Ezekiel 45 and 48
Terumat HaAretz: The Land Contribution in Ezekiel’s Vision
A source-based introduction to the measured land contribution described by Yechezkel: the set-apart district for the Mikdash, the consecrated Kohanim from the sons of Tzadok, the Levites, the city, and the ordered national arrangement around them.
The Rivkin Reconstruction Project
This page forms part of The Rivkin Reconstruction of Ezekiel’s Final Vision,
created by Peretz E. Rivkin. The underlying Torah-source research,
interpretive synthesis, measured land reconstruction, maps, diagrams, and geospatial presentation
were developed by Peretz Elchanan Rivkin and are published by Igud HaKohanim Inc.
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The biblical text and classical commentaries are not claimed as proprietary.
Copyright is claimed in the project’s original analysis, synthesis, selection and arrangement,
written explanations, measurement framework, maps, diagrams, interactive-map presentation,
annotations, captions, and other original visual and textual elements.
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Terumat HaAretz: The Land Contribution
Yechezkel describes a measured תְּרוּמָה from the Land — a land contribution set apart for Hashem.
תָּרִימוּ תְרוּמָה לַה׳ קֹדֶשׁ מִן־הָאָרֶץ
“You shall set apart a terumah for Hashem, holy, from the land.”
This Terumat HaAretz contains distinct measured zones: the Mikdash, the priestly Terumiyah of the sons of Tzadok, the Levitical holding, the city holding, and the ordered lands of the Nasi to the east and west.
The Land Contribution Is Ordered, Not Flat
Yechezkel’s land contribution includes several distinct zones. They belong to one measured order, but they do not all have the same function or the same level of holiness.
The Mikdash stands at the center of the vision. The consecrated Kohanim from the sons of Tzadok receive the priestly Terumiyah. The other Kohanim are not assigned to that priestly Terumiyah and belong with the Levitical order and its portion. The city receives its own holding. The Nasi receives defined land to the east and west. The result is a measured structure of holiness, service, civic life, and national order.
The Hebrew Terms Used by Ezekiel
To stay close to the text, this page distinguishes the main Hebrew terms used for each zone.
| Zone | Hebrew Term | Meaning | Function |
|---|---|---|---|
| The land contribution as a whole | תְּרוּמָה מִן־הָאָרֶץ | A terumah from the Land | The measured contribution set apart in Yechezkel’s vision |
| The Mikdash / sanctuary enclosure | הַמִּקְדָּשׁ / הַקֹּדֶשׁ | The sanctuary / the holy place | The central sacred enclosure within the priestly Terumiyah |
| Priestly Terumiyah | תְּרוּמִיָּה מִתְּרוּמַת הָאָרֶץ קֹדֶשׁ קָדָשִׁים | A Terumiyah from the Terumah of the Land, most holy | The portion for the consecrated Kohanim from the sons of Tzadok, with the Mikdash within it |
| Levitical order and portion | אֲחֻזַּת הַלְוִיִּם | The holding of the Levites | The measured Levitical portion, including Kohanim not assigned to the priestly Terumiyah of the sons of Tzadok |
| City portion | אֲחֻזַּת הָעִיר / חֹל הוּא לָעִיר | The city holding / common for the city | The city and its open land, distinguished from the holier portions |
| Nasi’s land | לַנָּשִׂיא | For the Nasi | Defined land to the east and west of the contribution |
The Main Measured Structure
The land contribution is arranged in measured portions. The central block contains the priestly Terumiyah, the Levitical holding, and the city holding. The Nasi’s land is arranged to the east and west.
This diagram is a simplified educational visualization. It is not a survey map. Its purpose is to show the relationships described by Yechezkel: Mikdash, priestly Terumiyah, Levitical holding, city holding, and Nasi.
Interactive Terumat HaAretz Map
This educational map places the measured central land contribution described in Ezekiel’s vision over a modern reference map. The Temple Mount area is used as a reference anchor for visualization only.
This interactive map presents the geographic conclusions of the Rivkin Reconstruction using Ezekiel’s measurements and the Torah sources identified on this page.
