Ezekiel 47:19Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

In summary, without delving into an exhaustive interpretation of Numbers in the context of Ezekiel, the boundary originates from the wilderness of Sin, adjacent to Edom and the Red Sea, traversing the ascent of Scorpio, following the route through Sienna and Kadeshwarneh, and extending to the precincts of Addar before reaching Asemoth, ultimately arriving at the stream of Egypt, which flows into the sea at Rinokorur. The southern boundary starts from the city of Tamar located in the desert, a site where Solomon built magnificent structures, now known as Palmyra, with Tamar meaning “palm tree” in Hebrew. This stretches to the waters of the creek of Kadesh, unmistakably situated in the wilderness, and to the stream that flows into the great sea, bordering Egypt and Palestine, marking the southern side at noon.

Following the northern and eastern boundaries, we transition to the southern side, where the sun of righteousness rises, illuminating us as we share a meal akin to that with Abraham and with Joseph and his brethren, enjoying the wine that gladdens the heart of man (Psalm 103). This territory begins at Tamar, symbolic of the palm tree representing triumph over vices, and stretches to the waters known for their rebellion. Indeed, virtues are often confronted by defiance. Thus, in the preaching of the Gospel, the Jewish people opposed Paul, causing strife throughout the world (Acts 15). In the Gospel, Simeon remarks, "Behold, this One is destined for the fall and rise of many, and for a sign that will be spoken against" (Luke 2:34). Holiness, referred to as Kadesh, often faces contradiction, as articulated by the Psalmist: "The Lord will shake down the wilderness of Kadesh" (Psalm 28:8); this reflects its initial lack of holiness, later transformed to welcome God as a guest, who declares, "On whom shall My Spirit rest? On the humble and contrite in spirit, and who trembles at My word" (Isaiah 66:2). Beyond the wilderness of Kadesh towards the great sea, we find the stream mentioned earlier, a source not of earthly rains but of heavenly outpourings, gathered from myriad virtues.

Their flourishing contributes to well-being, as we reflect on the profound goodness of a life lived in accordance with God, which allows us to experience health that aligns with divine will.

Following this, the Prophet receives insight regarding the boundaries of Israel. To the north, the limit is identified as Imath, which aligns with the Wednesday border of Damascus. Imath is also referred to as Epiphany, with some calling it Emessa; the Scriptures mention two cities of this name, noting ‘To Imath the great.’ The boundary to the east is the Jordan River, while to the south, it extends to the waters of the precursor, translated by the Syrian interpreter as Mari Moth. The western edge is defined by the sea. God commanded that this land be allocated not solely to the descendants of Israel, but also to the foreigners residing among them, who, as Scripture indicates, have borne children among you. Within each tribe, the foreigners living among them shall receive an inheritance alongside the tribe itself, as proclaimed by the prophet.