Numbers34
English Standard Version
1The Lord to , ,
2 the of , and to them, you the of ( is the shall to you for an , the of as defined by its ),
3your shall be from the of , and your shall run from the of the on the .
4And your shall of the of , and to , and its shall be of . Then it shall to , and pass to .
5And the shall from to the of , and its shall be at the .
6For the , you shall have the and its . shall be your .
7 shall be your : from the you shall to .
8From you shall to Lebo- , and the of the shall be at .
9Then the shall to , and its shall be at . shall be your .
10You shall for your from to .
11And the shall go from to on the of . And the shall go and to the of the of on the .
12And the shall go to the , and its shall be at the . shall be your as defined by its all .
13 the of , , is the you shall by , the Lord has to to the and to the .
14 the of the of by ’ and the of the of by their ’ have their , and also the of .
15The and the have their the of , toward the .
16The Lord to , ,
17 are the of the shall the to you for : the and the of .
18You shall from every to the for .
19 are the of the : Of the of , the of .
20Of the of the of , the of .
21Of the of , the of .
22Of the of the of a , the of .
23Of the of : of the of the of a , the of .
24And of the of the of a , the of .
25Of the of the of a , the of .
26Of the of the of a , the of .
27And of the of the of a , the of .
28Of the of the of a , the of .
29 are the men the Lord to divide the for the of in the of .
Study Guide
Public-domain commentary and original-language notes for Numbers 34.
Chapter Summary
In this chapter: The bounds of the promised land. (1–15). Those appointed to divide the land. (16–29).
vv1-15
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. (Nu 34:16-29)
vv16-29
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.
Key Words
דָבַר: perhaps properly, to arrange; but used figuratively (of words), to speak; rarely (in a destructive sense) to subdue
מֹשֶׁה: Mosheh, the Israelite lawgiver
אָמַר: to say (used with great latitude)
צָוָה: (intensively) to constitute, enjoin
בֵּן: a son (as a builder of the family name), in the widest sense (of literal and figurative relationship, including grandson, subject, nation, quality or condition, etc., (like father or brother), etc.)
יִשְׂרָאֵל: Jisrael, a symbolical name of Jacob; also (typically) of his posterity
כִּי: (by implication) very widely used as a relative conjunction or adverb (as below); often largely modified by other particles annexed
בּוֹא: to go or come (in a wide variety of applications)
אֶרֶץ: the earth (at large, or partitively a land)
כְּנַעַן: Kenaan, a son a Ham; also the country inhabited by him
Cross References
Numbers 34Joshua and Eleazar execute this command to divide the land of Canaan by inheritance.
Supported by Matthew Henry, Matthew Poole, JFB
Ezekiel's prophetic vision of the restored tribal borders directly echoes the Mosaic boundaries given here.
Supported by Matthew Poole, JFB
Detailed geographical matching of the southern and western borders assigned to the tribe of Judah.
Supported by Matthew Poole, JFB
Fulfills God's covenant boundary promise to Abraham, specifically mentioning the river of Egypt.
Supported by Matthew Poole
The entrance of Hamath matches the northern limit reached by the twelve spies.
Supported by Matthew Poole, JFB
Identifies the northern border region near Lebanon and the entrance of Hamath.
Supported by Matthew Poole, JFB
The New Testament name (Gennesaret) for the Old Testament Sea of Chinnereth.
Supported by Matthew Poole
Riblah in the land of Hamath is a key historical site on the northern border.
Supported by Matthew Poole, JFB
Geographical parallel detailing the Sea of Chinnereth and Jordan as eastern boundaries.
Supported by Matthew Poole
Confirms the prior eastern land inheritance given to Reuben, Gad, and half of Manasseh.
Supported by JFB
Caleb, who faithfuly spied out the land, is appointed to divide Judah's inheritance.
Supported by Matthew Henry
Ezekiel's northern border description explicitly includes the same landmark, Zedad.
Supported by JFB
Concludes the division of Canaan by Eleazar, Joshua, and the tribal heads.
Supported by Matthew Poole
Prophetic mention of the entering in of Hamath as the far northern boundary limit.
Supported by Matthew Poole