Numbers 34 Study Notes
General
According to 34:1-2, who set out the boundaries of the land Israel would inherit?
Answer: The LORD, speaking to Moses
The borders of Canaan came from the LORD Himself, who told Moses to command Israel that the land would be given to them as an inheritance within the limits He was about to describe (34:1-2). Israel did not choose its own territory. The same God had promised Abram a land with defined limits (Genesis 15:18) and had pledged all of Canaan to his descendants (Genesis 17:8). Paul teaches that God determines the boundaries of every nation's lands (Acts 17:26); here He marks out the borders of the land He had promised His own people.
- Numbers 34:1-2 (BSB)“Then the LORD said to Moses, “Command the Israelites and say to them: When you enter the land of Canaan, it will be allotted to you as an inheritance with these boundaries:”The LORD tells Moses that Canaan will be allotted to Israel within the borders He describes.
- Genesis 15:18 (BSB)“On that day the LORD made a covenant with Abram, saying, “To your descendants I have given this land—from the river of Egypt to the great River Euphrates—”God's covenant with Abram promises his descendants a land with stated limits.
- Genesis 17:8 (BSB)“And to you and your descendants I will give the land where you are residing—all the land of Canaan—as an eternal possession; and I will be their God.””God promises all the land of Canaan to Abraham's descendants.
- Acts 17:26 (BSB)“From one man He made every nation of men, that they should inhabit the whole earth; and He determined their appointed times and the boundaries of their lands.”Paul teaches that God determines the boundaries of the lands of the nations.
Theological
What is the source of the boundary lines in Numbers 34:1-12?
Answer: The LORD's own word to Moses
The chapter opens with divine speech: the LORD instructs Moses to tell Israel that Canaan is allotted to them as an inheritance within the borders He then specifies (34:1-2). The territory is defined by God, not negotiated by the tribes, in keeping with the covenant grant to Abram (Genesis 15:18) and the promise of all Canaan to his seed (Genesis 17:8). Paul affirms God's sovereign determination of the boundaries of the nations (Acts 17:26); here that sovereignty fixes the limits of Israel's promised inheritance.
- Numbers 34:1-2 (BSB)“Then the LORD said to Moses, “Command the Israelites and say to them: When you enter the land of Canaan, it will be allotted to you as an inheritance with these boundaries:”The LORD tells Moses that Canaan will be allotted to Israel within the borders He describes.
- Genesis 15:18 (BSB)“On that day the LORD made a covenant with Abram, saying, “To your descendants I have given this land—from the river of Egypt to the great River Euphrates—”God's covenant with Abram promises his descendants a land with stated limits.
- Genesis 17:8 (BSB)“And to you and your descendants I will give the land where you are residing—all the land of Canaan—as an eternal possession; and I will be their God.””God promises all the land of Canaan to Abraham's descendants.
- Acts 17:26 (BSB)“From one man He made every nation of men, that they should inhabit the whole earth; and He determined their appointed times and the boundaries of their lands.”Paul teaches that God determines the boundaries of the lands of the nations.
General
Which leader named in 34:19-28 had also been one of the two faithful spies at Kadesh?
Answer: Caleb son of Jephunneh
Heading the list is Caleb, Jephunneh's son, representing Judah (34:19). Almost forty years earlier, Caleb had urged Israel to advance and seize the land (13:30), and God promised that because Caleb followed Him wholeheartedly, he would enter the land (14:24). God had said that of that whole generation only Caleb and Joshua would enter (14:30). Now both men are named among those who would divide the land (34:17, 19). God kept His word to the faithful, and Joshua later gave Caleb Hebron for his inheritance because of his wholehearted loyalty to the LORD (Joshua 14:13-14).
- Numbers 34:19 (BSB)“These are their names: Caleb son of Jephunneh from the tribe of Judah;”Caleb son of Jephunneh is named first, as the leader from Judah.
- Numbers 13:30 (BSB)“Then Caleb quieted the people before Moses and said, “We must go up and take possession of the land, for we can certainly conquer it!””Caleb urged Israel to go up and take the land.
- Numbers 14:24 (BSB)“But because My servant Caleb has a different spirit and has followed Me wholeheartedly, I will bring him into the land he has entered, and his descendants will inherit it.”God promised to bring Caleb into the land because he followed Him wholeheartedly.
