Numbers 34

Listen to Numbers 34

Boundaries of the Land

1 The LORD spoke to Moses, saying,
2 "Command the people of Israel, and say to them, When you enter 1the land of Canaan 2(this is the land that shall fall to you for an inheritance, the land of Canaan as defined by its borders),
3 3your south side shall be from the wilderness of Zin alongside Edom, and your southern border shall run from the end of 4the Salt Sea on the east.
4 And your border shall turn south of 5the ascent of Akrabbim, and cross to Zin, and its limit shall be south of Kadesh-barnea. Then it shall go on to 6Hazar-addar, and pass along to Azmon.
5 And the border shall turn 7from Azmon to 8the Brook of Egypt, and its limit shall be at the sea.
6 "For the western border, you shall have the Great Sea and its[a] coast. This shall be your western border.
7 "This shall be your northern border: from the Great Sea you shall draw a line to 9Mount Hor.
8 From Mount Hor you shall draw a line 10to Lebo-hamath, and the limit of the border shall be at 11Zedad.
9 Then the border shall extend to Ziphron, and its limit shall be at 12Hazar-enan. This shall be your northern border.
10 "You shall draw a line for your eastern border from Hazar-enan to Shepham.
11 And the border shall go down from Shepham to 13Riblah on the east side of Ain. And the border shall go down and reach to the shoulder of 14the Sea of Chinnereth on the east.
12 And the border shall go down to the Jordan, and its limit shall be at 15the Salt Sea. This shall be your land as defined by its borders all around."
13 Moses commanded the people of Israel, saying, 16"This is the land that you shall inherit by lot, which the LORD has commanded to give to the nine tribes and to the half-tribe.
14 17For the tribe of the people of Reuben by fathers' houses and the tribe of the people of Gad by their fathers' houses have received their inheritance, and also the half-tribe of Manasseh.
15 The two tribes and the half-tribe have received their inheritance beyond the Jordan east of Jericho, toward the sunrise."

List of Tribal Chiefs

16 The LORD spoke to Moses, saying,
17 "These are the names of the men who shall divide the land to you for inheritance: 18Eleazar the priest and Joshua the son of Nun.
18 You shall take one 19chief from every tribe to divide the land for inheritance.
19 These are the names of the men: Of the tribe of Judah, Caleb the son of Jephunneh.
20 Of the tribe of the people of Simeon, Shemuel the son of Ammihud.
21 Of the tribe of Benjamin, Elidad the son of Chislon.
22 Of the tribe of the people of Dan a chief, Bukki the son of Jogli.
23 Of the people of Joseph: of the tribe of the people of Manasseh a chief, Hanniel the son of Ephod.
24 And of the tribe of the people of Ephraim a chief, Kemuel the son of Shiphtan.
25 Of the tribe of the people of Zebulun a chief, Elizaphan the son of Parnach.
26 Of the tribe of the people of Issachar a chief, Paltiel the son of Azzan.
27 And of the tribe of the people of Asher a chief, Ahihud the son of Shelomi.
28 Of the tribe of the people of Naphtali a chief, Pedahel the son of Ammihud.
29 These are the men whom the LORD commanded to divide the inheritance for the people of Israel 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.

Cross References 19

  • 1. Genesis 17:8; Exodus 3:8; Psalms 105:11
  • 2. ver. 13
  • 3. Joshua 15:1; See Genesis 15:18-21; Ezekiel 47:13-21
  • 4. ver. 12; Genesis 14:3; Joshua 15:2
  • 5. Joshua 15:3
  • 6. Joshua 15:3
  • 7. Joshua 15:4
  • 8. Genesis 15:18; Joshua 15:4, 47; 1 Kings 8:65; 2 Kings 24:7; 1 Chronicles 13:5; 2 Chronicles 7:8; Isaiah 27:12
  • 9. Numbers 33:37
  • 10. Numbers 13:21; 2 Kings 14:25; Ezekiel 48:1
  • 11. Ezekiel 47:15
  • 12. Ezekiel 47:17
  • 13. 2 Kings 23:33; Jeremiah 39:5
  • 14. Deuteronomy 3:17; Joshua 11:2; Joshua 12:3; Joshua 19:35; Matthew 4:18; Luke 5:1
  • 15. ver. 3
  • 16. ver. 2; Joshua 14:1, 2
  • 17. Numbers 32:33; Joshua 14:3
  • 18. Joshua 14:1; Joshua 19:51
  • 19. Numbers 1:4, 16

Footnotes 1

  • [a]. Syriac; Hebrew lacks its

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.

Numbers 34 Commentaries

The English Standard Version is published with the permission of Good News Publishers.