Numbers 34
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Commentaries
Excerpts gathered from published commentaries to ground the reading.
Moses goes up Mount Nebo to the top of Pisgah, and God shews him the whole extent of the land which he promised to give to the descendants of Abraham, Deu 34:1-4. There Moses died, and was so privately buried by the Lord that his sepulcher was never discovered, Deu 34:5, Deu 34:6. His age and strength of constitution, Deu 34:7. The people weep for him thirty days, Deu 34:8. Joshua being filled with the spirit of wisdom, the Israelites hearken to him, as the Lord commanded them, Deu 34:9. The character of Moses as a prophet, and as a worker of the most extraordinary miracles, both in the sight of the Egyptians, and the people of Israel: conclusion of the Pentateuch, Deu 34:10-12.
Open source ↗THE BORDERS OF THE LAND OF CANAAN. (Num. 34:1-29) 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.
Open source ↗And the Lord spake unto Moses,.... At the same time that he ordered him to direct the children of Israel, when they had passed over Jordan, to drive out the inhabitants of the land of Canaan, and divide their land among them, he proceeded to give the limits and boundaries of the land: saying; as follows.
Open source ↗Boundaries of the Land of Canaan. - Num 34:2. "When ye come into the land of Canaan, this shall be the land which will fall to you as an inheritance, the land of Canaan according to its boundaries:" i.e., ye shall receive the land of Canaan for an inheritance, within the following limits.
Open source ↗Orders having been given before for the dividing of the land of Canaan among the lay-tribes (as I may call them), care is here taken for a competent provision for the clergy, the tribe of Levi, which ministered in holy things. I. Forty-eight cities were to be assigned them, with their suburbs, some in every tribe (Num 35:1-8). II. Six cities out of these were to be for cities of refuge, for any man that killed another unawares (Num 35:9-15). In the law concerning these observe, 1. In what case sanctuary was not allowed, namely, that of wilful murder (Num 35:16-21). 2. In what cases it was allowed (Num 35:22-24). 3. What was the law concerning those that took shelter in these cities of refuge (Num 35:25, etc.).
Open source ↗34:1-29 Chapter 34 gives the borders of the land of Canaan, which Israel was to settle according to the guidelines in 26:52-56. Ever since the call of Abraham (Gen 12:1-7), the Promised Land of Canaan had stood at the heart of the Old Testament story. Though an entire generation of Hebrews died in the wilderness because they refused to believe the report of the faithful spies (Num 13), God had reaffirmed his promise of land (33:53). Here, God reviewed the plan and identified the boundaries of the Promised Land in an idealized form (cp. Josh 13–19; Ezek 47–48). Old Testament Israel did not possess the exact extent of the territory described here (though it came close in the days of David and Solomon; e.g., 2 Sam 24:1-9), but these borders describe the region of Canaan as generally defined by Egyptian texts dating 1500–1200 BC (the period of the Hebrew invasion). The region actually occupied by Israel changed from time to time.
Open source ↗Original language
The Hebrew and Greek words behind this passage, with Strong's numbers — from openscriptures (CC BY-SA).