- Numbers 14:30 (BSB)“Surely none of you will enter the land in which I swore to settle you, except Caleb son of Jephunneh and Joshua son of Nun.”God swore that only Caleb and Joshua of that generation would enter the land.
- Joshua 14:13-14 (BSB)“Then Joshua blessed Caleb son of Jephunneh and gave him Hebron as his inheritance. Therefore Hebron belongs to Caleb son of Jephunneh the Kenizzite as an inheritance to this day, because he wholly followed the LORD, the God of Israel.”Caleb later receives Hebron because he wholly followed the LORD.
Theological
Which of the leaders appointed in Numbers 34:19-28 was one of the two faithful spies of chapters 13-14?
Answer: Caleb son of Jephunneh
Caleb, Jephunneh's son, stands first in the list as Judah's representative (34:19). His presence, alongside Joshua (34:17), fulfills the LORD's oath at Kadesh that of the exodus generation only these two would enter the land (14:30), a promise given because Caleb's spirit was different and he followed the LORD wholeheartedly (14:24; cf. 13:30). The allotment list thus bears witness to God's faithfulness to His word, which Joshua 14:13-14 completes when Caleb receives Hebron for his inheritance.
- Numbers 34:19 (BSB)“These are their names: Caleb son of Jephunneh from the tribe of Judah;”Caleb son of Jephunneh is named first, as the leader from Judah.
- Numbers 13:30 (BSB)“Then Caleb quieted the people before Moses and said, “We must go up and take possession of the land, for we can certainly conquer it!””Caleb urged Israel to go up and take the land.
- Numbers 14:24 (BSB)“But because My servant Caleb has a different spirit and has followed Me wholeheartedly, I will bring him into the land he has entered, and his descendants will inherit it.”God promised to bring Caleb into the land because he followed Him wholeheartedly.
- Numbers 14:30 (BSB)“Surely none of you will enter the land in which I swore to settle you, except Caleb son of Jephunneh and Joshua son of Nun.”God swore that only Caleb and Joshua of that generation would enter the land.
- Joshua 14:13-14 (BSB)“Then Joshua blessed Caleb son of Jephunneh and gave him Hebron as his inheritance. Therefore Hebron belongs to Caleb son of Jephunneh the Kenizzite as an inheritance to this day, because he wholly followed the LORD, the God of Israel.”Caleb later receives Hebron because he wholly followed the LORD.
General
According to 34:10-12, what did the eastern border follow south until it reached the Salt Sea?
Answer: The Jordan River
The eastern border came down from Hazar-enan through Shepham and Riblah, ran along the eastern slopes above Chinnereth, and then followed the Jordan down to the Salt Sea, often called the Dead Sea (34:10-12). With that, the land was defined on every side. Elsewhere Scripture describes the same Jordan valley running from Chinnereth down to the Salt Sea (Deuteronomy 3:17; Joshua 12:3). The Brook of Egypt belonged to the southern border and the Great Sea to the western one.
- Numbers 34:10-12 (BSB)“And your eastern border will run straight from Hazar-enan to Shepham, then go down from Shepham to Riblah on the east side of Ain and continue along the slopes east of the Sea of Chinnereth. Then the border will go down along the Jordan and end at the Salt Sea. This will be your land, defined by its borders on all sides.””Traces the eastern border down past the Sea of Chinnereth and along the Jordan to the Salt Sea.
- Deuteronomy 3:17 (BSB)“The Jordan River in the Arabah bordered it from Chinnereth to the Sea of the Arabah (the Salt Sea) with the slopes of Pisgah to the east.”Describes the Jordan as the boundary from Chinnereth to the Salt Sea.
- Joshua 12:3 (BSB)“as well as the Arabah east of the Sea of Chinnereth to the Sea of the Arabah (the Salt Sea), eastward through Beth-jeshimoth, and southward below the slopes of Pisgah.”Also describes the region running from the Sea of Chinnereth to the Salt Sea.
Theological
Along which feature does the eastern boundary of Numbers 34:10-12 descend to the Salt Sea?
Answer: The Jordan River
From Hazar-enan the eastern boundary descends through Shepham and Riblah, skirts the eastern slopes above Chinnereth, and then follows the Jordan until it reaches the Salt Sea (34:10-12), completing the circuit of the land. Deuteronomy 3:17 and Joshua 12:3 describe the same Jordan corridor running between Chinnereth and the Salt Sea. The Brook of Egypt marks the southern boundary and the Great Sea the western, so neither fits here.
