Numbers 34:2

_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:)_ This is the land of Canaan. The details given in this chapter mark the general boundary of the inheritance of Israel west of the Jordan. The Israelites never actually possessed all the territory comprised within these boundaries, even when it was most extended by the conquests of David and Solomon....

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 34:2. _THE LAND OF CANAAN WITH THE COASTS THEREOF_] All description here is useless. The situation and boundaries of the land of Canaan can only be known by actual survey, or by consulting a good map....

THE LAND OF CANAAN - The name Canaan is here restricted to the territory west of the Jordan....

COMMAND THE CHILDREN OF ISRAEL, AND SAY UNTO THEM,.... Not to fix the borders, and settle the boundaries of the land, for that is done by the Lord himself, who has determined the times before appointed, and the bounds of men's habitations, and particularly of Israel, see Deuteronomy 32:8, but to observe and take notice of the limits he had fixed, that they might know how far they were to go on every side, whom they were to drive out, and what they were to divide and inherit, and see what was their right, and preserve it from the encroachments of their neighbours, as well as observe the goodness of God unto them, in thus providing for them: WHEN YE COME INTO THE LAND OF CANAAN; to take possession of it by virtue of a grant of it to them: THIS IS THE LAND THAT SHALL FALL UNTO YOU FOR AN INHERITANCE; it is said to "fall", because it was divided by l

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

CHILDREN. sons. WHEN YE COME. After the final command (above) follow instructions as to the quiet possession of the land thus cleared of enemies. COASTS. borders, or confines....

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