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Numbers 34

World English Bible

WEB

1Yahweh 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 its borders), 3then 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. 4Your border shall turn about southward of the ascent of Akrabbim, and pass along to Zin; and it shall pass southward of Kadesh Barnea; and it shall go from there to Hazar Addar, and pass along to Azmon. 5The border shall turn about from Azmon to the brook of Egypt, and it shall end at the sea. 6“‘For the western border, you shall have the great sea and its border. This shall be your west border. 7“‘This shall be your north border: from the great sea you shall mark out for yourselves Mount Hor. 8From Mount Hor you shall mark out to the entrance of Hamath; and the border shall pass by Zedad. 9Then the border shall go to Ziphron, and it shall end at Hazar Enan. This shall be your north border. 10“‘You shall mark out your east border from Hazar Enan to Shepham. 11The border shall go down from Shepham to Riblah, on the east side of Ain. The border shall go down, and shall reach to the side of the sea of Chinnereth eastward. 12The border shall go down to the Jordan, and end at the Salt Sea. This shall be your land according to its borders around it.’” 13Moses 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; 14for the tribe of the children of Reuben according to their fathers’ houses, the tribe of the children of Gad according to their fathers’ houses, and the half-tribe of Manasseh have received their inheritance. 15The two tribes and the half-tribe have received their inheritance beyond the Jordan at Jericho eastward, toward the sunrise.” 16Yahweh 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. 18You shall take one prince of every tribe, to divide the land for inheritance. 19These are the names of the men: Of the tribe of Judah, Caleb the son of Jephunneh. 20Of the tribe of the children of Simeon, Shemuel the son of Ammihud. 21Of the tribe of Benjamin, Elidad the son of Chislon. 22Of the tribe of the children of Dan a prince, Bukki the son of Jogli. 23Of the children of Joseph: of the tribe of the children of Manasseh a prince, Hanniel the son of Ephod. 24Of the tribe of the children of Ephraim a prince, Kemuel the son of Shiphtan. 25Of the tribe of the children of Zebulun a prince, Elizaphan the son of Parnach. 26Of the tribe of the children of Issachar a prince, Paltiel the son of Azzan. 27Of the tribe of the children of Asher a prince, Ahihud the son of Shelomi. 28Of the tribe of the children of Naphtali a prince, Pedahel the son of Ammihud.” 29These are they whom Yahweh commanded to divide the inheritance to the children of Israel in the land of Canaan.

World English Bible, 2020 stable text edition. Public domain; “World English Bible” is a trademark of eBible.org. eBible.org

Overview

Numbers Chapter 34 details the boundaries of the land that the Israelites are to inherit as they prepare to enter the Promised Land. God commands Moses to outline the specific borders of Canaan, emphasizing the importance of the land as a divine gift to the #Israelites. The chapter begins with God instructing Moses to designate the southern, western, northern, and eastern borders, which are to be clearly defined to ensure that each tribe receives its rightful inheritance. This meticulous description of the land serves to remind the people of God's faithfulness in fulfilling His promises to their ancestors, particularly to #Abraham, #Isaac, and #Jacob. The boundaries include notable landmarks such as the Mediterranean Sea and the Jordan River, illustrating the geographical significance of the land they are about to possess.

The chapter also highlights the leaders of the tribes who will assist in the distribution of the land. God appoints a leader from each tribe to oversee the allocation, ensuring that the process is fair and orderly. This delegation of responsibility reflects God's desire for order and justice within the community. The chapter concludes with a reminder that the land is not just a physical territory but a sacred space where the #Israelites are to live in covenant relationship with God, obeying His laws and worshiping Him. Thus, Numbers 34 serves as a pivotal moment in Israel's journey, marking the transition from wandering in the wilderness to settling in the land promised to them by God.

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Referenced by

  1. Joshua 19:51v13Joshua 19:51 concludes the division of the land among the tribes, as commanded by the Lord through Moses. Numbers 34:13-29 details the initial instructions for dividing the land, showing the fulfillment of God's command.
  2. Ezekiel 45:1v2Ezekiel 45:1 describes the division of the land for the sanctuary, which echoes the instructions given in Numbers 34:2 for the division of the Promised Land among the tribes of Israel.

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