Numbers 34:1-29

The Old Testament Book of Numbers

In the Desert

Numbers

Marion Adams

Chapter 34

*Israel’s borders – Numbers 34:1-15

v1 The *LORD spoke to Moses. He said, v2 ‘Tell the *Israelites about the borders of their land in the country called Canaan.

v3 The southern border will be the Zin *desert along the north west border of the country called Edom. This border will begin at the southern end of the Dead Sea. The border will go west from the Dead Sea. v4 But it will turn south to include the route called Akrabbim, the village called Zin and the town called Kadesh-Barnea. The border will continue to Hazar-Addar and on to Azmon. v5 Then it will go along the valley of a stream called Egypt. It will end at the Mediterranean Sea.

v6 The western border will be the coast of the Mediterranean Sea.

v7 The northern border will begin at the Mediterranean Sea. It will continue east to Hor mountain. v8 Then it will go to Lebo-Hamath and across to Zedad. v9 From Zedad, the border will continue east to Ziphron. It will end at Hazar-Enan. This is the northern border of your land.

v10 The east border will begin at Hazar-Enan in the north. It will go south to Shepham. v11 It will continue down to Riblah, on the east side of Ain. Then, it will go south to the east hills of Galilee lake. v12 It will follow the Jordan river down to the north end of the Dead Sea.

These will be the four borders of the land that belongs to you.’

v13 Then Moses said to the *Israelites, ‘You will receive the land inside these borders. It will belong to you. But the *LORD has ordered you to divide it among the 9 and a half *tribes. Use *lots to do this. v14 Reuben’s *tribe, Gad’s *tribe and East Manasseh’s *tribe have received their land already. v15 Their land is east of the Jordan river, across from the city called Jericho.’

Verses 1-15 This passage describes the borders of the *Promised Land. Actually, the *Israelites controlled most of this area only for a short time. This was several centuries later, when David and then Solomon ruled. But this passage is important because, for the *Israelites, it was more than a record of political borders. It emphasised that God had given this land to his special people. It was his gift to them. Also, he told them how to divide it between the 9 and a half *tribes. Reuben’s *tribe, Gad’s *tribe and the half *tribe of Manasseh kept their land outside the country called Canaan (see chapter 32).

The *LORD chooses the leaders to divide the land – Numbers 34:16-29

v16 The *LORD said to Moses, v17 ‘Eleazar the priest and Joshua, Nun’s son, will divide the land for the *Israelites. v18 One leader from each *tribe will help them. v19-28 The *LORD chose these men to help to divide the land:

Caleb, Jephunneh’s son, from Judah’s *tribe.

Shemuel, Ammihud’s son, from Simeon’s *tribe.

Elidad, Chislon’s son, from Benjamin’s *tribe.

Bukki, Jogli’s son, from Dan’s *tribe.

Hanniel, Ephod’s son, from Manasseh’s *tribe. (Manasseh was Joseph’s son.)

Kemuel, Shiphtan’s son, from Ephraim’s *tribe. (Ephraim was Joseph’s son.)

Elizaphan, Parnach’s son, from Zebulun’s *tribe.

Paltiel, Azzan’s son, from Issachar’s *tribe.

Ahihud, Shelomi’s son, from Asher’s *tribe.

Pedahel, Ammihud’s son, from Naphtali’s *tribe.’

v29 The *LORD appointed these men. They would help Eleazar and Joshua to divide the land between the *Israelites in the country called Canaan.

Verses 16-29 God wanted the *Israelites to divide the land fairly. So he chose men from each *tribe to help Eleazar and Joshua. Caleb was one of the men who had gone into the *Promised Land many years before (Numbers 13:6). He and Joshua were the only people from the first *generation who remained alive. God had promised that Caleb and Joshua would enter the *Promised Land (Numbers 14:30). This was because they had remained loyal to God.

Israel ~ the Israelites and their nation.
LORD ~ a special name for God that his people use. In Hebrew, it is Yahweh. This name means something like ‘I am’ or ‘always alive’.

Lord ~ one who rules. God is the Lord who rules everyone.

Hebrew ~ the language of the *Jews.
desert ~ a dry region, or a region where there is just a little water. A few wild plants are able to grow in some deserts. So people who are travelling can live in these deserts in their tents. And they can lead animals through the desert. The Israelites lived in a desert for nearly 40 years.

Israel ~ the Israelites and their nation.
lots ~ pieces of wood or stones that people used to divide territory or to make a decision. The lots seemed to make the decision by chance. But people believed that, in fact, God had made the decision.'Promised Land ~ the country that God promised to give to Abraham and his *descendants.