Numbers 34

Chap. XXXIV. Ver. 1—29. Boundaries of Canaan.—The people of God, though generally poor, are said “to inherit the earth;” because “a little that the righteous hath, is better than the riches of many wicked.”’—For the bounds of their habitation, and the measure of their provision, are assigned them by the only wise God, their heavenly Father, in subserviency to their salvation, and the increase of grace and peace in their souls. Their numbers have likewise hitherto been few: and they have commonly been despised and neglected, by the multitude of the turbulent and wicked of the world. But “the eye of the Lord is upon them;” ‘‘his Name is their strong Tower;” he “knoweth what things they have need of,”

and hath reserved for them a more enduring inheritance in heaven; and ‘they are kept by his power through faith unto salvation.” May we cast our lot among them, and not covet riches, nor seek, in any improper way, to increase our temporal provision; may we be careful not to live beneath our privileges, through sloth or indulgence; may we enjoy the earnest of the Spirit in our hearts, as an assurance of victory and eternal life; and when our warfare is ended, may we be welcomed to the heavenly Canaan by Jesus, the Prince of all the tribes of the redeemed, to our everlasting and complete satisfaction.— 7. Scott. Chap., XXXV. Ver. 1—34. Cities of the Levites, and of refuge.—The tribe of Levi having no allotted portion among their brethren, the other tribes are required to allot them forty-eight cities (or walled towns) for their residence, in different parts, that they might be employed in instructing the people, and educating the children, during such times as they were not on duty at the tabernacle; to each town was also to be appended a certain portion of land, not exceeding three quarters of a mile on each side, for suburbs, fields, and vineyards; and these towns were to be furnished by the several tribes in equitable proportion, according to their extent of territory.

Of these towns (or cities) six were to be “cities of refuge.” The law of manslaughter seems to have differed from our law of manslaughter, in as much as it made no allowance for provocation, or sudden gusts of passion, as ours doth. This asylum, however, was not permanent in the first instance. The conduct of the manslayer was to undergo legal investigation before the magistrates, in presence of the people, and if his conduct, on the evidence of two or more witnesses, came under the crime of murder, he must be delivered up to justice. If not, he was to be sent back under safe conduct to the place of refuge, and there dwell until the death of the high priest; but if found without that district, it was at the peril of his life.

This appointment was evidently founded on the patriarchal pointed forward to the refuge for sinners provided in the gospel and to the safety of those who have “fled for refuge, to lay hold upon the hope [therein] set before us.” ((Hebrews 6:17-18)) Like other types, however, it has points of difference, as well as of similitude. Having by faith entered the way of salvation, we run no risk of an avenger of blood following us; nor does our safety depend on proofs of innocent intention; nor have we to wait in thraldom till the death of our High Priest. He (Christ) hath died once, ‘the just for the unjust;” and through his atonement “all manner of sin and blasphemy shall be forgiven unto men.” ((Matthew 12:31).)

Notes on the verses

Chap. XXXIV. Ver. 3. Your south quarter, &c.—This chapter cannot well be understood without comparing it with a good map of Canaan.—Salt sea.—({The lake Asphaltites, Dead sea, or Salt sea, is, according to the most authentic accounts, about 70 miles in length, and 18 in breadth. Viewing this sea from the spot where the Jordan discharges its waters into it, it takes a south-easterly direction visible for ten or fifteen miles, when it disappears in a curve towards the east. Its surface is generally unruffled, from the hollow of the basin in which it lies scarcely admitting the free passage necessary for a strong breeze; it is, however, for the same reason, subject to whirlwinds or squalls of short duration.

The mountains on each side are apparently separated by a distance of eight miles; but the expanse of water at this point has been supposed not to exceed five or six: as it advances towards the south, it evidently increases in breadth. The acrid saltness of its waters is much greater than that of the sea; and of such specific gravity, that bodies will float on it that would sink in common sea-water. It is probably on this account, that few fish can live in it; though the monks of St. Saba affirmed to Dr. Shaw, that they had seen fish caught in it.]—Bagster. Ver. 6. The great sea.—That is, the Mediterranean. Ver. 7. Mount Hor.—Not the mount Hor on which Aaron died, which was southward on the edge of Edom, but a mount in the northern extremity, sometimes called Hermon.

See (Deuteronomy 3:9).; iv. 48. (Joshua 13:5). Ver. 11. Sea of Chinnereth.—The same as Genesereth and Tiberias. See (Luke 5:1). (John 6:1). Ver. 13. This is the land.—The whole extent of the land of Canaan proper, is said not to have exceeded 160 miles in length, and 60 in breadth, upon the Ver. 15. Two tribes and the half.—[These two tribes inherited the dominions of Sihon and Og, the two vanquished kings of the Amorites, which extended from the Arnon to Mount Hermon. Of those countries, Moses gave to the tribe of Reuben the south-west part, which was bounded on the south by the river Arnon, on the west by Jordan, and on the north and east by the tribe of Gad. ‘The tribe of Gad was bounded by the river Jordan, and tribe of Reuben, on the west, by the half tribe of Manasseh on the north, by the kingdom of the Amorites, and Arabia Deserta, on the east, and by the tribe of Reuben on the south.

The part belonging to the tribe of Manasseh was bounded by the tribe of Gad on the south, by the sea of Galilee, and part of Jordan, on the west, by Hermon and Lebanon on the north, and by the mountains of Trachonitis on the east.)]—Bagster. Ver. 17. These are the men.—[It is worthy of remark, that Moses does not follow any order hitherto used in arranging the tribes, but places them exactly in the order in which they possessed the land, and according to their fraternal relationship. ‘The following is their order, with the names of their princes, who divided the land: 1 Judah: Caleb. 6 Ephraim: Kemuel. 7 Zebulun: Elizaphan. 2 Simeon: Shemuel. 8 Benjamin: Elidad. 3 Issachar: Paltiel. 4 Dan: Bukki.

9 Asher: Ahihud. 5 Manasseh: Hanniel. 10 Naphtali: Pedahel. Judah is first, having the first lot, in the south, ((Joshua 15);) and next him is Simeon, because his inheritance was ‘‘within the inheritance of the children of Judah,” ((Joshua 19:1).) Benjamin, the third, had his portion between ‘Judah and the children of Joseph,” ((Joshua 18:11).) Dan was the fourth, and his lot was westward of Benjamin, ((Joshua 19:40-41).) Manasseh and his brother Ephraim, had their inheritances behind that of Benjamin, ((Joshua 16:7).) Next these dwelt Zebulun and Issachar, ((Joshua 19:10-17).;) and then Asher and Naphtali, (Joshua 19:24-32).|—Bagster