Numbers 34:1-15

Listen to Numbers 34:1-15

The Boundaries of Canaan

1 Then the LORD said to Moses, 1
2 “Command the Israelites and say to them: When you enter the land of Canaan, it will be allotted to you as an inheritance with these boundaries:
3 Your southern border will extend from the Wilderness of Zin along the border of Edom. On the east, your southern border will run from the end of the Salt Sea, [a]
4 cross south of the Ascent of Akrabbim, [b] continue to Zin, and go south of Kadesh-barnea. Then it will go on to Hazar-addar and proceed to Azmon,
5 where it will turn from Azmon, join the Brook of Egypt, and end at the Sea. [c]
6 Your western border will be the coastline of the Great Sea; this will be your boundary on the west.
7 Your northern border will run from the Great Sea directly to Mount Hor,
8 and from Mount Hor to Lebo-hamath, then extend to Zedad,
9 continue to Ziphron, and end at Hazar-enan. This will be your boundary on the north.
10 And your eastern border will run straight from Hazar-enan to Shepham,
11 then go down from Shepham to Riblah on the east side of Ain and continue along the slopes east of the Sea of Chinnereth. [d]
12 Then the border will go down along the Jordan and end at the Salt Sea. This will be your land, defined by its borders on all sides.”
13 So Moses commanded the Israelites, “Apportion this land by lot as an inheritance. The LORD has commanded that it be given to the nine and a half tribes.
14 For the tribes of the Reubenites and Gadites, along with the half-tribe of Manasseh, have already received their inheritance.
15 These two and a half tribes have received their inheritance across the Jordan from Jericho, toward the sunrise.”

Numbers 34:1-15 Meaning and Commentary

INTRODUCTION TO NUMBERS 34

In this chapter the bounds and borders of the land Canaan are described, according to the direction of the Lord to Moses, Nu 34:1,2, the south border, Nu 34:3-5, the western border, Nu 34:6, the north border, Nu 34:7-9, the east border, Nu 34:10-12, which is ordered to be divided by lot to the nine tribes and a half, two tribes and a half having received their inheritance on the other side Jordan, Nu 34:13-15, and the persons are nominated to divide the land, Eleazar and Joshua, with one prince out of every tribe, and who are mentioned by name, Nu 34:16-29.

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Cross References 1

  • 1. (Genesis 15:8–21)

Footnotes 4

  • [a] That is, the Dead Sea; also in verse 12
  • [b] Or the Ascent of Scorpions or Scorpion Pass
  • [c] That is, the Mediterranean Sea, also called the Great Sea; also in verses 6 and 7
  • [d] That is, the Sea of Galilee
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