Good News Translation‘s heading here (“Land for the Prince”) is unnecessary, since verses 7-8a simply continue the report about the allocation of the land. These verses describe the land for Israel’s king.

And to the prince shall belong the land on both sides of the holy district and the property of the city, alongside the holy district and the property of the city, on the west and on the east: The prince refers to the king of Israel (see the comments on 44.3). The king will have two pieces of land, one on the west side and the other on the east side, of the areas of land described in verses 1-6. The Hebrew text repeats the holy district and the property of the city. If this repetition is unnatural, it may be omitted (so Good News Translation, Contemporary English Version).

Corresponding in length to one of the tribal portions, and extending from the western to the eastern boundary of the land: The king’s land will extend to the western and eastern borders of the land, just as the land to be allocated to each of the tribes will extend to the western and eastern borders of the land (see the discussion on how the land will be allocated to the tribes in 48.1-7, 23-29). The king’s tracts of land will extend to the west as far as “the Mediterranean Sea” (Good News Translation), and to the east as far as “the eastern border of the country” (Good News Translation).

It is to be his property in Israel: Just as the other three sections of land described in verses 1-6 will belong to the priests, the Levites and the whole nation of Israel, so these two sections will belong to the king of Israel.

New Century Version provides a helpful model for verses 7-8a as follows:

• 7 “‘The ruler will have land on both sides of the holy area and the city. On the west side of the holy area, his land will reach to the Mediterranean Sea. On the east side of the holy area, his land will reach to the eastern border. It will be as long as the land given to each tribe. 8 Only this land will be the ruler’s property in Israel.

A model that combines verses 7-8a is:

• The king [or, ruler] of Israel will have land on both sides of the holy area and the property of the city, one on the west and one on the east. This property will be the same length as the portions of the land that each tribe will have, extending to the eastern and the western borders of the land.

And my princes shall no more oppress my people: My princes refers to “every ruler of Israel” (Contemporary English Version), anyone who is king of God’s people (see Ezek 45.7). Contemporary English Version follows one Hebrew manuscript and the Septuagint by adding “of Israel.” My princes is the better reading, but translators may add “of Israel” for clarity. The Hebrew word for oppress refers to exploiting people, defrauding and robbing them (see the comments on 18.7). It refers to a person in power using that power for his own benefit and advantage. My people refers to God’s people, that is, the nation of Israel. It is acceptable to turn this clause into a positive statement; for example, Contemporary English Version has “they will always be fair to my people.”

But they shall let the house of Israel have the land according to their tribes: This clause could have the two following meanings:

1. They “will let the rest of the country belong to the tribes of Israel” (Good News Translation; similarly New Jewish Publication Society’s Tanakh), that is, the kings will take only the two portions of land described in verse 7 and will have no claim on the rest of the country. This contrasts with many ancient countries where the king owned all the land.
2. They “will let them live peacefully in the land given to their tribes” (Contemporary English Version), that is, the kings will not try to take away the land that belongs to others. This is the better interpretation.

Quoted with permission from Gross, Carl & Stine, Philip C. A Handbook on Ezekiel. (UBS Helps for Translators). Miami: UBS, 2016. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .