Matthew Poole and continuators on Ezekiel 48:8

8 And by the border of Judah, from the East-side to the West side, shall be the offering which ye shall offer of five and twenty thousand reeds in breadth, and in length as one of the other parts, from the East side to the West side : and the sanctuary shall be in the midst of it .

The Holy portion of which, chap. 45.1. set out for Priests, Levites, and City, chap. 45.4, 5.

Reeds is here supplyed by the Translators, but I rather think Cubits, for the greatness of the Portion measur'd by reeds will eat out the Tribes, or leave very little for them, as appears thus. The whole length from North to South was about 160 miles, the breadth some 60. Now 25000 reeds is at the least 77 miles, at one thousand paces to a mile. These 77 taken out of 160, there will remain but 83 for the 12 Tribes, which will afford not quite seven miles in breadth for each Tribe, when as 77 miles are allotted to the Priests, Levites, and City, so that there will remain but 83 miles for the 12 Tribes, that is to each one almost 7 miles. Now this to me would seem very much disproportion'd; but 25000 cubits reckoned doth give the holy portion and City 12 miles and half square as broad as long, and gives near as much in breadth to each Tribe, and five times almost as much in length to each Tribe, which appears thus, 12 times 12 makes 144, and 12 quarters makes 3 wholes 5 give then each Tribe 12 and a quarter, you divide 147 by 12 and a quarter: now to this add the Princes, the holy portion, and the City land, which is twelve miles and a half, and you have 159 miles, and three quarters, which is the length of the whole land; thus the breadth of each portion for each Tribe, but the length of each exceeded the Prince by▪ 12, and a half, and the Holy portion, as much as 60 exceeds 12 and a half.

That is Twenty five thousand in length, which amounts to twelve miles and one half. Now the residue of the land from the Sea Eastward abutting on the whole breadth of the Holy portion by equal proportion will be twenty three and one quarter, and as much from the other side measuring from the Eastern bounds of the Holy portion to the utmost bounds Eastward of the land, which is 60 miles from its utmost western bounds, as appears thus; take an oblong square, whose breadth is 12 and a half, its length 60, suppose in the very middle 12 and a half square taken up, there will remain at each end the half of 47 and three quarters, which is 23 and three quarters, according to this we conceive the prince hath assign'd him as much as two Tribes very near, and almost four times as much as the Holy Oblation; so that there is good reason for that chap. 45.9. against oppression, and the command he be content.

The whole content of Suburbs, courts, and house.

Of the land laid out for the Holy portion, for God, and his Priests.