Números 34
Bob Utley · You Can Understand the Bible
Números 34
NJB (MT versing) Instructions for Apportioning Canaan The Appointed Boundaries of Canaan Ideal Boundaries of the Promised Land The Boundaries of the Land The Boundaries of Canaan 34:1-5 34:1-5 34:1-5 34:1-5 34:1-2 34:3-5 34:6-9 34:6-9 34:6 34:6 34:6 34:7-9 34:7-9 34:7-9 34:10-12 34:10-12 34:10-12 34:10-12 34:10-12 34:13-15 34:13-15 34:13-15 34:13-15 34:13-15 The Leaders Appointed to Divide the Land The Leaders Responsible for Dividing the Land The Leaders in Charge of the Allocation 34:16-29 34:16-29 34:16-29 34:16-28 34:16 34:17-19a 34:19b 34:20 34:21 34:22 34:23 34:24 34:25 34:26 34:27 34:28 34:29 34:29 Etc.
Números 34:1-5
34:2 "the land of Canaan according to its borders" It is interesting that we have found a description of Canaan very similar to this in the Egyptian records of the second half of the 13th century. The land of Canaan was a geographical unit under Egyptian control. These dimensions were only approximated during David and Solomon's time. 34:3 "your southern border" Numbers 34:3-5 describes the southern border of Israel. It was not a straight boundary but a semi-circle, beginning at the bottom of the Dead Sea and running to the wadi El-Arish, which is called in most biblical texts, "the brook of Egypt." This does not refer to the Nile River but to a winter torrent just below the Gaza Strip, as we call it today.
Números 34:6-9
34:6 "As for the western border" The western border was the Mediterranean Sea. 34:7 "your northern border" This also is a difficult boundary to describe. From the places mentioned in this account it seems to be some sixty miles to the north of Damascus. This was approximately the northern boundary during Solomon's reign. However, it included all of Phoenicia and Syria, which is somewhat out of touch with other biblical accounts. ▣ "Mount Hor" This is obviously a mountain in the far north and cannot refer to the same mountain where Aaron died, close to the land of Edom (i.e., Num. 20:22-29; Deut. 32:15). 34:8 "the Lebo-hamath" This is a very ambiguous location. Some believe it is the entrance to the valley in which this city is located, while others think it might include the city itself.
Números 34:10-12
34:10 "For your eastern boundary" The eastern boundary would primarily be a large semi-circle with Damascus as the center of the circle which runs from Lebo-hamath all the way around to the Sea of Galilee. In this text the Sea of Galilee is called the "Sea of Chinnereth" (cf. Deut. 3:17; Josh. 11:2; 12:3; 13:27; 19:35; 1 Kgs. 15:20). It is also known as "Lake Genesseret" (cf. Matt. 14:34; Mark 6:53; Luke 5:1) and "Lake Tiberias" (cf. John 6:1,23; 21:1). 34:11 "Riblah" The UBS Text Project, p. 262, lists three options. "to Riblah" (NASB, JPSOA) "to Harbel" (TEV) "Harb-lah" (LXX) The Peshitta has "Diblath," which involves the common Hebrew "r" - "d" confusion. It gives #3 a "C" rating (considerable doubt). The BDB 916 says "Num. 34:11, on NE border of the land of Israel, certainly not so far n. as "Hamath" (cf. 2 Kgs. 23:33; 25:21), but site unknown." 34:12 "This shall be your land according to its borders all around" It is significant that the trans-Jordan area, which became the tribal allocation of Reuben, Gad, and Manasseh, is not included in this geographical description of the Promised Land. Therefore, it is discussed in Num. 34:13-15.
Números 34:16-29
34:17 "Eleazar the priest and Joshua the son of Nun" This is a list of the leaders who will divide the tribes by family. The only name that is known in other parts of the Bible is Caleb (cf. Num. 34:19), the representative of the tribe of Judah. Joshua, Moses' successor, and Eleazar, Aaron's successor, will officiate the division of the land into the tribal units and then each of these leaders will officiate the division of the large block of land into family units. 34:19-28 This is the new generation of tribal leaders. All of those who listened to the ten spies (Numbers 13-14) are dead.