14. The Levites will not sell or trade any of this land. They will not be able to sell any of it. They must not cut up this part of the country, because this land belongs to the Lord—it is very special. It is the best part of the land.
15. “There will be an area of land 5000 cubits wide by 25,000 cubits long that is left over from the land given to the priests and Levites. This land can be for the city, for grasslands for animals, and for building houses. The common people may use this land. The city will be in the middle of it.
16. These are the city’s measurements: The north side will be 4500 cubits. The south side will be 4500 cubits. The east side will be 4500 cubits. The west side will be 4500 cubits.
17. The city will have grasslands. These grasslands will be 250 cubits on the north and 250 cubits on the south. They will be 250 cubits on the east and 250 cubits on the west.
18. What is left of the length along the side of the holy area will be 10,000 cubits on the east and 10,000 cubits on the west. This land will be along the side of the holy area. This land will grow food for the city workers.
19. The city workers from all the tribes of Israel will farm this land.
20. “This special area of land will be square. It will be 25,000 cubits long by 25,000 cubits wide. You must set apart this area for its special purposes. One part is for the priests, one part is for the Levites, and one part is for the city.
21-22. “Part of that special land will be for the ruler of the country. That special area of land is square. It is 25,000 cubits long by 25,000 cubits wide. Part of this special land is for the priests, part of it is for the Levites, and part of it is for the Temple. The Temple is in the middle of this area of land. The rest of the land belongs to the ruler of the country. The ruler will get the area between the land of Benjamin and the land of Judah.
23-27. “South of this special area will be the land for the tribes that lived east of the Jordan River. Each tribe will get a section of land that goes from the eastern border to the Mediterranean Sea. From north to south, these tribes are Benjamin, Simeon, Issachar, Zebulun, and Gad.
28. “The southern border of Gad’s land will go from Tamar to the oasis at Meribah-kadesh, then along the Brook of Egypt to the Mediterranean Sea.
29. This is the land that you will divide among the tribes of Israel. This is what each group will get.” This is what the Lord GOD said!
30. “These are the gates of the city. The gates will be named for the tribes of Israel. “The north side of the city will be 4500 cubits long.
31. There will be three gates: Reuben’s Gate, Judah’s Gate, and Levi’s Gate.