Numbers 34: Defining the Promised Land and Its Leaders
And the Lord spake unto Moses, saying,
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:)
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:
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 Kadesh–barnea, and shall go on to Hazar–addar, and pass on to Azmon:
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.
And as for the western border, ye shall even have the great sea for a border: this shall be your west border.
And this shall be your north border: from the great sea ye shall point out for you mount Hor:
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:
And the border shall go on to Ziphron, and the goings out of it shall be at Hazar–enan: this shall be your north border.
And ye shall point out your east border from Hazar–enan to Shepham:
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:
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.
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:
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:
The two tribes and the half tribe have received their inheritance on this side Jordan near Jericho eastward, toward the sunrising.
And the Lord spake unto Moses, saying,
These are the names of the men which shall divide the land unto you: Eleazar the priest, and Joshua the son of Nun.
And ye shall take one prince of every tribe, to divide the land by inheritance.
And the names of the men are these: Of the tribe of Judah, Caleb the son of Jephunneh.
And of the tribe of the children of Simeon, Shemuel the son of Ammihud.
Of the tribe of Benjamin, Elidad the son of Chislon.
And the prince of the tribe of the children of Dan, Bukki the son of Jogli.
The prince of the children of Joseph, for the tribe of the children of Manasseh, Hanniel the son of Ephod.
And the prince of the tribe of the children of Ephraim, Kemuel the son of Shiphtan.
And the prince of the tribe of the children of Zebulun, Elizaphan the son of Parnach.
And the prince of the tribe of the children of Issachar, Paltiel the son of Azzan.
And the prince of the tribe of the children of Asher, Ahihud the son of Shelomi.
And the prince of the tribe of the children of Naphtali, Pedahel the son of Ammihud.
These are they whom the Lord commanded to divide the inheritance unto the children of Israel in the land of Canaan.
Numbers 34 details God's meticulous planning for the distribution of the Promised Land among the tribes of Israel, a crucial step before the leadership transition from Moses to Joshua. This chapter emphasizes God's sovereignty and foresight in ensuring order and fairness in the inheritance of His people. The Lord provides precise boundaries and designates leaders to oversee the distribution, highlighting the importance of both physical territory and responsible leadership in fulfilling His promises.
Boundaries of the Promised Land (Numbers 34:1-15)
Before Moses' departure, God provides explicit instructions regarding the boundaries of the land, ensuring no ambiguity arises during its division. This geographical definition underscores the tangible nature of God's promise and the certainty of its fulfillment. The Lord meticulously outlines the southern (Numbers 34:3-4), western (Numbers 34:6), northern (Numbers 34:7-9), and eastern (Numbers 34:10-12) borders, demonstrating His comprehensive knowledge and control over the land He is giving to His people.
The distribution of land was to be carried out by lot, a process akin to drawing straws, ensuring impartiality and reflecting God's will in the allocation. This method was specifically for nine and a half tribes (Numbers 34:13). The remaining two and a half tribes—Reuben, Gad, and half the tribe of Manasseh—had already received their inheritance on the eastern side of the Jordan River, according to their request (Numbers 34:13-15; see Numbers 32:1-42). This earlier decision, while seemingly based on their preference, was ultimately incorporated into God's larger plan, demonstrating His ability to work through human choices to accomplish His purposes. This shows us that even our desires can be used by God to further His plans, though we must always seek His guidance first.
Leaders Appointed for Distribution (Numbers 34:16-29)
Knowing that Moses would not personally oversee the land distribution, God reaffirms the leadership roles of Eleazar the priest and Joshua (Numbers 34:17). These two figures, representing spiritual authority and military leadership respectively, were divinely appointed to guide the process. To further ensure fairness and representation, God instructs Moses to appoint one leader from each tribe to assist in the distribution (Numbers 34:18-29). This delegation of responsibility highlights the importance of shared leadership and the involvement of the community in fulfilling God's commands. The names of these leaders are listed, emphasizing their individual accountability and the significance of their roles in this pivotal moment in Israel's history. God carefully selected these leaders to ensure that each tribe had a voice and that the distribution was carried out justly.
This chapter serves as a reminder that God is a God of order and precision. He doesn't leave things to chance but meticulously plans and provides for His people. It also teaches us about the importance of leadership, both spiritual and practical, in carrying out God's purposes. As believers, we can draw encouragement from this chapter, knowing that God is actively involved in every detail of our lives and that He provides the resources and leadership we need to fulfill His calling. Just as God provided for the Israelites in their inheritance, He provides for us in our spiritual journey, guiding us and equipping us for the tasks He has set before us.