How the Tribal Strips Are Shown on the Map
The central Terumat HaAretz is measured directly in Yechezkel: the Kohanim’s portion, the Levites’ portion, and the city portion form a measured central order. The tribal strips around it are shown according to the repeated language of Yechezkel 48, where each tribe receives a portion from the eastern side to the western side:
מִפְּאַת קָדִים עַד פְּאַת יָמָּה
From the eastern side to the western side.
The Sifrei on ה׳ בָּדָד יַנְחֶנּוּ, cited by Rashi on Yechezkel 48:1, explains the future inheritance as extending from one end to the other. The same idea appears in Midrash HaGadol: each tribe receives its portion from the beginning of the east to the end of the west, with a width of עשרים וחמשה אלפי קנים, twenty-five thousand reeds. Malbim uses this same measured-strip logic: each tribe receives a רצועה, a strip, twenty-five thousand reeds from north to south.
For that reason, the map does not show the tribal portions as small boxes near the central district. It shows each shevet as a west-east strip. The western side is fitted to the Nachal Mitzrayim / Mediterranean side, and the eastern side is fitted to the course of the Prat. For the far-southern reach, the eastern side continues toward the body of water reached by the course of the Prat.
This is a study model based on Yechezkel, Sifrei, Midrash HaGadol, Rashi, and Malbim. It is not presented as a final surveyed border map.
Measurements of the Land Contribution
Yechezkel gives the measurements in reeds. Using the working scale of one reed as approximately 2.88 meters, the measured land contribution becomes a large ordered district with several internal zones.
| Section | Ezekiel Measurement | Approx. Modern Size | Textual Role |
|---|---|---|---|
| Priestly Terumiyah | 25,000 × 10,000 reeds | approx. 72 km × 28.8 km | For the consecrated Kohanim from the sons of Tzadok; most holy |
| Levitical Holding | 25,000 × 10,000 reeds | approx. 72 km × 28.8 km | Holding of the Levites, including Kohanim not assigned to the priestly Terumiyah |
| City Portion | 25,000 × 5,000 reeds | approx. 72 km × 14.4 km | Holding of the city; common for the city |
| Mikdash Enclosure | 500 × 500 reeds | approx. 1.44 km × 1.44 km | Sanctuary enclosure within the priestly Terumiyah |
The Terumiyah of the Sons of Tzadok
Within the land contribution, Yechezkel gives special language to the priestly portion. The phrase תְּרוּמִיָּה מִתְּרוּמַת הָאָרֶץ קֹדֶשׁ קָדָשִׁים identifies this portion as a uniquely elevated part of the Terumah of the Land.
Yechezkel connects this portion specifically to the consecrated Kohanim from the sons of Tzadok, who are described as having guarded the sanctuary charge. Kohanim who are not from the sons of Tzadok are not assigned to this priestly Terumiyah and belong with the Levitical order and its portion.
500 × 500
If the 500 × 500 reed Mikdash enclosure is centered within the 25,000 × 10,000 reed priestly Terumiyah, the surrounding space is approximately 4,750 reeds north and south, and 12,250 reeds east and west.
Continuing the Research and Visualization
This page presents the visual and mapping foundation for Yechezkel’s measured land contribution. Ongoing research will continue to refine the map layers, coordinates, textual sources, measurement assumptions, and accompanying visualizations:
Measured Diagrams
Clear visual diagrams of Terumat HaAretz, the priestly Terumiyah, the Levitical holding, and the city holding.
Map Overlays
Geospatial overlays showing how the measured portions may appear when anchored to modern geography.
Coordinates and Sources
A structured table of coordinates, source verses, measurement assumptions, and confidence levels.
Temple-Centered Layout
A visual explanation of how the Mikdash, priestly Terumiyah, Levitical holding, city holding, and Nasi relate to one another in Yechezkel’s measured order.
A Careful Note on Holiness
The land contribution should not be understood as one flat area with one identical level of holiness. Yechezkel distinguishes its parts. The Mikdash is the sacred center. The consecrated Kohanim from the sons of Tzadok receive the priestly Terumiyah, described as most holy. The other Kohanim belong with the Levitical order and its portion. The city portion is explicitly described as common for the city.
The purpose of this page is to present that ordered structure accurately: one measured land contribution, with distinct zones, names, functions, and levels.
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