Numbers 34

Boundaries of the land of Canaan

1 The LORD said to Moses:

2 Command the Israelites and say to them: When you enter the land of Canaan, this is the land that will fall to you as an inheritance. The land of Canaan according to its boundaries:

3 Your southern boundary extends from the Zin desert alongside Edom. Your southern border extends from the edge of the Dead Sea on the east.

4 Your border will turn south of the ascent of Akrabbim and cross toward Zin. Its limit will be south of Kadesh-barnea. It will go out to Hazar-addar and cross toward Azmon.

5 The border will then turn from Azmon to the Egypt ravine. Its limit will be at the Mediterranean Sea.

6 Your western border will be the Mediterranean Sea. This will be your western border.

7 This will be your northern border: From the Mediterranean Sea you will mark out your boundary to Mount Hor.

8 From Mount Hor you will mark out your boundary to Lebo-hamath. The limit of the border will be Zedad.

9 The border will go out to Ziphron. Its limit will be Hazar-enan. This will be your northern border.

10 You will mark out your eastern border from Hazar-enan to Shepham.

11 The border will descend from Shepham to Riblah on the east side of Ain. The border will go down and meet the eastern slope of the Galilee Sea.

12 The border will descend to the Jordan. Its limit will be the Dead Sea.

13 This will be your land with its borders all around.Moses commanded the Israelites: This is the land that you will inherit by lot, which the LORD has commanded to give to the nine and a half tribes,

14 because the tribe of Reuben by their households and the tribe of Gad by their households, and half the tribe of Manasseh have taken their inheritance.

15 The two and a half tribes have taken their inheritance across the Jordan at Jericho toward the east.

Appointment of leaders to assign the inheritance

16 The LORD spoke to Moses:

17 These are the names of the men who will assign the inheritance of the land: Eleazar the priest and Joshua, Nun's son.

18 You will also take one chief from each tribe to apportion the land.

19 These are the names of the men: from the tribe of Judah, Caleb, Jephunneh's son;

20 from the tribe of the Simeonites, Shemuel, Ammihud's son;

21 from the tribe of Benjamin, Elidad, Chislon's son;

22 from the tribe of the Danites, a chief, Bukki, Jogli's son;

23 from Joseph's descendants: of the tribe of the Manassites, a chief, Hanniel, Ephod's son;

24 and from the tribe of the Ephraimites, a chief, Kemuel, Shiphtan's son;

25 from the tribe of the Zebulunites, a chief, Elizaphan, Parnach's son;

26 from the tribe of the Issacharites, a chief, Paltiel, Azzan's son;

27 from the tribe of the Asherites, a chief, Ahihud, Shelomi's son;

28 from the tribe of the Naphtalites, a chief, Pedahel, Ammihud's son.

29 These are the ones whom the LORD commanded to assign the inheritance of the Israelites in the land of Canaan.

Numbers 34 Commentary

Chapter 34

The bounds of the promised land. (1-15) Those appointed to divide the land. (16-29)

Verses 1-15 Canaan was of small extent; as it is here bounded, it is but about 160 miles in length, and about 50 in breadth; yet this was the country promised to the father of the faithful, and the possession of the seed of Israel. This was that little spot of ground, in which alone, for many ages, God was known. This was the vineyard of the Lord, the garden enclosed; but as it is with gardens and vineyards, the narrowness of the space was made up by the fruitfulness of the soil. Though the earth is the Lord's, and the fulness thereof, yet few know him, and serve him; but those few are happy, because fruitful to God. Also, see how little a share of the world God gives to his own people. Those who have their portion in heaven, have reason to be content with a small pittance of this earth. Yet a little that a righteous man has, having it from the love of God, and with his blessing, is far better and more comfortable than the riches of many wicked.

Verses 16-29 God here appoints men to divide the land to them. So sure must they feel of victory and success while God fought for them, that the persons are named who should be intrusted with the dividing of the land.

Chapter Summary

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.