יְהֹוָה (Yᵉhôvâh, H3068) — Jehovah, Jewish national name of God דָבַר (dâbar, H1696) — perhaps properly, to arrange; but used figuratively (of words), to speak; rarely (in a… מֹשֶׁה (Môsheh, H4872) — Mosheh, the Israelite lawgiver אָמַר (ʼâmar, H559) — to say (used with great latitude)
Open source ↗צָוָה (tsâvâh, H6680) — (intensively) to constitute, enjoin בֵּן (bên, H1121) — a son (as a builder of the family name), in the widest sense (of literal and figurative… יִשְׂרָאֵל (Yisrâʼêl, H3478) — Jisrael, a symbolical name of Jacob; also (typically) of his posterity אָמַר (ʼâmar, H559) — to say (used with great latitude) בּוֹא (bôwʼ, H935) — to go or come (in a wide variety of applications) אֶרֶץ (ʼerets, H776) — the earth (at large, or partitively a land) כְּנַעַן (Kᵉnaʻan, H3667) — Kenaan, a son a Ham; also the country inhabited by him נָפַל (nâphal, H5307) — to fall, in a great variety of applications (intransitive or causative, literal or… נַחֲלָה (nachălâh, H5159) — properly, something inherited, i.e. (abstractly) occupancy, or (concretely) an heirloom;… גְּבוּלָה (gᵉbûwlâh, H1367) — a boundary, region
Open source ↗נֶגֶב (negeb, H5045) — the south (from its drought); specifically, the Negeb or southern district of Judah,… פֵּאָה (pêʼâh, H6285) — properly, mouth in a figurative sense, i.e. direction, region, extremity מִדְבָּר (midbâr, H4057) — a pasture (i.e. open field, whither cattle are driven); by implication, a desert; also… צִן (Tsin, H6790) — Tsin, a part of the Desert יָד (yâd, H3027) — a hand (the open one (indicating power, means, direction, etc.), אֱדֹם (ʼĔdôm, H123) — Edom, the elder twin-brother of Jacob; hence the region (Idumaea) occupied by him גְּבוּל (gᵉbûwl, H1366) — properly, a cord (as twisted), i.e. (by implication) a boundary; by extension the… קָצֶה (qâtseh, H7097) — an extremity מֶלַח (melach, H4417) — properly, powder, i.e. (specifically) salt (as easily pulverized and dissolved) יָם (yâm, H3220) — a sea (as breaking in noisy surf) or large body of water; specifically (with the… קֶדֶם (qedem, H6924) — the front, of place (absolutely, the fore part, relatively the East) or time (antiquity);…
Open source ↗גְּבוּל (gᵉbûwl, H1366) — properly, a cord (as twisted), i.e. (by implication) a boundary; by extension the… סָבַב (çâbab, H5437) — to revolve, surround, or border; used in various applications, literally and figuratively נֶגֶב (negeb, H5045) — the south (from its drought); specifically, the Negeb or southern district of Judah,… מַעֲלֶה (maʻăleh, H4608) — an elevation, i.e. (concretely) acclivity or platform; abstractly (the relation or state)… מַעֲלֵה עַקְרַבִּים (Maʻălêh ʻAqrabbîym, H4610) — Steep of Scorpions, a place in the Desert עָבַר (ʻâbar, H5674) — to cross over; used very widely of any transition (literal or figurative; transitive,… צִן (Tsin, H6790) — Tsin, a part of the Desert תּוֹצָאָה (tôwtsâʼâh, H8444) — (only in plural collective) exit, i.e. (geographical) boundary, or (figuratively)… קָדֵשׁ בַּרְנֵעַ (Qâdêsh Barnêaʻ, H6947) — Kadesh-Barnea, a place in the Desert יָצָא (yâtsâʼ, H3318) — to go (causatively, bring) out, in a great variety of applications, literally and… חֲצַר אַדָּר (Chătsar ʼAddâr, H2692) — Chatsar-Addar, a place in Palestine עַצְמוֹן (ʻAtsmôwn, H6111) — Atsmon, a place near Palestine
