When you allot the land as an inheritance, you shall set aside for the Lord a portion of the land as a holy district, twenty-five thousand cubits long and twenty thousand cubits wide; it shall be holy throughout its entire extent. Of this, a square plot of five hundred by five hundred cubits shall be for the sanctuary, with fifty cubits for an open space around it. In the holy district you shall measure off a section twenty-five thousand cubits long and ten thousand wide, in which shall be the sanctuary, the most holy place. It shall be a holy portion of the land; it shall be for the priests, who minister in the sanctuary and approach the Lord to minister to him; and it shall be both a place for their houses and a holy place for the sanctuary. Another section, twenty-five thousand cubits long and ten thousand cubits wide, shall be for the Levites who minister at the temple, as their holding for cities to live in. Alongside the portion set apart as the holy district you shall assign as a holding for the city an area five thousand cubits wide, and twenty-five thousand cubits long; it shall belong to the whole house of Israel. And to the prince shall belong the land on both sides of the holy district and the holding of the city, alongside the holy district and the holding of the city, on the west and on the east, corresponding in length to one of the tribal portions, and extending from the western to the eastern boundary of the land. It is to be his property in Israel. And my princes shall no longer oppress my people; but they shall let the house of Israel have the land according to their tribes.
Thus says the Lord God: Enough, O princes of Israel! Put away violence and oppression, and do what is just and right. Cease your evictions of my people, says the Lord God.
(New Revised Standard Version)
1 comment:
At first reading, this text seems too detailed about the use of the land in ancient times to have any revelance to life today.
But then I noticed this little gem at the end: "Put away violence and oppression and do what is just and right." It made me remember the conversation in class last Sunday. It also made me think of "community."
The Sunday morning adult study class is currently reading a book by Bruce Feiler (Where God Was Born)that speaks about how these very lands have been used and misused over the centuries by "princes and kings". The author visits Iran and Iraq (during the current war there)and as part of his 'journey', interacts with folks in the Muslim, Jewish and Christian communities. The "just" use of the land is a central issue in all the shared stories. Putting away violence and oppression and doing what is just and right is a major theme in their conversations.
Wouldn't it be wonderful if we as humans could actually do just that?
God would surely smile!
KB
Post a Comment