Overview
Numbers 34 is a significant chapter that deals with defining the geographical boundaries of the Promised Land and the appointment of leaders for allocating the land among the Israelite tribes. This chapter establishes the territorial limits and the administrative process for the division of Canaan. Key points include:
Boundaries of the Promised Land: The LORD instructs Moses to command the Israelites about the land they will soon possess in Canaan, specifying its boundaries. The borders include the southern boundary from the wilderness of Zin along Edom, the eastern boundary along the Jordan River, the northern boundary from the Mediterranean Sea to Mount Hor, and the western boundary along the Mediterranean Sea.
Appointment of Leaders for Land Allocation: God also instructs Moses to appoint leaders from each tribe to assist in the division of the land. Eleazar the priest and Joshua son of Nun are to oversee this process.
Leaders from Each Tribe: The chapter lists the names of the leaders from each of the nine and a half tribes who will enter Canaan. These leaders are responsible for ensuring a fair and orderly distribution of the land according to the LORD’s command.
The Levites' Inheritance: Although the Levites are not assigned a specific territorial inheritance like the other tribes, they are to receive towns to live in with pasturelands for their livestock. This is addressed more thoroughly in other parts of the Pentateuch.
Importance of the Land Allocation: This systematic approach to land division is crucial for the Israelites to establish themselves in Canaan, ensuring each tribe has its own territory to cultivate and inhabit.
Numbers 34 not only provides a clear delineation of the Promised Land's borders but also sets in motion the practical steps for its settlement. By appointing respected leaders from each tribe to oversee the land allocation, the chapter underscores the importance of order, fairness, and adherence to divine instructions in the distribution of the land. This preparation reflects the Israelites' transition from a nomadic existence to becoming a settled people in their own land.
Boundaries of the Promised Land: The LORD instructs Moses to command the Israelites about the land they will soon possess in Canaan, specifying its boundaries. The borders include the southern boundary from the wilderness of Zin along Edom, the eastern boundary along the Jordan River, the northern boundary from the Mediterranean Sea to Mount Hor, and the western boundary along the Mediterranean Sea.
Appointment of Leaders for Land Allocation: God also instructs Moses to appoint leaders from each tribe to assist in the division of the land. Eleazar the priest and Joshua son of Nun are to oversee this process.
Leaders from Each Tribe: The chapter lists the names of the leaders from each of the nine and a half tribes who will enter Canaan. These leaders are responsible for ensuring a fair and orderly distribution of the land according to the LORD’s command.
The Levites' Inheritance: Although the Levites are not assigned a specific territorial inheritance like the other tribes, they are to receive towns to live in with pasturelands for their livestock. This is addressed more thoroughly in other parts of the Pentateuch.
Importance of the Land Allocation: This systematic approach to land division is crucial for the Israelites to establish themselves in Canaan, ensuring each tribe has its own territory to cultivate and inhabit.
Numbers 34 not only provides a clear delineation of the Promised Land's borders but also sets in motion the practical steps for its settlement. By appointing respected leaders from each tribe to oversee the land allocation, the chapter underscores the importance of order, fairness, and adherence to divine instructions in the distribution of the land. This preparation reflects the Israelites' transition from a nomadic existence to becoming a settled people in their own land.
Numbers 34
1 And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying,
2 Command the children of Israel, and say unto them, When ye come into the land of Canaan; (this is the land that shall fall unto you for an inheritance, even the land of Canaan with the coasts thereof:)
3 Then your south quarter shall be from the wilderness of Zin along by the coast of Edom, and your south border shall be the outmost coast of the salt sea eastward:
4 And your border shall turn from the south to the ascent of Akrabbim, and pass on to Zin: and the going forth thereof shall be from the south to Kadeshbarnea, and shall go on to Hazaraddar, and pass on to Azmon:
5 And the border shall fetch a compass from Azmon unto the river of Egypt, and the goings out of it shall be at the sea.
6 And as for the western border, ye shall even have the great sea for a border: this shall be your west border.
7 And this shall be your north border: from the great sea ye shall point out for you mount Hor:
8 From mount Hor ye shall point out your border unto the entrance of Hamath; and the goings forth of the border shall be to Zedad:
9 And the border shall go on to Ziphron, and the goings out of it shall be at Hazarenan: this shall be your north border.
10 And ye shall point out your east border from Hazarenan to Shepham:
11 And the coast shall go down from Shepham to Riblah, on the east side of Ain; and the border shall descend, and shall reach unto the side of the sea of Chinnereth eastward:
12 And the border shall go down to Jordan, and the goings out of it shall be at the salt sea: this shall be your land with the coasts thereof round about.
