CHAPTER 45

1 Moreover, when ye shall divide by lot the land for inheritance, ye shall offer an oblation unto the LORD, an holy portion of the land: the length shall be the length of five and twenty thousand reeds, and the breadth shall be ten thousand. This shall be holy in all the borders thereof round about. 2 Of this there shall be for the sanctuary five hundred in length, with five hundred in breadth, square round about; and fifty cubits round about for the suburbs thereof. 3 And of this measure shalt thou measure the length of five and twenty thousand, and the breadth of ten thousand: and in it shall be the sanctuary and the most holy place. 4 The holy portion of the land shall be for the priests the ministers of the sanctuary, which shall come near to minister unto the LORD: and it shall be a place for their houses, and an holy place for the sanctuary. 5 And the five and twenty thousand of length, and the ten thousand of breadth, shall also the Levites, the ministers of the house, have for themselves, for a possession for twenty chambers. 6 And ye shall appoint the possession of the city five thousand broad, and five and twenty thousand long, over against the oblation of the holy portion: it shall be for the whole house of Israel. 7 And a portion shall be for the prince on the one side and on the other side of the oblation of the holy portion, and of the possession of the city, before the oblation of the holy portion, and before the possession of the city, from the west side westward, and from the east side eastward: and the length shall be over against one of the portions, from the west border unto the east border. 8 In the land shall be his possession in Israel: and my princes shall no more oppress my people; and the rest of the land shall they give to the house of Israel according to their tribes.

I really don't think anyone has a real "handle" on the exact measurements given above. Some commentaries change "reeds" to cubits, thus requiring a smaller area.
Nevertheless, the area is quite large (perhaps as large as 80 miles by 30 miles).

The main idea is that there are THREE distinct portions of land to be designated.

The first portion is for the sanctuary, which incidently, will be located in the center of the designated lands. This area is called the "holy portion" (verse 4). It is an area large enough for "priests," "their houses," and "an holy place for the sanctuary." This designated area places worship of God in the CENTER of all that is done!

The second portion of land is for the "holy city" and any people of the tribes may have residence there (verse 6).

The third portion of land seems to be on both sides of the other two. This area is appointed for the "prince" (king, president - whatever you might call him). The appointment of this area accomplishes two distinct purposes: 1) It affords protection to the holy place and the city; 2) it provides enough for the "prince" so that he never should have occasion to "oppress" God's people (verse 8).

9 Thus saith the Lord GOD; Let it suffice you, O princes of Israel: remove violence and spoil, and execute judgment and justice, take away your exactions from my people, saith the Lord GOD.

Then the "prince" is charged with a trifold responsibility. He is to first "remove violence and spoil." Thus he is charged to rid the country of those who would defy God and deny obedience to the law.
Second, the prince is to "execute judgment and justice." He is placed in charge of the executive and administrative part of the government, and is to enforce the laws of the land.
Third, the prince is to "take away your exactions." That means he is NOT to "tax" the people!

10 Ye shall have just balances, and a just ephah, and a just bath. I 11 The ephah and the bath shall be of one measure, that the bath may contain the tenth part of an homer, and the ephah the tenth part of an homer: the measure thereof shall be after the homer. 12 And the shekel shall be twenty gerahs: twenty shekels, five and twenty shekels, fifteen shekels, shall be your manneh.

Further, it is the duty of the prince to insure that all weights and measures are uniform. God says that false weights and measures are an "abomination" (Proverbs 11:1)

13 This is the oblation that ye shall offer; the sixth part of an ephah of an homer of wheat, and ye shall give the sixth part of an ephah of an homer of barley: 14 Concerning the ordinance of oil, the bath of oil, ye shall offer the tenth part of a bath out of the cor, which is an homer of ten baths; for ten baths are an homer: 15 And one lamb out of the flock, out of two hundred, out of the fat pastures of Israel; for a meat offering, and for a burnt offering, and for peace offerings, to make reconciliation for them, saith the Lord GOD. 16 All the people of the land shall give this oblation for the prince in Israel. 17 And it shall be the prince's part to give burnt offerings, and meat offerings, and drink offerings, in the feasts, and in the new moons, and in the sabbaths, in all solemnities of the house of Israel: he shall prepare the sin offering, and the meat offering, and the burnt offering, and the peace offerings, to make reconciliation for the house of Israel.

One cannot help but notice a demanding responsibility to the "prince." Not only is he to take away "exactions," but he is to take the LEAD in worship!

All the people of the land are to give their "oblations" (offerings) to the prince (verse 16). And he is to keep an account and be sure that they are OFFERED!

The "prince" himself has a special assigned offering to make (verse 17) which is FOR the people!

No doubt that this is a "theocracy!"

18 Thus saith the Lord GOD; In the first month, in the first day of the month, thou shalt take a young bullock without blemish, and cleanse the sanctuary: 19 And the priest shall take of the blood of the sin offering, and put it upon the posts of the house, and upon the four corners of the settle of the altar, and upon the posts of the gate of the inner court. 20 And so thou shalt do the seventh day of the month for every one that erreth, and for him that is simple: so shall ye reconcile the house. 21 In the first month, in the fourteenth day of the month, ye shall have the passover, a feast of seven days; unleavened bread shall be eaten. 22 And upon that day shall the prince prepare for himself and for all the people of the land a bullock for a sin offering. 23 And seven days of the feast he shall prepare a burnt offering to the LORD, seven bullocks and seven rams without blemish daily the seven days; and a kid of the goats daily for a sin offering. 24 And he shall prepare a meat offering of an ephah for a bullock, and an ephah for a ram, and an hin of oil for an ephah. 25 In the seventh month, in the fifteenth day of the month, shall he do the like in the feast of the seven days, according to the sin offering, according to the burnt offering, and according to the meat offering, and according to the oil.

On the first day of each month (verse 18) the priests are to offer a young bullock to "cleanse the sanctuary." It is very important that we remember to pray for holiness in the church! Some churches have been known to have "prayer walks" around the church, praying that God will keep the church holy and ready for servantship.

On the seventh day of each month sin offerings are made (verse 20). Notice that an offering is made for "him that erreth" AND for "him that is simple." Those who are without ability to help and keep themselves are the responsibility of others who can! It is our duty to pray for and minister to "the simple."

During the "Passover" (verses 21-24), the prince is to make an offering for himself and for the people. Then for seven days in a row, he is to consecrate a special offering. Those who are in authority should realize the importance of maintaining holiness and caring for the people.

Verse 25 is a reference to "The Feast of Tabernacles." During this feast, the prince is to provide the same offerings as at Passover.

God is eternally the SAME. He never changes. At the forefront of God's mind is His people. He affords provision and protection. And when God gives government of people to people, He initiates procedures by which government should act.

Though America is not a "theocracy," it certainly was founded upon Biblical prinicples.

PLEASE CONTINUE WITH US IN BIBLE STUDY TOMORROW.