Numbers 34

Boundaries of the Promised Land

1 The Lord spoke to Moses,

2 "Command the Israelites and say to them: When you enter the land of Canaan, it will be allotted to you as an inheritance^[a] with these borders:

3 Your southern side will be from the Wilderness of Zin along the boundary of Edom. Your southern border on the east will begin at the east end of the Dead Sea.

4 Your border will turn south of the Ascent of Akrabbim,^[b] proceed to Zin,^[c] and end south of Kadesh-barnea. It will go to Hazar-addar^[d] and proceed to Azmon.

5 The border will turn from Azmon^[e] to the Brook of Egypt,^[f] where it will end at the Mediterranean Sea.

6 Your western border will be the coastline of the Mediterranean Sea; this will be your western border.

7 This will be your northern border: From the Mediterranean Sea draw a line to Mount Hor;^[g]

8 from Mount Hor draw a line to the entrance of Hamath,^{[h] [i]} and the border will reach Zedad.^[j]

9 Then the border will go to Ziphron and end at Hazar-enan.^[k] This will be your northern border.

10 For your eastern border, draw a line from Hazar-enan to Shepham.

11 The border will go down from Shepham to Riblah east of Ain.^[l] It will continue down and reach the eastern slope of the Sea of Chinnereth.^[m]

12 Then the border will go down to the Jordan and end at the Dead Sea. This will be your land [defined] by its borders on all sides."

13 So Moses commanded the Israelites, "This is the land you are to receive by lot as an inheritance, which the Lord commanded to be given to the nine and a half tribes.

14 For the tribe of the Reubenites and the tribe of the Gadites have received [their inheritance] according to their ancestral houses, and half the tribe of Manasseh has received its inheritance.

15 The two and a half tribes have received their inheritance^[n] across the Jordan from Jericho, eastward toward the sunrise."

Leaders for Distributing the Land

16 The Lord spoke to Moses,

17 "These are the names of the men who are to distribute the land as an inheritance for you: Eleazar the priest and Joshua son of Nun.

18 Take one leader from each tribe to distribute the land.

19 These are the names of the men: Caleb^[o] son of Jephunneh from the tribe of Judah;

20 Shemuel son of Ammihud from the tribe of Simeon;

21 Elidad son of Chislon from the tribe of Benjamin;

22 Bukki son of Jogli, a leader from the tribe of Dan;

23 from the sons of Joseph: Hanniel son of Ephod, a leader from the tribe of Manasseh,

24 Kemuel son of Shiphtan, a leader from the tribe of Ephraim;

25 Eli-zaphan son of Parnach, a leader from the tribe of Zebulun;

26 Paltiel son of Azzan, a leader from the tribe of Issachar;

27 Ahihud son of Shelomi, a leader from the tribe of Asher;

28 Pedahel son of Ammihud, a leader from the tribe of Naphtali."

29 These are the ones the Lord commanded to distribute the inheritance to 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.

Footnotes

• [a]. Lit inheritance the land of Canaan
• [b]. Lit of Scorpions; Jos 15:3; Jdg 1:36
• [c]. Jos 15:3
• [d]. Jos 15:3
• [e]. Jos 15:4
• [f]. Jos 15:4,47; Isa 27:12; Ezk 47:19
• [g]. In Lebanon; Nm 20:22-28; 33:37-56
• [h]. Or to Lebo-hamath
• [i]. Nm 13:21; 2 Kg 14:25; 2 Ch 7:8; Ezk 48:1
• [j]. Ezk 47:15
• [k]. Nm 34:10; Ezk 47:17; 48:1
• [l]. Jos 15:32
• [m]. The Sea of Galilee; Jos 12:3; 13:27; Lk 5:1
• [n]. Nm 32:33
• [o]. Nm 14:6,24,30,38; 26:65

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.