13 And Moses commanded the children of Israel, saying, This is the land which ye shall inherit by lot, which the LORD commanded to give unto the nine tribes, and to the half tribe:
14 For the tribe of the children of Reuben according to the house of their fathers, and the tribe of the children of Gad according to the house of their fathers, have received their inheritance; and half the tribe of Manasseh have received their inheritance:
15 The two tribes and the half tribe have received their inheritance on this side Jordan near Jericho eastward, toward the sunrising.
16 And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying,
17 These are the names of the men which shall divide the land unto you: Eleazar the priest, and Joshua the son of Nun.
18 And ye shall take one prince of every tribe, to divide the land by inheritance.
19 And the names of the men are these: Of the tribe of Judah, Caleb the son of Jephunneh.
20 And 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 And the prince of the tribe of the children of Dan, Bukki the son of Jogli.
23 The prince of the children of Joseph, for the tribe of the children of Manasseh, Hanniel the son of Ephod.
24 And the prince of the tribe of the children of Ephraim, Kemuel the son of Shiphtan.
25 And the prince of the tribe of the children of Zebulun, Elizaphan the son of Parnach.
26 And the prince of the tribe of the children of Issachar, Paltiel the son of Azzan.
27 And the prince of the tribe of the children of Asher, Ahihud the son of Shelomi.
28 And the prince of the tribe of the children of Naphtali, Pedahel the son of Ammihud.
29 These are they whom the LORD commanded to divide the inheritance unto the children of Israel in the land of Canaan.
End of Numbers 34
1 Year Plan: Mar 12 - Num 33, Num 34, Ps 29, Ps 30
2 Command the children of Israel, and say unto them, When ye come into the land of Canaan; (this is the land that shall fall unto you for an inheritance, even the land of Canaan with the coasts thereof:)
3 Then your south quarter shall be from the wilderness of Zin along by the coast of Edom, and your south border shall be the outmost coast of the salt sea eastward:
4 And your border shall turn from the south to the ascent of Akrabbim, and pass on to Zin: and the going forth thereof shall be from the south to Kadeshbarnea, and shall go on to Hazaraddar, and pass on to Azmon:
5 And the border shall fetch a compass from Azmon unto the river of Egypt, and the goings out of it shall be at the sea.
6 And as for the western border, ye shall even have the great sea for a border: this shall be your west border.
7 And this shall be your north border: from the great sea ye shall point out for you mount Hor:
8 From mount Hor ye shall point out your border unto the entrance of Hamath; and the goings forth of the border shall be to Zedad:
9 And the border shall go on to Ziphron, and the goings out of it shall be at Hazarenan: this shall be your north border.
10 And ye shall point out your east border from Hazarenan to Shepham:
11 And the coast shall go down from Shepham to Riblah, on the east side of Ain; and the border shall descend, and shall reach unto the side of the sea of Chinnereth eastward:
12 And the border shall go down to Jordan, and the goings out of it shall be at the salt sea: this shall be your land with the coasts thereof round about.
13 And Moses commanded the children of Israel, saying, This is the land which ye shall inherit by lot, which the LORD commanded to give unto the nine tribes, and to the half tribe:
14 For the tribe of the children of Reuben according to the house of their fathers, and the tribe of the children of Gad according to the house of their fathers, have received their inheritance; and half the tribe of Manasseh have received their inheritance:
15 The two tribes and the half tribe have received their inheritance on this side Jordan near Jericho eastward, toward the sunrising.
16 And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying,
17 These are the names of the men which shall divide the land unto you: Eleazar the priest, and Joshua the son of Nun.
18 And ye shall take one prince of every tribe, to divide the land by inheritance.
19 And the names of the men are these: Of the tribe of Judah, Caleb the son of Jephunneh.
20 And 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 And the prince of the tribe of the children of Dan, Bukki the son of Jogli.
23 The prince of the children of Joseph, for the tribe of the children of Manasseh, Hanniel the son of Ephod.
24 And the prince of the tribe of the children of Ephraim, Kemuel the son of Shiphtan.
25 And the prince of the tribe of the children of Zebulun, Elizaphan the son of Parnach.
26 And the prince of the tribe of the children of Issachar, Paltiel the son of Azzan.
27 And the prince of the tribe of the children of Asher, Ahihud the son of Shelomi.
28 And the prince of the tribe of the children of Naphtali, Pedahel the son of Ammihud.
29 These are they whom the LORD commanded to divide the inheritance unto the children of Israel in the land of Canaan.
End of Numbers 34
1 Year Plan: Mar 12 - Num 33, Num 34, Ps 29, Ps 30
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