Numbers 34

Israel Arrives at the Borders of Canaan

1 The LORD spoke to Moses. He said,

2 "Give the people of Israel a command. Tell them, 'You are going to enter Canaan. The land will be given to you as your own. Here are the borders it will have.

3 " 'Your southern border will include some of the Desert of Zin. It will be along the border of Edom. On the east, your southern border will start from the end of the Dead Sea.

4 It will cross south of Scorpion Pass. It will continue on to Zin. From there it will go south of Kadesh Barnea. Then it will go to Hazar Addar and over to Azmon.

5 There it will turn and join the Wadi of Egypt. It will come to an end at the Mediterranean Sea.

6 " 'Your western border will be the coast of the Mediterranean Sea. That will be your border on the west.

7 " 'For your northern border, run a line from the Mediterranean Sea to Mount Hor.

8 Continue it from Mount Hor to Lebo Hamath. Then the border will go to Zedad.

9 It will continue to Ziphron. It will come to an end at Hazar Enan. That will be your border on the north.

10 " 'For your eastern border, run a line from Hazar Enan to Shepham.

11 The border will go down from Shepham to Riblah. Riblah is on the east side of Ain. From there the border will continue along the slopes east of the Sea of Galilee.

12 Then the border will go down along the Jordan River. It will come to an end at the Dead Sea. " 'That will be your land. And those will be its borders on every side.' "

13 Moses gave the people of Israel a command. He said, "Use lots when you give out the land. Each tribe will have its own share. The LORD has ordered it to be given to the nine and a half tribes.

14 "The families of the tribes of Reuben and Gad have already received their shares. The families of half of the tribe of Manasseh have also received their share.

15 Those two and a half tribes have received their shares east of the Jordan River. It flows near Jericho. Their land is toward the sunrise."

16 The LORD spoke to Moses. He said,

17 "Here are the names of the men who will give out the shares of the land to your people. They are the priest Eleazar and Joshua, the son of Nun.

18 Also appoint one leader from each tribe to help give out the land.

19 Here are their names. "Caleb, the son of Jephunneh, is from the tribe of Judah.

20 Shemuel, the son of Ammihud, is from the tribe of Simeon.

21 Elidad, the son of Kislon, is from the tribe of Benjamin.

22 Bukki, the son of Jogli, is the leader from the tribe of Dan.

23 Hanniel, the son of Ephod, is the leader from the tribe of Manasseh. Manasseh was the son of Joseph.

24 Kemuel, the son of Shiphtan, is the leader from the tribe of Ephraim. Ephraim was the son of Joseph.

25 Elizaphan, the son of Parnach, is the leader from the tribe of Zebulun.

26 Paltiel, the son of Azzan, is the leader from the tribe of Issachar.

27 Ahihud, the son of Shelomi, is the leader from the tribe of Asher.

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

29 Those are the men the LORD commanded to give out the shares of the land. They were commanded to give them to 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.

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.