- Numbers 34:10-12 (BSB)“And your eastern border will run straight from Hazar-enan to Shepham, then go down from Shepham to Riblah on the east side of Ain and continue along the slopes east of the Sea of Chinnereth. Then the border will go down along the Jordan and end at the Salt Sea. This will be your land, defined by its borders on all sides.””Traces the eastern border down past the Sea of Chinnereth and along the Jordan to the Salt Sea.
- Deuteronomy 3:17 (BSB)“The Jordan River in the Arabah bordered it from Chinnereth to the Sea of the Arabah (the Salt Sea) with the slopes of Pisgah to the east.”Describes the Jordan as the boundary from Chinnereth to the Salt Sea.
- Joshua 12:3 (BSB)“as well as the Arabah east of the Sea of Chinnereth to the Sea of the Arabah (the Salt Sea), eastward through Beth-jeshimoth, and southward below the slopes of Pisgah.”Also describes the region running from the Sea of Chinnereth to the Salt Sea.
General
According to 34:17, which two men were to lead the assigning of the land?
Answer: Eleazar the priest together with Joshua
The LORD named the priest Eleazar and Joshua, Nun's son, as the men who would divide the land as Israel's inheritance (34:17). Moses would not enter the land, and Aaron had already died, so leadership passed to Aaron's son Eleazar and to Joshua. Joshua records that this is exactly what happened: Eleazar, Joshua, and the family heads distributed the land (Joshua 14:1), finishing the work by lot at Shiloh in the LORD's presence (Joshua 19:51).
- Numbers 34:16-17 (BSB)“Then the LORD said to Moses, “These are the names of the men who are to assign the land as an inheritance for you: Eleazar the priest and Joshua son of Nun.”The LORD names Eleazar the priest and Joshua son of Nun to assign the land.
- Joshua 14:1 (BSB)“Now these are the portions that the Israelites inherited in the land of Canaan, as distributed by Eleazar the priest, Joshua son of Nun, and the heads of the families of the tribes of Israel.”Records Eleazar, Joshua, and the family heads distributing the land in Canaan.
- Joshua 19:51 (BSB)“These are the inheritances that Eleazar the priest, Joshua son of Nun, and the heads of the families distributed by lot to the tribes of Israel at Shiloh before the LORD at the entrance to the Tent of Meeting. So they finished dividing up the land.”Shows the division completed by lot at Shiloh in the LORD's presence.
- Numbers 27:18-21 (BSB)“And the LORD replied to Moses, “Take Joshua son of Nun, a man with the Spirit in him, and lay your hands on him. Have him stand before Eleazar the priest and the whole congregation, and commission him in their sight. Confer on him some of your authority, so that the whole congregation of Israel will obey him. He shall stand before Eleazar the priest, who will seek counsel for him before the LORD by the judgment of the Urim. At his command, he and all the Israelites with him—the entire congregation—will go out and come in.””Joshua's commissioning pairs him with Eleazar, who would seek the LORD's counsel for him.
Theological
Whom does Numbers 34:17 designate to head the distribution of the land?
Answer: Eleazar the priest together with Joshua
The allotment is entrusted to the priest Eleazar and Joshua, Nun's son (34:17), the priestly and civil successors of Aaron and Moses. Joshua 14:1 and 19:51 record the fulfillment: Eleazar, Joshua, and the family heads distributed the inheritances by lot at Shiloh in the LORD's presence. The pairing of priest and leader matches Joshua's commissioning, in which he was to stand before Eleazar, who would seek the LORD's judgment for him (27:21).
- Numbers 34:16-17 (BSB)“Then the LORD said to Moses, “These are the names of the men who are to assign the land as an inheritance for you: Eleazar the priest and Joshua son of Nun.”The LORD names Eleazar the priest and Joshua son of Nun to assign the land.
- Joshua 14:1 (BSB)“Now these are the portions that the Israelites inherited in the land of Canaan, as distributed by Eleazar the priest, Joshua son of Nun, and the heads of the families of the tribes of Israel.”Records Eleazar, Joshua, and the family heads distributing the land in Canaan.