Open source ↗גְּבוּל (gᵉbûwl, H1366) — properly, a cord (as twisted), i.e. (by implication) a boundary; by extension the… סָבַב (çâbab, H5437) — to revolve, surround, or border; used in various applications, literally and figuratively עַצְמוֹן (ʻAtsmôwn, H6111) — Atsmon, a place near Palestine נַחַל (nachal, H5158) — a stream, especially a winter torrent; (by implication) a (narrow) valley (in which a… מִצְרַיִם (Mitsrayim, H4714) — Mitsrajim, i.e. Upper and Lower Egypt תּוֹצָאָה (tôwtsâʼâh, H8444) — (only in plural collective) exit, i.e. (geographical) boundary, or (figuratively)… יָם (yâm, H3220) — a sea (as breaking in noisy surf) or large body of water; specifically (with the…
Open source ↗יָם (yâm, H3220) — a sea (as breaking in noisy surf) or large body of water; specifically (with the… גְּבוּל (gᵉbûwl, H1366) — properly, a cord (as twisted), i.e. (by implication) a boundary; by extension the… גָּדוֹל (gâdôwl, H1419) — great (in any sense); hence, older; also insolent
Open source ↗צָפוֹן (tsâphôwn, H6828) — properly, hidden, i.e. dark; used only of the north as aquarter (gloomy and unknown) גְּבוּל (gᵉbûwl, H1366) — properly, a cord (as twisted), i.e. (by implication) a boundary; by extension the… גָּדוֹל (gâdôwl, H1419) — great (in any sense); hence, older; also insolent יָם (yâm, H3220) — a sea (as breaking in noisy surf) or large body of water; specifically (with the… תָּאָה (tâʼâh, H8376) — to mark off, i.e. (intensively) designate הַר (har, H2022) — a mountain or range of hills (sometimes used figuratively) הֹר (Hôr, H2023) — Hor, the name of a peak in Idumaea and of one in Syria
Open source ↗הַר (har, H2022) — a mountain or range of hills (sometimes used figuratively) הֹר (Hôr, H2023) — Hor, the name of a peak in Idumaea and of one in Syria תָּאָה (tâʼâh, H8376) — to mark off, i.e. (intensively) designate בּוֹא (bôwʼ, H935) — to go or come (in a wide variety of applications) חֲמָת (Chămâth, H2574) — Chamath, a place in Syria תּוֹצָאָה (tôwtsâʼâh, H8444) — (only in plural collective) exit, i.e. (geographical) boundary, or (figuratively)… גְּבוּל (gᵉbûwl, H1366) — properly, a cord (as twisted), i.e. (by implication) a boundary; by extension the… צְדָד (Tsᵉdâd, H6657) — Tsedad, a place near Palestine
Open source ↗גְּבוּל (gᵉbûwl, H1366) — properly, a cord (as twisted), i.e. (by implication) a boundary; by extension the… יָצָא (yâtsâʼ, H3318) — to go (causatively, bring) out, in a great variety of applications, literally and… זִפְרֹן (Ziphrôn, H2202) — Ziphron, a place in Palestine תּוֹצָאָה (tôwtsâʼâh, H8444) — (only in plural collective) exit, i.e. (geographical) boundary, or (figuratively)… חֲצַר עֵינָן (Chătsar ʻÊynân, H2704) — Chatsar-Enan, a place in Palestine צָפוֹן (tsâphôwn, H6828) — properly, hidden, i.e. dark; used only of the north as aquarter (gloomy and unknown)
Open source ↗אָוָה (ʼâvâh, H184) — to extend or mark out קֶדֶם (qedem, H6924) — the front, of place (absolutely, the fore part, relatively the East) or time (antiquity);… גְּבוּל (gᵉbûwl, H1366) — properly, a cord (as twisted), i.e. (by implication) a boundary; by extension the… חֲצַר עֵינָן (Chătsar ʻÊynân, H2704) — Chatsar-Enan, a place in Palestine שְׁפָם (Shᵉphâm, H8221) — Shepham, a place in or near Palestine
