THEOSISJerome of Stridon
And there will be a single inheritance that extends from the border of Dan on the eastern side to the sea of Dan, alongside an inheritance from the border of Dan to the sea of Asher. Additionally, from the boundary of Dan to the seashore adjacent to Asher, there will be one inheritance. These boundaries will extend beyond Asher's border, leading east to the coastal area of Naphtali, thus marking another inheritance. This continues across Naphtali’s border from the east to the seas bordering Manasseh, which constitutes yet another inheritance. Similarly, from Manasseh's border, there will be an inheritance extending from the east to the shores of Ephraim, followed by the same transition to Reuben.
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Lastly, from Reuben's border, the inheritance will reach from the eastern side to the coast of Judah.
This description details the possession of the holy land, as foretold in both the present prophecy of Ezekiel and the book of Numbers, allocating territory to each of the tribes from east to west, specifically toward the seashore. The demarcation of these boundaries starts from the north, along the road to Ephalon towards Emath, including the territory of Aser - Enom and the boundaries of Damascus, which has already been mentioned. The order begins with the tribe of Dan, followed by Asher, Naphtali, Manasseh, Ephraim, Reuben, and concluding with Judah, making a total of seven tribes on the left side.
Following this is the designation for the priests and Levites, centered around the sanctuary of the Lord, along with the holy of holies. The city itself is detailed as having a perimeter of four thousand five hundred canes on every side. The areas surrounding the dwellings of the priests, Levites, and the possessions of the prince are systematically described. On the right side, five tribes will follow in the same order, beginning with Benjamin, followed by Simeon—which possesses its own distinct area, separate from Judah's—then Issachar as the third, Zebulon as the fourth, and Gad as the fifth. Each side of the city will feature three gates, and the city's name is inscribed on a golden plate affixed to the forehead of the high priest.
We shall elaborate on each aspect in its due course. It is worth noting that the names of the forty-eight cities allocated for the Levites, along with their suburbs as mentioned in the book of Numbers, are omitted here, including the cities designated for the refuge seekers. These cities include Bosor, Ramoth, and Gablon across the Jordan for the two and a half tribes and on this side of the Jordan: Kadesh, Shechem, and Cariafarbeh. Within this mysterious representation, together with the habitation of the saints and their life, it was not deemed necessary to describe what existed for the sanctuary of those seeking refuge. This omission reflects the essential journey of Israel on earth, amidst sufferings and dangers, striving for their ultimate destination, echoing through the sentiments of the saints: “I am a stranger and a sojourner, as were all my fathers” (Psalms 38:13), and, “I am with the tents of Kedar; my soul has long been a dweller" (Psalm 119:5-6).