- Joshua 19:51 (BSB)“These are the inheritances that Eleazar the priest, Joshua son of Nun, and the heads of the families distributed by lot to the tribes of Israel at Shiloh before the LORD at the entrance to the Tent of Meeting. So they finished dividing up the land.”Shows the division completed by lot at Shiloh in the LORD's presence.
- Numbers 27:18-21 (BSB)“And the LORD replied to Moses, “Take Joshua son of Nun, a man with the Spirit in him, and lay your hands on him. Have him stand before Eleazar the priest and the whole congregation, and commission him in their sight. Confer on him some of your authority, so that the whole congregation of Israel will obey him. He shall stand before Eleazar the priest, who will seek counsel for him before the LORD by the judgment of the Urim. At his command, he and all the Israelites with him—the entire congregation—will go out and come in.””Joshua's commissioning pairs him with Eleazar, who would seek the LORD's counsel for him.
General
According to 34:13-15, why was Canaan to be allotted to only nine tribes and half of another?
Answer: Reuben, Gad, and half of Manasseh already had land east of the Jordan
Moses told Israel that the land within these borders was for nine tribes and Manasseh's western half, because Reuben, Gad, and half of Manasseh had already been given their inheritance on the Jordan's east side (34:13-15). This was the arrangement made in chapter 32, when Moses gave them the former kingdoms of Sihon and Og (32:33). Joshua later confirms that these tribes had received the territory Moses had assigned east of the river (Joshua 13:8).
- Numbers 34:13-15 (BSB)“So Moses commanded the Israelites, “Apportion this land by lot as an inheritance. The LORD has commanded that it be given to the nine and a half tribes. For the tribes of the Reubenites and Gadites, along with the half-tribe of Manasseh, have already received their inheritance. These two and a half tribes have received their inheritance across the Jordan from Jericho, toward the sunrise.””Moses explains that the land is for nine and a half tribes, since two and a half already had land east of the Jordan.
- Numbers 32:33 (BSB)“So Moses gave to the Gadites, to the Reubenites, and to the half-tribe of Manasseh son of Joseph the kingdom of Sihon king of the Amorites and the kingdom of Og king of Bashan—the land including its cities and the territory surrounding them.”Records Moses giving Gad, Reuben, and half of Manasseh the kingdoms of Sihon and Og.
- Joshua 13:8 (BSB)“The other half of Manasseh, along with the Reubenites and Gadites, had received the inheritance Moses had given them beyond the Jordan to the east, just as Moses the servant of the LORD had assigned to them:”Confirms that these tribes had received their inheritance beyond the Jordan from Moses.
Theological
What explains the allotment of Canaan to only nine tribes and half of another in Numbers 34:13-15?
Answer: Reuben, Gad, and half-Manasseh were already settled east of the Jordan
Canaan proper is apportioned to nine tribes and the remaining half of Manasseh because Reuben, Gad, and half of Manasseh had already been allotted territory east of the Jordan (34:13-15), in accordance with the settlement of chapter 32, where Moses granted them the former realms of Sihon and Og (32:33). Joshua 13:8 confirms that Moses had already assigned these tribes their portion beyond the Jordan.
- Numbers 34:13-15 (BSB)“So Moses commanded the Israelites, “Apportion this land by lot as an inheritance. The LORD has commanded that it be given to the nine and a half tribes. For the tribes of the Reubenites and Gadites, along with the half-tribe of Manasseh, have already received their inheritance. These two and a half tribes have received their inheritance across the Jordan from Jericho, toward the sunrise.””Moses explains that the land is for nine and a half tribes, since two and a half already had land east of the Jordan.
- Numbers 32:33 (BSB)“So Moses gave to the Gadites, to the Reubenites, and to the half-tribe of Manasseh son of Joseph the kingdom of Sihon king of the Amorites and the kingdom of Og king of Bashan—the land including its cities and the territory surrounding them.”Records Moses giving Gad, Reuben, and half of Manasseh the kingdoms of Sihon and Og.
- Joshua 13:8 (BSB)“The other half of Manasseh, along with the Reubenites and Gadites, had received the inheritance Moses had given them beyond the Jordan to the east, just as Moses the servant of the LORD had assigned to them:”Confirms that these tribes had received their inheritance beyond the Jordan from Moses.
General
True or False: The northern border ran from the Great Sea's coast by way of Mount Hor and Lebo-hamath and ended at Hazar-enan.
