Numbers 34

1 Yahweh spoke to Moses, saying,

2 Command the children of Israel, and tell them, When you come into the land of Canaan (this is the land that shall fall to you for an inheritance, even the land of Canaan according to the borders of it),

3 then your south quarter shall be from the wilderness of Zin along by the side of Edom, and your south border shall be from the end of the Salt Sea eastward;

4 and your border shall turn about southward of the ascent of Akrabbim, and pass along to Zin; and the goings out of it shall be southward of Kadesh-barnea; and it shall go forth to Hazar-addar, and pass along to Azmon;

5 and the border shall turn about from Azmon to the brook of Egypt, and the goings out of it shall be at the sea.

6 For the western border, you shall have the great sea and the border [of it]: this shall be your west border.

7 This shall be your north border: from the great sea you shall mark out for you Mount Hor;

8 from Mount Hor you shall mark out to the entrance of Hamath; and the goings out of the border shall be at Zedad;

9 and the border shall go forth to Ziphron, and the goings out of it shall be at Hazar-enan: this shall be your north border.

10 You shall mark out your east border from Hazar-enan to Shepham;

11 and the border shall go down from Shepham to Riblah, on the east side of Ain; and the border shall go down, and shall reach to the side of the sea of Chinnereth eastward;

12 and the border shall go down to the Jordan, and the goings out of it shall be at the Salt Sea. This shall be your land according to the borders of it round about.

13 Moses commanded the children of Israel, saying, This is the land which you shall inherit by lot, which Yahweh has commanded to give to the nine tribes, and to the half-tribe;

14 for the tribe of the children of Reuben according to their fathers' houses, and the tribe of the children of Gad according to their fathers' houses, have received, and the half-tribe of Manasseh have received, their inheritance:

15 the two tribes and the half-tribe have received their inheritance beyond the Jordan at Jericho eastward, toward the sunrise.

16 Yahweh spoke to Moses, saying,

17 These are the names of the men who shall divide the land to you for inheritance: Eleazar the priest, and Joshua the son of Nun.

18 You shall take one prince of 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 children of Simeon, Shemuel the son of Ammihud.

21 Of the tribe of Benjamin, Elidad the son of Chislon.

22 Of the tribe of the children of Dan a prince, Bukki the son of Jogli.

23 Of the children of Joseph: of the tribe of the children of Manasseh a prince, Hanniel the son of Ephod.

24 Of the tribe of the children of Ephraim a prince, Kemuel the son of Shiphtan.

25 Of the tribe of the children of Zebulun a prince, Elizaphan the son of Parnach.

26 Of the tribe of the children of Issachar a prince, Paltiel the son of Azzan.

27 Of the tribe of the children of Asher a prince, Ahihud the son of Shelomi.

28 Of the tribe of the children of Naphtali a prince, Pedahel the son of Ammihud.

29 These are they whom Yahweh commanded to divide the inheritance to the children 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.

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.