Numbers 33:54

_AND YE SHALL DIVIDE THE LAND BY LOT FOR AN INHERITANCE AMONG YOUR FAMILIES: AND TO THE MORE YE SHALL GIVE THE MORE INHERITANCE, AND TO THE FEWER YE SHALL GIVE THE LESS INHERITANCE: EVERY MAN'S INHERITANCE SHALL BE IN THE PLACE WHERE HIS LOT FALLETH; ACCORDING TO THE TRIBES OF YOUR FATHERS YE SHALL INHERIT._ Ye shall divide the land by lot. The particular locality of each tribe was to be determined in this manner, while a line was to be used in measuring the proportion (Joshua 18:10; Psalms 16:5). Canaan was to be divided, when they should be settled in peaceful occupation of it, in such a manner that the whole of the 600,000 yeomen should possess property in an equal share of it. This equality was a fundamental principle in the political constitution; and in order to maintain it, the possess

54_And ye shall divide the land by lot. _The mode of division is also stated, that each should possess what fell to him by lot; and this was the best plan, for the several tribes would never have allowed themselves to be sent here or there at the option of men: and even if the arrangement had been left to the voices of the judges, they would rather have quarreled with each other than determined what was right. But we must here take into consideration something deeper; viz., that by this method God gave certain proof that the children of Israel were the inheritors and masters of that land by His liberality and special blessing. And, in the first place, we must remember that, although men consider nothing more fortuitous than casting lots, still they are governed by God, as Solomon says. (Proverbs 16:33.) God, therefore, commanded the people to cast lots, reserving to Himself the judgm

50-56 Now that they were to pass over Jordan, they were entering again into temptation to follow idols; and they are threatened that, if they spared either the idols or the idolaters, their sin would certainly be their punishment. They would foster vipers in their own bosoms. The remnant of the Canaanites, if they made any peace with them, though but for a time, would be pricks in their eyes, and thorns in their sides. We must expect trouble and affliction from whatever sin we indulge; that which we are willing should tempt us, will vex us. It was intended that the Canaanites should be put out of the land; but if the Israelites learned their wicked ways, they also would be put out. Let us hear this and fear. If we do not drive out sin, sin will drive us out. If we are not the death of our lusts, our lusts will be the death of our souls....

The expulsion of the Canaanites and the destruction of their monuments of idolatry had been already enjoined (see the marginal references); and Numbers 33:54 is substantially a repetition from Exo. 26:53-55. But the solemn warning of Numbers 33:55 is new. A call for it had been furnished by their past transgressions in the matter of Baal-peor, and by their imperfect fulfillment, at the first, of Moses’ orders in the Midianite war....

AND YE SHALL DIVIDE THE LAND BY LOT,.... What is said in this verse is the same with Numbers 26:53, where it has been explained; Numbers 26:53, Numbers 26:54, Numbers 26:55, Numbers 26:56....

10. INSTRUCTIONS CONCERNING THE CONQUEST AND THE BOUNDARIES OF THE LAND Chapter S 33:50-34 _ 1. Command to drive out the inhabitants of the land (Numbers 33:50)_ 2. The division of the land (Numbers 34:1) 3. The names of the men who shall divide the land (Numbers 34:16) The extermination of the Canaanites is first of all demanded. Everything of idolatry was to be destroyed. The land was to belong to a holy people who belong to Jehovah, therefore the Canaanite with his abominations had to be driven out of the land. “If ye will not drive out the inhabitants of the land from before you, those that ye let remain of them shall be pricks in your eyes and thorns in your sides and shal

A COMMAND TO DESTROY THE OBJECTS OF CANAANITE WORSHIP. The substance of this is given also in Exodus 23:24; Exodus 34:13; Deuteronomy 12:2 f. With Numbers 33:55 _cf._ Joshua 23:13; Judges 2:3. NUMBERS 33:52. FIGURED STONES: stones covered with idolatrous emblems HIGH PLACES: since these could be demolished, the expression must here mean not natural heights ...

YE SHALL DIVIDE. Compare Numbers 26:53....

_Commands with regard to the settlement in Canaan_. With the exception of Numbers 33:54 the passage is derived from D. In it is enjoined the destruction of the Canaanite objects of worship, a command which is peculiarly characteristic of Deuteronomic portions of the Pentateuch; cf. Exodus 23:24; Exodus 23:31-33; Exodus 34:11-16; Deuteronomy 7:1-6; Deuteronomy 12:2 f. On the other hand...

VI. FINAL INSTRUCTIONS REGARDING THE SETTLEMENT OF CANAAN (NUMBERS 33:50-56; NUMBERS 34; NUMBERS 35; NUMBERS 36) A. ON CLEARING THE LAND (Numbers 33:50-56) TEXT Numbers 33:50. And the Lord spake unto Moses in the plains of Moab by Jordan near Jericho, saying, 51. Speak unto the children of Israel, and say unto them, When ye are passed over Jordan into the land of Canaan; 52. Then ye shall drive out all the inhabitants of the land from before you, and dest