Open source ↗גְּבוּל (gᵉbûwl, H1366) — properly, a cord (as twisted), i.e. (by implication) a boundary; by extension the… יָרַד (yârad, H3381) — to descend (literally, to go downwards; or conventionally to a lower region, as the… שְׁפָם (Shᵉphâm, H8221) — Shepham, a place in or near Palestine רִבְלָה (Riblâh, H7247) — Riblah, a place in Syria קֶדֶם (qedem, H6924) — the front, of place (absolutely, the fore part, relatively the East) or time (antiquity);… עַיִן (ʻAyin, H5871) — Ajin, the name (thus simply) of two places in Palestine מָחָה (mâchâh, H4229) — properly, to stroke or rub; by implication, to erase; also to smooth (as if with oil),… כָּתֵף (kâthêph, H3802) — the shoulder (proper, i.e. upper end of the arm; as being the spot where the garments… יָם (yâm, H3220) — a sea (as breaking in noisy surf) or large body of water; specifically (with the… כִּנְּרוֹת (Kinnᵉrôwth, H3672) — Kinneroth or Kinnereth, a place in Palestine
Open source ↗גְּבוּל (gᵉbûwl, H1366) — properly, a cord (as twisted), i.e. (by implication) a boundary; by extension the… יָרַד (yârad, H3381) — to descend (literally, to go downwards; or conventionally to a lower region, as the… יַרְדֵּן (Yardên, H3383) — Jarden, the principal river of Palestine תּוֹצָאָה (tôwtsâʼâh, H8444) — (only in plural collective) exit, i.e. (geographical) boundary, or (figuratively)… מֶלַח (melach, H4417) — properly, powder, i.e. (specifically) salt (as easily pulverized and dissolved) יָם (yâm, H3220) — a sea (as breaking in noisy surf) or large body of water; specifically (with the… אֶרֶץ (ʼerets, H776) — the earth (at large, or partitively a land) גְּבוּלָה (gᵉbûwlâh, H1367) — a boundary, region סָבִיב (çâbîyb, H5439) — (as noun) a circle, neighbour, or environs; but chiefly (as adverb, with or without…
Open source ↗מֹשֶׁה (Môsheh, H4872) — Mosheh, the Israelite lawgiver צָוָה (tsâvâh, H6680) — (intensively) to constitute, enjoin בֵּן (bên, H1121) — a son (as a builder of the family name), in the widest sense (of literal and figurative… יִשְׂרָאֵל (Yisrâʼêl, H3478) — Jisrael, a symbolical name of Jacob; also (typically) of his posterity אָמַר (ʼâmar, H559) — to say (used with great latitude) אֶרֶץ (ʼerets, H776) — the earth (at large, or partitively a land) נָחַל (nâchal, H5157) — to inherit (as a (figurative) mode of descent), or (generally) to occupy; causatively, to… גּוֹרָל (gôwrâl, H1486) — properly, a pebble, i.e. a lot (small stones being used for that purpose); figuratively,… יְהֹוָה (Yᵉhôvâh, H3068) — Jehovah, Jewish national name of God נָתַן (nâthan, H5414) — to give, used with greatest latitude of application (put, make, etc.) תֵּשַׁע (têshaʻ, H8672) — nine or (ordinal) ninth מַטֶּה (maṭṭeh, H4294) — a branch (as extending); figuratively, a tribe; also a rod, whether for chastising… חֵצִי (chêtsîy, H2677) — the half or middle
Open source ↗מַטֶּה (maṭṭeh, H4294) — a branch (as extending); figuratively, a tribe; also a rod, whether for chastising… בֵּן (bên, H1121) — a son (as a builder of the family name), in the widest sense (of literal and figurative… רְאוּבֵנִי (Rᵉʼûwbênîy, H7206) — a Reubenite or descendant of Reuben בַּיִת (bayith, H1004) — a house (in the greatest variation of applications, especially family, etc.) אָב (ʼâb, H1) — father, in a literal and immediate, or figurative and remote application גָּדִי (Gâdîy, H1425) — a Gadite (collectively) or descendants of Gad לָקַח (lâqach, H3947) — to take (in the widest variety of applications) חֵצִי (chêtsîy, H2677) — the half or middle מְנַשֶּׁה (Mᵉnashsheh, H4519) — Menashsheh, a grandson of Jacob, also the tribe descended from him, and its territory נַחֲלָה (nachălâh, H5159) — properly, something inherited, i.e. (abstractly) occupancy, or (concretely) an heirloom;…
Open source ↗