5; 48:9-14
E. “The rest of the land”
“This land will belong to the entire house of Israel” and “it will be for community use in the city, for homes and pastures”
EZEQ. 45:6; 48:15-19
4. What lesson do we draw from the passage about contributing to Jehovah?
What lesson do we draw from the passage about contributing to Jehovah? We see that this special contribution was first reserved, and then the rest of the country was divided among the tribes. In this way, Jehovah showed that priority should be given to that central strip of the country, which had a spiritual purpose (Ezek. 45:1). The order of importance in the distribution of the land undoubtedly taught the exiles a great lesson: the worship of Jehovah had to come first in his life. For us, spiritual activities—such as studying God's Word, attending meetings, and participating in the preaching work—are also a priority. If we imitate Jehovah and set the right priorities, our daily lives will revolve around worshiping him.
“The city will be in the midst of him”
5, 6. (a) Whose city was it? b) What is not the city, and why?
Read Ezekiel 48:15. What did “the city” and its surroundings represent? (Ezek. 48:16-18). Regarding “the property of the city,” Jehovah had told Ezekiel: “This land will belong to the whole house of Israel” (Ezek. 45:6, 7). So the city and its environs were not part of “the holy contribution” or, as God said, “the contribution that you shall reserve for the Lord” (Ezek. 48:9). Taking this difference into account, let's see what we can learn from that city today.
To begin with, let us make it clear what the city cannot be. The city cannot be the rebuilt Jerusalem and its temple. Why? Because there is no temple within the city that Ezekiel sees. Nor can it be any other city in the restored land of Israel. Why? Because neither those who returned from exile nor their descendants built a city with those characteristics. And lastly, it cannot be a heavenly city either. Why? Because it was built on “common use” land , that is, a place that was neither sacred nor intended for worship (Ezek. 42:20).
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