And the Lord spake unto Moses, saying,
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:)
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:
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 Kadesh–barnea, and shall go on to Hazar–addar, and pass on to Azmon:
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.
And as for the western border, ye shall even have the great sea for a border: this shall be your west border.
And this shall be your north border: from the great sea ye shall point out for you mount Hor:
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:
And the border shall go on to Ziphron, and the goings out of it shall be at Hazar–enan: this shall be your north border.
And ye shall point out your east border from Hazar–enan to Shepham:
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:
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.
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:
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:
The two tribes and the half tribe have received their inheritance on this side Jordan near Jericho eastward, toward the sunrising.
And the Lord spake unto Moses, saying,
These are the names of the men which shall divide the land unto you: Eleazar the priest, and Joshua the son of Nun.
And ye shall take one prince of every tribe, to divide the land by inheritance.
And the names of the men are these: Of the tribe of Judah, Caleb the son of Jephunneh.
And of the tribe of the children of Simeon, Shemuel the son of Ammihud.
Of the tribe of Benjamin, Elidad the son of Chislon.
And the prince of the tribe of the children of Dan, Bukki the son of Jogli.
The prince of the children of Joseph, for the tribe of the children of Manasseh, Hanniel the son of Ephod.
And the prince of the tribe of the children of Ephraim, Kemuel the son of Shiphtan.
And the prince of the tribe of the children of Zebulun, Elizaphan the son of Parnach.
And the prince of the tribe of the children of Issachar, Paltiel the son of Azzan.
And the prince of the tribe of the children of Asher, Ahihud the son of Shelomi.
And the prince of the tribe of the children of Naphtali, Pedahel the son of Ammihud.
These are they whom the Lord commanded to divide the inheritance unto the children of Israel in the land of Canaan.
Numbers 34 details God's meticulous planning for the distribution of the Promised Land among the tribes of Israel, a crucial step before the leadership transition from Moses to Joshua. This chapter emphasizes God's sovereignty and foresight in ensuring order and fairness in the inheritance of His people. The Lord provides precise boundaries and designates leaders to oversee the distribution, highlighting the importance of both physical territory and responsible leadership in fulfilling His promises.
Boundaries of the Promised Land (Numbers 34:1-15)
Before Moses' departure, God provides explicit instructions regarding the boundaries of the land, ensuring no ambiguity arises during its division. This geographical definition underscores the tangible nature of God's promise and the certainty of its fulfillment. The Lord meticulously outlines the southern (Numbers 34:3-4), western (Numbers 34:6), northern (Numbers 34:7-9), and eastern (Numbers 34:10-12) borders, demonstrating His comprehensive knowledge and control over the land He is giving to His people.
The distribution of land was to be carried out by lot, a process akin to drawing straws, ensuring impartiality and reflecting God's will in the allocation. This method was specifically for nine and a half tribes (Numbers 34:13). The remaining two and a half tribes—Reuben, Gad, and half the tribe of Manasseh—had already received their inheritance on the eastern side of the Jordan River, according to their request (Numbers 34:13-15; see Numbers 32:1-42). This earlier decision, while seemingly based on their preference, was ultimately incorporated into God's larger plan, demonstrating His ability to work through human choices to accomplish His purposes. This shows us that even our desires can be used by God to further His plans, though we must always seek His guidance first.
Leaders Appointed for Distribution (Numbers 34:16-29)
Knowing that Moses would not personally oversee the land distribution, God reaffirms the leadership roles of Eleazar the priest and Joshua (Numbers 34:17). These two figures, representing spiritual authority and military leadership respectively, were divinely appointed to guide the process. To further ensure fairness and representation, God instructs Moses to appoint one leader from each tribe to assist in the distribution (Numbers 34:18-29). This delegation of responsibility highlights the importance of shared leadership and the involvement of the community in fulfilling God's commands. The names of these leaders are listed, emphasizing their individual accountability and the significance of their roles in this pivotal moment in Israel's history. God carefully selected these leaders to ensure that each tribe had a voice and that the distribution was carried out justly.
This chapter serves as a reminder that God is a God of order and precision. He doesn't leave things to chance but meticulously plans and provides for His people. It also teaches us about the importance of leadership, both spiritual and practical, in carrying out God's purposes. As believers, we can draw encouragement from this chapter, knowing that God is actively involved in every detail of our lives and that He provides the resources and leadership we need to fulfill His calling. Just as God provided for the Israelites in their inheritance, He provides for us in our spiritual journey, guiding us and equipping us for the tasks He has set before us.