(16) The measures.--The city itself is to be an exact square of 4,500 reeds, and according to Ezekiel 48:17, was to have "suburbs," or rather an open space on all sides of 250 reeds. The whole was, therefore, 5,000 reeds--a little less than ten miles--square, the exact width of the space that was left of the oblation, and leaving 10,000 reeds on each side of it.

Verse 16. - The dimensions of the city should be four thousand five hundred reeds on the four sides; in other words, it should form a square (comp. Leviticus 21:16). The חמשׁ, left unpunctuated by the Massorites, and marked as "written but not to be read," should be omitted as an error.

48:1-35 Here is a description of the several portions of the land belonging to each tribe. In gospel times, behold all things are become new. Much is wrapped up in emblems and numbers. This method God has used to state mysterious truths in his word, not to be more clearly revealed till the proper time and season. But into the church of Christ, both in its state of warfare and triumph, there is free access by faith, from every side. Christ has opened the kingdom of heaven for all believers. Whoever will, may come, and take of the water of life, of the tree of life, freely. The Lord is there, in his church, to be nigh unto them in all they call upon him for. This is true of every real Christian; whatever soul has in it a living principle of grace, it may truly be said, The Lord is there. May we be found citizens of this holy city, and act agreeably to that character; and have the benefit of the Lord's presence with us, in life, in death, and for evermore.And this shall be the measures thereof,.... Of the city:

the north side four thousand and five hundred; that is, measures or reeds:

the south side four thousand and five hundred, and on the east side four thousand and five hundred, and the west side four thousand and five hundred; in all eighteen hundred measures or reeds, as in Ezekiel 48:35 which denotes the largeness of the Gospel church, especially in the latter day; when Jews and Gentiles will be converted, and multitudes, east, west, north and south, will be gathered to it; and as it is an equilateral square, this shows the perfection, firmness, stability, and duration of the church of Christ; so the holy city, the New Jerusalem, is for the same reasons said to be foursquare, Revelation 21:16.