Answer: True
This is true. The northern line began at the Mediterranean, went to a Mount Hor in the north, then on to Lebo-hamath, Zedad, and Ziphron, finishing at Hazar-enan (34:7-9). Because the Mount Hor where Aaron died lay on the edge of Edom far to the south (33:37), this northern peak appears to be a different mountain with the same name. Years earlier the spies had explored the land from Zin's wilderness northward to the region of Lebo-hamath (13:21), and Joshua 13:5 again names Lebo-hamath at the northern limit of the land still to be taken.
- Numbers 34:7-9 (BSB)“Your northern border will run from the Great Sea directly to Mount Hor, and from Mount Hor to Lebo-hamath, then extend to Zedad, continue to Ziphron, and end at Hazar-enan. This will be your boundary on the north.”Traces the northern border from the Great Sea to Hazar-enan.
- Numbers 13:21 (BSB)“So they went up and spied out the land from the Wilderness of Zin as far as Rehob, toward Lebo-hamath.”The spies had scouted the land from the south as far as the approach to Lebo-hamath.
- Joshua 13:5 (BSB)“the land of the Gebalites; and all Lebanon to the east, from Baal-gad below Mount Hermon to Lebo-hamath.”Names Lebo-hamath at the northern edge of the land still to be possessed.
- Numbers 33:37 (BSB)“They set out from Kadesh and camped at Mount Hor, on the outskirts of the land of Edom.”Places the Mount Hor where Aaron died on the outskirts of Edom, far from the northern border.
Theological
True or False: According to Numbers 34:7-9, the northern boundary ran from the Great Sea's coast via Mount Hor and Lebo-hamath to Hazar-enan.
Answer: True
This is true. The northern boundary proceeds from the Mediterranean to a northern Mount Hor, then to Lebo-hamath, Zedad, and Ziphron, terminating at Hazar-enan (34:7-9); since the Mount Hor where Aaron died lay on Edom's border far to the south (33:37), this northern peak is evidently a different mountain bearing the same name. The spies had reconnoitered from Zin's wilderness up toward Lebo-hamath (13:21), and Joshua 13:5 again places Lebo-hamath at the northern extent of the remaining land.
- Numbers 34:7-9 (BSB)“Your northern border will run from the Great Sea directly to Mount Hor, and from Mount Hor to Lebo-hamath, then extend to Zedad, continue to Ziphron, and end at Hazar-enan. This will be your boundary on the north.”Traces the northern border from the Great Sea to Hazar-enan.
- Numbers 13:21 (BSB)“So they went up and spied out the land from the Wilderness of Zin as far as Rehob, toward Lebo-hamath.”The spies had scouted the land from the south as far as the approach to Lebo-hamath.
- Joshua 13:5 (BSB)“the land of the Gebalites; and all Lebanon to the east, from Baal-gad below Mount Hermon to Lebo-hamath.”Names Lebo-hamath at the northern edge of the land still to be possessed.
- Numbers 33:37 (BSB)“They set out from Kadesh and camped at Mount Hor, on the outskirts of the land of Edom.”Places the Mount Hor where Aaron died on the outskirts of Edom, far from the northern border.
General
According to 34:3-5, the southern border was to pass south of which place?
Answer: Kadesh-barnea
The southern border began in Zin's wilderness beside Edom, ran from the Salt Sea's southern end past the Ascent of Akrabbim, and swung below Kadesh-barnea before joining the Brook of Egypt, then running to the Mediterranean (34:3-5). Kadesh-barnea was the very place from which the spies had been sent out and where Israel refused to enter the land (32:8; 13:26). Now the border of the land passes just beyond that place of failure. Joshua later traces Judah's southern border along the same line (Joshua 15:1-4).
- Numbers 34:3-5 (BSB)“Your southern border will extend from the Wilderness of Zin along the border of Edom. On the east, your southern border will run from the end of the Salt Sea, cross south of the Ascent of Akrabbim, continue to Zin, and go south of Kadesh-barnea. Then it will go on to Hazar-addar and proceed to Azmon, where it will turn from Azmon, join the Brook of Egypt, and end at the Sea.”Traces the southern border, passing south of Kadesh-barnea to the Brook of Egypt and the Sea.
- Numbers 13:26 (BSB)“and they went back to Moses, Aaron, and the whole congregation of Israel in the Wilderness of Paran at Kadesh. They brought back a report for the whole congregation and showed them the fruit of the land.”The spies returned to the congregation at Kadesh with their report.
