Numbers 34

God describeth the borders of Canaan, verse 1 etc, and nameth them, that should divide the same among the children of Israel, 16.

1. Moreover, the LORD spake to Moseh, saying ;

2. Command the children of Israel, and say unto them: When ye enter into the land of Canaan, this shall be the land, which shall fall unto you for inheritance; [i.e. which shall fall to your share by lot, or be divided amongst you] the land of Canaan, according to its borders. [described in the sequel, compare herewith, Gen. 10. On v. 19. And chapter 15. On verse 18. Exodus 23:31. Deuteronomy 1:7. And 11. 24. Joshua 1:4.]

3. The south-corner now shall be from the wilderness of Zin, at the sides of Edom: [i.e. all along the borders or frontiers of the Edomites, see Joshua 15:1.] and the Southern land-border shall be unto you, from the end of the salt sea, [otherwise called the Dead sea, see Gen. 14. On verse 3.] towards the East.

4. And this land-border shall go about unto you, from the South to the rising of Akrabbim, [i.e. of scorpions; whereof this place obtained the name, see Deuteronomy 8:15. This was at the South end of the salt-sea, and the East-end of the mount Edom] and pass through to Zin and its [i.e. the said borders] issue shall be, from [or against] the south to Kades-Barnea: and it shall go out to Hazar-Addar. [these two places are joined together here, as lying very near together, Comp. Joshua 15:3. Where they are set down severally, and the first called Hezron, The maps place them both, on the north-side of mount Edom, not far from Azmon] and pass through to Azmon, [situated at the west end of mount Edom, not far from Gerar.]

5. Further this border shall go about from Azmon to the river of Egypt: [Which divideth Egypt from the land of Canaan, comp. Gen. 15. On verse 18. Oth. To the vale, or, valley of Egypt, there being several Moorish or boggy plains that way] and the issues thereof shall be to the sea. [i.e. toward the west, see Gen. 12. On verse 8.]

6. As to the border of the west, [Heb. Sea, and so in the sequel] there the great sea [understand the Mediteranean or Midland sea, called the great sea, in regard of other great waters and lakes which were and in about Jewry} shall be your border.

7. Further the border of the north shall be this unto you: from the great sea shall ye design unto you Mount Hor. [This was not mount Hor. On which Aaron died; ab. chapter 33. 38. But another otherwise called Hermon, at the west end of mount Libanus, by comparing of Joshua 13:5. With this, and the following verse. That mount Hermon had several names, appeareth by Deuteronomy 3:9. And 4. 48. Some take it for a mountain lying at the sea side, pointing out like an head, or cape, as we call it now.]

8. From mount Hor yee shall design till one comes to Hamath: [A famous Royal city, at the foot of mount Libanus. See Genesis 10:15. 18. Above 13. 22. And Joshua 13:5. Judges 3:3. 2 Sam. 8. 9. 1 Kings 8:65. And 14. 28. 2 King 14. 25. And 17. 24. 30, and 23. 33. Jeremiah 49:23. Ezech. 47. 16, 17. And 48. 1. Amos 6:2. Zach. 9. 2.] and the issues of this border shall be to Zedad. [This and the following places extended along mount Libanus down from Hamath by the west-side of Jordan, where it beginneth unto the sea of Kinneroth, or, Gennezareth.]

9. And this border shall go out to Ziphron, and the issues thereof shall be at Hazor-Enan to Zephan: and this shall be the Northern border unto you.

10. Moreover yee shall design unto you a border toward the East, from Hazar-Enan to Sepham, [Also called Siphamoth, as some conceive See 1 Samuel 30:28.]

11. And this border shall go down from Sapham, to Ribla, towards the East of Ain; then shall this border go down, and extend along the shore [Heb. Shoulder] of the Sea Cinnereth [afterwards called Genesareth, so known in the Evangelical history. See also Deut. 3. On verse 17.] eastward.

12. Further this border shall go down along the Jordan [Heb. After the Jordan, to wit, there where, and so as the same river is running down from the sea, or lake, Genesareth, and falleth at last into the salt sea] and the issues thereof shall be at the salt sea: This shall be the land unto you, according to its border round about.

13. And Moseh charged the children of Israel, saying: this is the land which ye are to take by lot for inheritance, which the LORD hath commanded to give unto the nine tribes, and to the half tribe.

14. For the Tribe of the children of the Reubenites according to the house of their fathers, and the Tribe of the children of the Gadites, according to the house of their fathers, have received; also the half tribe of Manasseh hath [Heb. Have] received their inheritance.

15. Two tribes and half a tribe have received their inheritance on this side Jordan, from Jericho Eastward, toward the rising. [viz. Of the sun]

16. Moreover the LORD spake to Moseh, saying:

17. These are the names of the names of men which shall divide the land unto you for inheritance: Eleazar the Priest, and Joshua the son of the Nun.

18. Besides ye shall take one chieftain out of each tribe, [Heb. One chieftain, or, Prince, one chieftain out of a Tribe] for to divide the land for inheritance.

19. And these are the names of these men: of the tribe of Judah, Caleb, son of Jephunne.

20. And of the Tribe of the children of Simeon, Semuel, son of Amihud.

21. Of the Tribe of Benjamin, Elidad, son of Chizlen.

22. And of the tribe of the children of Dan, the chieftain [Or, one chieftain (to wit) and so in the sequel] Bukki, son of Jogli.

23. Of the children of Joseph; of the tribe of the children of Manasseh, the chieftain Hanniel, son of Ephod.

24. And of the Tribe of the children of Ephraim, the chieftain Kemuel, son of Siphtan.

25. And of the Tribe of the children of Zebulon the chieftain Elizaphan, son of Parnachi.

26. And of the Tribe of the children of Issaschar, the chieftain Paltiel, son of Azzan.

27. And of the Tribe of the children of Aser, the chieftain Abihud, son of Selomi.

28. And of the Tribe of the children of Naphtali, the chieftain Pedael, son of Ammihud.

29. These are they, whom the LORD commanded [Or appointed, ordained, constituted, comp. 2 Sam. 6. On verse 21. And chapter 7. On verse 11, & c.] to divide the inheritances unto the children of Israel, in the land of Canaan.