Ezekiel 48:35

35. “It shall be eighteen thousand… round about: and the name of the city from that day shall be Jehovah-shammah.” If the city were eighteen thousand reeds in circumference, it would measure nearly thirty-six miles; if we should supply “cubits” instead of “reeds,” as we believe should be done (see notes Ezekiel 45:1-5; Ezekiel 48:8-9), its circuit would be nearly six miles. At the beginning of the Christian era its circumference was calculated by Josephus to be about four miles (Bell. Jud., v, Ezekiel 5:4). At the present time its circuit is about two and a half miles.

The Lord is there For the meaning of Jehovah see notes Ezekiel 6:7; Ezekiel 6:14; Ezekiel 12:16; Ezekiel 12:20; Ezekiel 13:9; Ezekiel 13:21; Ezekiel 13:23; Ezekiel 28:26; Ezekiel 34:27; Ezekiel 34:30, etc. The new city receives a new name in accordance with its new character. (Compare Jeremiah 23:6; Revelation 21:3; Revelation 21:10-21.) It is now in truth a holy city, worthy to be called by the holy name of its holy God. Nevermore will Jehovah depart (11). He has returned to abide with his own forever (Ezekiel 37:26; Ezekiel 37:28; Ezekiel 43:4; Ezekiel 43:7). The Lord is there “to dwell, govern, defend, prosper, and crown.” “Such is the case of every true believer, who may, whenever he is in the way of duty, still write ‘Jehovah-shammah,’ My God is here.” Wesley.

As he pens the closing words of these comments the writer is oppressed with the sense of their inadequacy. The study of Ezekiel resembles the prophet’s vision of the divine stream the farther one goes the deeper he wades. Yet we may say, with Duhm, “One need not be ashamed of his own weakness, even if these prophecies always remain greater than their interpreter” ( Die Theologie der Propheten).