- Numbers 32:8 (BSB)“This is what your fathers did when I sent them from Kadesh-barnea to inspect the land.”Moses recalls that the spies were sent out from Kadesh-barnea.
- Joshua 15:1-4 (BSB)“Now the allotment for the clans of the tribe of Judah extended to the border of Edom, to the Wilderness of Zin at the extreme southern boundary: Their southern border started at the bay on the southern tip of the Salt Sea, proceeded south of the Ascent of Akrabbim, continued on to Zin, went over to the south of Kadesh-barnea, ran past Hezron up to Addar, and curved toward Karka. It proceeded to Azmon, joined the Brook of Egypt, and ended at the Sea. This was their southern border.”Judah's southern border later follows the same line past Kadesh-barnea.
Theological
Numbers 34:4 routes the southern boundary below which site?
Answer: Kadesh-barnea
The southern boundary begins in Zin's wilderness alongside Edom, runs from the Salt Sea's southern end past the Ascent of Akrabbim, and passes below Kadesh-barnea toward the Brook of Egypt, then the Sea (34:3-5). Kadesh-barnea was the base from which the spies were dispatched and where the exodus generation refused the land (13:26; 32:8), so the border now runs just beyond the site of that unbelief. Judah's southern boundary in Joshua 15:1-4 follows the same course. Lebo-hamath and Hazar-enan lie on the northern line and Riblah on the eastern.
- Numbers 34:3-5 (BSB)“Your southern border will extend from the Wilderness of Zin along the border of Edom. On the east, your southern border will run from the end of the Salt Sea, cross south of the Ascent of Akrabbim, continue to Zin, and go south of Kadesh-barnea. Then it will go on to Hazar-addar and proceed to Azmon, where it will turn from Azmon, join the Brook of Egypt, and end at the Sea.”Traces the southern border, passing south of Kadesh-barnea to the Brook of Egypt and the Sea.
- Numbers 13:26 (BSB)“and they went back to Moses, Aaron, and the whole congregation of Israel in the Wilderness of Paran at Kadesh. They brought back a report for the whole congregation and showed them the fruit of the land.”The spies returned to the congregation at Kadesh with their report.
- Numbers 32:8 (BSB)“This is what your fathers did when I sent them from Kadesh-barnea to inspect the land.”Moses recalls that the spies were sent out from Kadesh-barnea.
- Joshua 15:1-4 (BSB)“Now the allotment for the clans of the tribe of Judah extended to the border of Edom, to the Wilderness of Zin at the extreme southern boundary: Their southern border started at the bay on the southern tip of the Salt Sea, proceeded south of the Ascent of Akrabbim, continued on to Zin, went over to the south of Kadesh-barnea, ran past Hezron up to Addar, and curved toward Karka. It proceeded to Azmon, joined the Brook of Egypt, and ended at the Sea. This was their southern border.”Judah's southern border later follows the same line past Kadesh-barnea.
General
How many tribal leaders are named in 34:19-28 to help divide the land?
Answer: Ten, one for each tribe getting land west of the Jordan
God told Moses to choose a leader from every tribe to share in dividing the land (34:18), and ten are named, for Judah, Simeon, Benjamin, Dan, Manasseh, Ephraim, Zebulun, Issachar, Asher, and Naphtali (34:19-28). Reuben and Gad had no representative because they had already received land east of the Jordan (32:33). Levi had none because the Levites received no inheritance of land among the tribes (26:62), and the LORD had declared Himself the portion of Aaron's priestly line (18:20). These are the men the LORD appointed to distribute the inheritance (34:29).
- Numbers 34:18 (BSB)“Appoint one leader from each tribe to distribute the land.”The LORD commands that one leader from each tribe be appointed to distribute the land.
- Numbers 34:29 (BSB)“These are the ones whom the LORD commanded to apportion the inheritance to the Israelites in the land of Canaan.”Summarizes the list as the men the LORD commanded to apportion the inheritance.
- Numbers 32:33 (BSB)“So Moses gave to the Gadites, to the Reubenites, and to the half-tribe of Manasseh son of Joseph the kingdom of Sihon king of the Amorites and the kingdom of Og king of Bashan—the land including its cities and the territory surrounding them.”Reuben and Gad had already received land east of the Jordan, so they needed no representative.
