This is the final chapter of Ezekiel. It concentrates on the division of
the western section of the Land amongst the Tribes. [We understood that the
western section is divided equally and in square shaped areas but other
opinions say it is not divided equally only that it is divided
(Moshkovitch, Daat Mikra. At all events the eastern section apparently will
be divided according to other criteria]. Ezekiel began with describing the
departure of the Divine Presence from Jerusalem and he ends in the final
verse by saying that this will return and all will know of the Return. The
Return is connected with the Return and re-location of the Tribes. This is
very important. Tribal identification and the return of the Tribes is
important before the Almighty. It should be important to all of us. A first
prerequisite is acknowledgment of Israelite heritage, of Israelite
ancestry. Probably only in the Messianic era will most of us know, or be
sure of what we know, concerning which specific Tribe we belong to. I,
myself, believe my family is descended from Judah but here and there
certain incidents in my life indicated Levi and other tribes are also
possible. We can through family histories, names, family social history,
characteristics, etc often arrive at reasonable approximations concerning
our Tribes.

In the book, The Tribes, I used historical names, symbols, Biblical and
Rabbinical sources, anything that seemed pertinent, etc, to arrive at
Tribal approximations primarily at the national level. I did all this after
an extended period of significant effort on several levels. And on the
whole it worked. Since the publication of The Tribesmore evidence has come
to light, groups of people from the countries in question have met up with
me, scholars have corresponded, etc. The identifications hold.

We can refine and strengthen these national findings. We can also, in all
kinds of ways, to a degree further refine our identities within the areas
in question.

Within the USA go to:

http://www.hamrick.com/names/

This will tell you where in the USA your family name is the most
concentrated. This is a beginning. It may well be that to the degree that
different Israelite Tribes are in the USA and their distribution changes
from State to State and your family name is inherited then you belong to
the group represented by where your name is concentrated. And it may not be
so. So we try something else and attempt to confirm whatever we find in
other ways.  Or we leave it for the Messianic era. Nevertheless awareness
of Israelite Identity in general is something we must achieve. This must be
internalized. This to my mind borders on a religious obligation. This is
part of your individual destiny and it is the particular goal of this
generation of  Israelites from the Ten Tribes.

A Midrashic source (Sifrei) indicates that the division amongst the Tribes
in Ezekiel refers to that of the Land of Israel but that each tribe will
inherit from one end of the world to the other. What they inherit however
in the rest of the world will somehow be connected to what they inherit in
the Land of Israel. It is as if a line goes out from their inheritance in
the Land of Israel to wherever else they may be.

The Divisions given in Ezekiel reflect those in the Wilderness with significant differences here and there. Ezekiel places Dan at the far north and historically (as shown in Lost Israelite Identity) a portion of Dan did break away and seize territory of its own in Eastern Turkey to the North of Syria. They also seized the Island of Cyprus which was called Ydnna(Isle of Dan) by the Assyrians.

We have:

In the north: Dan, Asher, Naphtali, Manasseh, Ephraim, Reuben, Judah,

THE CITY AREA: Levi, The Messianic Prince, chosen Israelites from all the
Tribes.

In the south:

Benjamin, Simeon, Issachar, Zebulon, Gad,

<<OBLATION>>: Hebrew, trumah= offering

Members of all the tribes will dwell in the Holy City. In ancient times the
Israelites had to separate two tithes from their agricultural produce. The
first tithe was for the Priests (Cohans) and Levites who served in the
Temple and also instructed and supervised the people. The second tithe in
the third and six years was given to the poor and the Levites. In the
seventh year all the produce belonged to everybody so there were no tithes.
In the first, second, fourth, and fifth years (of each seven-year cycle)
the second tithe had to be eaten within the confines of Jerusalem. It could
be eaten by anybody. Those who separated the second tithe could eat it
themselves or give it to whomsoever they wished just as long as it was
eaten in Jerusalem. Alternately, it could be exchanged for its monetary
value (plus 25%) and the money taken to Jerusalem and there used to buy
second tithes from others to be eaten in Jerusalem. The object of all this
it has been said was to encourage each family to have members of the family
living permanently in Jerusalem. These family members would study and work
and their income be provided for (or at least supplemented) by offerings of
second tithes of the other family members. The advantages of this were that
every family of Israel would have a minimum family base within Jerusalem
and a family member who would know the Law well.

The City Gates: Each Tribe will have a gate to the city of its own.

North: Reuben, Judah, Levi

East: Joseph, Benjamin, Dan

South: Simeon, Issachar, Zebulon

West: Gad, Asher, Naphtali

The Twelve-Tribe Quorum: There were actually 13 tribes but twelve always
only counted. This chapter illustrates the principle. In the list of
territorial allocations Ephraim and Manasseh are counted as separate
tribes. Levi is not listed since his territory was bound up with the
central portion of the Prince and City. In the list of the gates Ephraim
and Manasseh are counted together as Joseph and Levi is listed separately.
In each case 12 separate entities are listed and not 13. This also shows
that even though Ephraim and Manasseh were separate tribes (in Biblical
times they sometimes fought each other!) in some ways in the eyes of God
and practical reality (a gate) they could be considered as one.

The Presence of God will be known all over the earth but it will be
ESPECIALLY  tangible in the Holy City.



The Future National Arrangements:

Taking different sources together the following picture may be proposed.
This is a PROPOSAL (and nothing more) based on sources as to what may be:

The Messiah or a Process associated with the Messiah will let all
Israelites know what tribe they belong to. Outside of the Land of Israel:
Non-Israelites who have not identified with their Israelite neighbors
and/or not gained merit will be sent away. Those who remain will be counted
as belonging to the tribe amongst whom they dwell. People from different
tribes will move to areas were members of their own tribe are predominant.
Each Tribe will be divided according to clans listed in the Bible.
Altogether there are seventy clans.

The Land of Israel in its Biblical proportions (as described by Ezekiel)
will be divided up amongst each of the Tribes. Representatives of each clan
will be given land in their Tribal regions in the Land of Israel. This land
can never be sold, must remain within the Tribe, and is passed on by
inheritance.

Families will probably be large and every family will endeavor to have some
family members permanently dwelling in the Holy City Territory which is
quite large. Land in this area (including agricultural areas) will be set
aside for this purpose. Their income will be supplemented by other family
members and it may become a custom for dwelling in Jerusalem to be rotated
around the family. Perhaps couples in the first years after their marriage
will spend time in the Holy City area learning and in spiritual and
intellectual invigoration.