Ezekiel 47:21 (KJV) says, "So shall ye divide this land unto you according to the tribes of Israel."

The book of Ezekiel is a prophetic text that is attributed to the prophet Ezekiel who ministered to the exiles in Babylon in the 6th century BC. The passage in question is part of a wider prophecy in which Ezekiel describes a vision of a temple and the return of the glory of God to Jerusalem. This particular verse comes at the end of a vision in which Ezekiel describes the division of the land among the twelve tribes of Israel.

In the context of the passage, the division of land was a significant event in the history of Israel. The allocation of land to each tribe was a fulfillment of God's promise to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, and it was also a practical matter to ensure the orderly settlement of the people of Israel in the land of Canaan. The division of the land was a demonstration of God's faithfulness to His covenant with Israel, and it was a means of ensuring that each tribe had a place to call their own.

The theme of the division of land in this verse is also significant in the broader biblical narrative. It underscores the importance of the land of Israel in the history of God's people, and it serves as a reminder of the connection between the land and the people of Israel. The allocation of land according to the tribes also reinforces the idea of community and shared identity among the people of Israel. Each tribe has its own portion of land, but they are also part of a larger whole, bound together by their common heritage and their common worship of God.

Furthermore, the division of land according to the tribes of Israel has symbolic significance. The land is not just a piece of property; it is a symbol of God's promise and provision for His people. In the Old Testament, the land of Israel was seen as a gift from God, a blessing to be cherished and protected. The division of the land according to the tribes of Israel emphasizes the idea that the land belongs to God and that the people of Israel are to be faithful stewards of it.

The passage also points to the ultimate fulfillment of God's promises to His people. In the New Testament, the division of land among the tribes is a foreshadowing of the inheritance that God's people have in Christ. The apostle Paul, writing to the Ephesians, speaks of the heavenly inheritance that believers have in Christ, and he describes it as a "riches of [God's] glorious inheritance in the saints" (Ephesians 1:18, KJV). The division of the land among the tribes of Israel is a prefiguration of the inheritance that God's people have in Christ, a reminder that God has provided for His people and that He has a place for them in His kingdom.

In conclusion, Ezekiel 47:21, with its mention of the division of land among the tribes of Israel, is a reminder of God's faithfulness to His covenant with His people. It emphasizes the importance of the land in the history of God's people, and it points to the ultimate fulfillment of God's promises in Christ. The division of the land is not just a practical matter; it is a symbol of God's provision and care for His people, and it is a foreshadowing of the inheritance that believers have in Christ.