All the Children of Israel, all their “Tribes,” once again amassed (orderly) in the “Promised Land!” (What “lost tribes?” God never misplaced a single one of them!) This unity will literally happen in the future Millennium, as per Ezekiel’s account!

And today’s Bible Text (Ezekiel 48:23-29) enumerates the last group for us (Benjamin and Simeon and Issachar and Zebulun and Gad).

Their Millennial lands range east to west … in the exact sequence I just listed. Like this: “As for the rest of the tribes, from the east side unto the west side, BENJAMIN shall have a portion. And by the border of Benjamin, from the east side unto the west side, SIMEON shall have a portion. And by the border of Simeon, from the east side unto the west side, ISSACHAR a portion. And by the border of Issachar, from the east side unto the west side, ZEBULUN a portion. And by the border of Zebulun, from the east side unto the west side, GAD a portion. nd by the border of Gad, at the south side southward, the border shall be even from Tamar unto the waters of strife in Kadesh, and to the river toward the great sea. This is the land which ye shall divide by lot unto the tribes of Israel for inheritance, and these are their portions, saith the Lord GOD.”

And, as we observed earlier this week, the Tribes (these are simply the sons of Jacob) issuing from Jacob’s  real Wives (Leah and Rachel), as opposed to merely his “handmaids” or concubines … get the territory nearest the Temple!

Wow!

I can’t fully explain why, either! (But this much is for sure. God’s Will, no doubt … Wifehood outweighs Concubinage … 100% of the time. God’s clearly stated Will, period.) My computer says no such word exists, “concubinage!” But you know what I mean.

But I can add this little bit. The meanings of the names of the twelve Sons of Jacob, in their birth order, tells the amazing story of God’s Grace, His working with mankind! The first four … how we got saved! The middle four … how to live once we are saved! The last four … what to expect in Heaven, because we have been saved!

I love to preach that Sermon, “the Sons of Jacob!” (I still have it on CD recording, I believe.)

Now the Lord willing, one more Ezekiel Lesson … Monday Morning.

What a journey, I speak personally.

— Dr. Mike Bagwell

Most good reference (study) Bibles have a little chart or map, depicting the tribal allotments I have mere described verbally.