Numbers 34:6

_AND AS FOR THE WESTERN BORDER, YE SHALL EVEN HAVE THE GREAT SEA FOR A BORDER: THIS SHALL BE YOUR WEST BORDER._ The western border. There is no uncertainty about this boundary, since it is universally allowed to be the Mediterranean Sea, which is called "the great sea," in comparison with the small inland seas or lakes known to the Hebrews (cf. Joshua 1:4; Joshua 15:12; Joshua 20:1; Ezekiel 47:10)....

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 34:6. _YE SHALL EVEN HAVE THE GREAT SEA FOR A BORDER_] The _Mediterranean_ Sea, called here the _Great Sea_, to distinguish it from the _Dead Sea_, the _Sea of Tiberias_, c., which were only a sort of _lakes_. In Hebrew there is properly but one term, ים _yam_, which is applied to all _collections_ of water apparently stagnant, and which is generally translated _sea_. The Greek of the New Testament follows the Hebrew, and employs, in general, the word θαλασσα, SEA, whether it speaks of the _Mediterranean_, or of the _sea_ or _lake_ of _Galilee_....

AND AS FOR THE WESTERN BORDER,.... Of the land of Canaan: YOU SHALL EVEN HAVE THE GREAT SEA FOR A BORDER; and no other, meaning the Mediterranean sea, which lies west of the land of Judea; Aben Ezra calls it the Spanish sea: it has the name of "great", in comparison of some in the land of Canaan, as the salt sea, and the sea of Tiberias: THIS SHALL BE YOUR WEST BORDER; namely, the Mediterranean sea....

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

_and the border_thereof] These words should be omitted. The word וּגְבוּל (_ûgebhûl_-and a border") may have been accidentally added as a doublet of the preceding חַגָּדוֹל (_haggâdhôl_-the great"), which it somewhat resembles....

THE GREAT SEA— The Jews call the Mediterranean the _great sea,_ in opposition to the lake of Gennezareth, and the Asphaltic lake, called, the one, the sea of _Galilee,_ the other, the Salt or Dead Sea....

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

34:6 sea, (b-10) i.e., the Mediterranean....