So you shall divide this land among you according to the tribes of Israel: This verse could easily be taken as a summary statement of the previous subsection, but we recommend that it is better to take it as looking forward to the next subsection where the land is actually divided among the tribes of Israel. The Hebrew pronouns for you in verses 21-23 are plural, referring to the people of Israel. In Hebrew the verb for divide differs from the word used in verses 13-14, where it had the specific meaning of dividing up an inheritance. Here it is the general word for “distribute” (New International Version, Revised English Bible, New Jerusalem Bible, New American Bible), or “share out” (Christian Community Bible). However, unless a language has a specific term for dividing up an inheritance, it may be best for translators not to distinguish between the two words. This land refers to the country that God has just described with its borders. Among you according to the tribes of Israel is almost identical to the phrase used in verse 13 (see the comments there), showing who the beneficiaries of the distribution will be. Good News Translation provides a helpful model for this verse, saying “Divide this land among your tribes.” Another good model is:

• “Divide this land among the tribes of Israel.

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 .