Numbers 34:13

_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._ No JFB commentary on these verses....

13._And Moses commanded the children of Israel. _Though this is a repetition, yet it is not a superfluous one; for he contrasts the new allotment of the nine tribes and a half with the former grant; (229) for the exception, which is immediately added, as to the lands beyond Jordan, given to the Reubenites, and Gadites, and half tribe of Manasseh, does not exclude them from their part of the promised inheritance was if they were disinherited, and therefore banished beyond the boundaries prescribed by God — but only from being subject to the casting of lots, because they had by special privilege obtained from their brethren what would else have been included in the common inheritance. Not that this had been revealed from the beginning, but because God in His indulgence had complied with their request, whereby they enlarged the boundaries of the land. And assuredly it would have been absurd...

1-15 Canaan was of small extent; as it is here bounded, it is but about 160 miles in length, and about 50 in breadth; yet this was the country promised to the father of the faithful, and the possession of the seed of Israel. This was that little spot of ground, in which alone, for many ages, God was known. This was the vineyard of the Lord, the garden enclosed; but as it is with gardens and vineyards, the narrowness of the space was made up by the fruitfulness of the soil. Though the earth is the Lord's, and the fulness thereof, yet few know him, and serve him; but those few are happy, because fruitful to God. Also, see how little a share of the world God gives to his own people. Those who have their portion in heaven, have reason to be content with a small pittance of this earth. Yet a little that a righteous man has, having it from the love of God, and with his blessing, is far better...

Verse Numbers 34:13. _THIS IS THE LAND WHICH YE SHALL INHERIT BY LOT_] Much of what is said concerning this land is peculiarly emphatic. It is a land that contains a multitude of advantages in its climate, its soil, situation, c. It is bounded on the _south_ by a _ridge of_ _mountains_, which separate it from _Arabia_, and screen it from the burning and often pestiferous winds which blow over the desert from that quarter. On the _west_ it is bounded by the _Mediterranean_ _Sea_ on the _north_, by Mount _Libanus_, which defends it from the cold northern blasts; and on the _east_ by the _river Jordan_, and its fertile, well-watered plains. It is described by God himself as "a good land, a land of brooks of water, of fountains, and depths that spring out of valleys and hills; a land of wheat, and barley, and vines, and fig trees,...

AND MOSES COMMANDED THE CHILDREN OF ISRAEL, SAYING,.... Strictly enjoining them to observe what he was about to say to them: THIS IS THE LAND WHICH YE SHALL INHERIT BY LOT; as above described and bounded: WHICH THE LORD COMMANDED TO GIVE UNTO THE NINE TRIBES, AND TO THE HALF TRIBE; to the tribes of Judah, Simeon, Benjamin, Dan, Ephraim, Zebulun, Issachar, Asher, and Naphtali, and the half tribe of Manasseh; though this command is not before expressed, it is very probable it was delivered to Moses at the same time he had the mind of God concerning the settlement of the tribes of Reuben and Gad, and the other half tribe of Manasseh, on the other side Jordan; see Numbers 32:31....

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

NUMBERS 34:1 (from P). THE BOUNDARIES OF ISRAEL'S POSSESSIONS IN CANAAN. These, as here set forth, are ideal rather than actual, since the area described never wholly belonged to Israel. The S. border extends from the S. end of the Dead (the Salt) Sea in a SW. direction, having Edom on the SE., and following probably the Wâ dy el Fikreh (in which was the ascent of Akrabbim) to Kadesh (Ain Kâ dis); there it turns NW. and follows partly the brook of Egypt (Wâ dy el Arî sh) to its mouth. The W. border is formed by the Mediterranean (the great) Sea, the shore of which was never possessed by Israel, though Joppa in the second century B.C. was captured by the Maccabees. The N. border extends from the mouth of the Nahr el Kasimî yeh (6 miles N. of Tyre) to Mt. Hor (quite distinct from the Mt. Hor of Numbers 2

THIS IS THE LAND WHICH YE SHALL INHERIT BY LOT— The land of Canaan, properly so called, was bounded on the south by the high mountains which separated it from Arabia, and screened it from the burning winds that blow from that quarter, after having traversed the desarts; on the west, by the Mediterranean sea, whence blew refreshing gales; on the north, by mount Libanus, which guarded it from the cold northern blasts; and on the east, by the fine champaign countries watered by the Jordan, particularly about Jericho, abounding with palm-trees, and a prodigious increase. See Lowman on the Civil Government of the Hebrews, p. 38, 39. It is repeated here, that this is the land which they should inherit, that they might not extend their desires beyond the bounds of God's gracious grant to them....

B. BORDERS OF CANAAN ESTABLISHED (NUMBERS 34:1-15) TEXT Numbers 34:1. And the Lord spake unto Moses, saying, 2. 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:) 3, 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: 4. 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: 5. And the border shall fetch a compass from Azmon unto the river of Egypt, and the goings out of it shal

THE BOUNDARIES OF THE LAND OF PROMISE On the land and the tribes inhabiting it see on Numbers 13:21. 3-5. The southern border: this started from the S. extremity of the Dead Sea, here called the Salt Sea (Numbers 34:3), and proceeded in a SW. direction to the ascent of Akrabbim, i.e. 'of scorpions' (Numbers 34:4), a row of cliffs about 8 m. distant; thence it passed by way of Kadesh-Barnea to the River of Egypt, where it reached the Mediterranean Sea (Numbers 34:5). The 'River of Egypt' is not the Nile but a brook, now identified with the Wady el-Arish, flowing into the sea about 20 m. S. of Gaza. It is frequently mentioned