- Numbers 18:20 (BSB)“Then the LORD said to Aaron, “You will have no inheritance in their land, nor will you have any portion among them. I am your portion and your inheritance among the Israelites.”The LORD is the inheritance of Aaron's line rather than a share of the land.
- Numbers 26:62 (BSB)“The registration of the Levites totaled 23,000, every male a month old or more; they were not numbered among the other Israelites, because no inheritance was given to them among the Israelites.”The Levites were not counted with the other tribes because they received no inheritance.
Theological
How many tribal representatives does Numbers 34:19-28 list for the allotment?
Answer: Ten, one per tribe receiving land west of the Jordan
Moses is to choose a leader from every tribe (34:18), and the list names ten, representing Judah, Simeon, Benjamin, Dan, Manasseh, Ephraim, Zebulun, Issachar, Asher, and Naphtali (34:19-28). Reuben and Gad are absent, having already received their Transjordan inheritance (32:33), and Levi is absent because the Levites received no territorial inheritance (26:62), the LORD Himself being the portion of Aaron's priestly house (18:20). The list closes by grounding their authority in the LORD's command (34:29).
- Numbers 34:18 (BSB)“Appoint one leader from each tribe to distribute the land.”The LORD commands that one leader from each tribe be appointed to distribute the land.
- Numbers 34:29 (BSB)“These are the ones whom the LORD commanded to apportion the inheritance to the Israelites in the land of Canaan.”Summarizes the list as the men the LORD commanded to apportion the inheritance.
- Numbers 32:33 (BSB)“So Moses gave to the Gadites, to the Reubenites, and to the half-tribe of Manasseh son of Joseph the kingdom of Sihon king of the Amorites and the kingdom of Og king of Bashan—the land including its cities and the territory surrounding them.”Reuben and Gad had already received land east of the Jordan, so they needed no representative.
- Numbers 18:20 (BSB)“Then the LORD said to Aaron, “You will have no inheritance in their land, nor will you have any portion among them. I am your portion and your inheritance among the Israelites.”The LORD is the inheritance of Aaron's line rather than a share of the land.
- Numbers 26:62 (BSB)“The registration of the Levites totaled 23,000, every male a month old or more; they were not numbered among the other Israelites, because no inheritance was given to them among the Israelites.”The Levites were not counted with the other tribes because they received no inheritance.
General
True or False: The western border of the land was to be the Mediterranean shore, called the Great Sea.
Answer: True
This is true. God made the Great Sea's shore, the Mediterranean coast, Israel's western boundary (34:6). The LORD repeated this limit to Joshua when He promised Israel's territory would reach west to that sea (Joshua 1:4), and the same coastline became the western edge of Judah's allotment (Joshua 15:12).
- Numbers 34:6 (BSB)“Your western border will be the coastline of the Great Sea; this will be your boundary on the west.”Sets the coastline of the Great Sea as the western border.
- Joshua 1:4 (BSB)“Your territory shall extend from the wilderness and Lebanon to the great River Euphrates—all the land of the Hittites—and west as far as the Great Sea.”The LORD repeats to Joshua that the territory will reach west to the Great Sea.
- Joshua 15:12 (BSB)“And the western border was the coastline of the Great Sea. These are the boundaries around the clans of the descendants of Judah.”Judah's western border is the same coastline of the Great Sea.
Theological
True or False: Numbers 34:6 fixes the Great Sea's shoreline as Israel's western boundary.
Answer: True
This is true. The western limit of the land is the Mediterranean shore, called the Great Sea (34:6). The same boundary is reaffirmed in the LORD's charge to Joshua (Joshua 1:4) and reappears as the western edge of Judah's allotment (Joshua 15:12).
- Numbers 34:6 (BSB)“Your western border will be the coastline of the Great Sea; this will be your boundary on the west.”Sets the coastline of the Great Sea as the western border.
- Joshua 1:4 (BSB)“Your territory shall extend from the wilderness and Lebanon to the great River Euphrates—all the land of the Hittites—and west as far as the Great Sea.”The LORD repeats to Joshua that the territory will reach west to the Great Sea.
- Joshua 15:12 (BSB)“And the western border was the coastline of the Great Sea. These are the boundaries around the clans of the descendants of Judah.”Judah's western border is the same coastline of the Great Sea.