UNROLL
The land of Canaan seen at dawn from the eastern heights: the deep Jordan valley below, the pale north end of the Salt Sea, and blue hills rising layer on layer to the west.

The Book of

Numbers 34

God draws the map of the promise: south, west, north and east, and names the men who will share it out.

29 verses≈ 4 min4 peopleBSB

Images are artistic interpretations.

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In this chapter

Where we are

  1. 1–10Ready at SinaiCounted and ordered
  2. 11–14GrumblingTo Kadesh and refusal
  3. 15–21Forty yearsRebellion and mercy
  4. 22–25BalaamA curse turned to blessing
  5. 26–36A new generationReady for the landChapter 34

The Boundaries of Canaan

Then the LORD said to Moses, “Command the Israelites and say to them: When you enter the land of Canaan, it will be allotted to you as an inheritance with these boundaries:

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Wilderness of ZinAscent of Akrabbim (site uncertain)River of EgyptDead SeaJordan RiverSea of GalileeMediterranean SeaTo Lebo-hamathKadesh

Stylised map · locations approximate

Where it happened

The borders of the land

The south border runs from the Wilderness of Zin below the Salt Sea, past the Ascent of Akrabbim and Kadesh-barnea, to the Brook of Egypt and the sea. The west is the Great Sea. The north runs far beyond this map, to Lebo-hamath, Zedad and Hazar-enan. The east comes down from Riblah past the Sea of Chinnereth (Galilee) and along the Jordan to the Salt Sea. Many sites, especially in the north, are uncertain.

The far southern end of the Salt Sea at morning: white salt flats and shallow pale water, with bare, scorched cliffs and ravines rising toward the south-west.

The borders

The four borders

  1. South

    Zin, along Edom

    Your southern border will extend from the Wilderness of Zin along the border of Edom.

  2. Salt Sea, Akrabbim, Kadesh

    On the east, your southern border will run from the end of the Salt Sea,

    cross south of the Ascent of Akrabbim, continue to Zin, and go south of Kadesh-barnea. Then it will go on to Hazar-addar and proceed to Azmon,

  3. Azmon to the Brook of Egypt

    where it will turn from Azmon, join the Brook of Egypt, and end at the Sea.

  4. West

    The Great Sea

    Your western border will be the coastline of the Great Sea; this will be your boundary on the west.

  5. North

    To Mount Hor and Lebo-hamath

    Your northern border will run from the Great Sea directly to Mount Hor,

    and from Mount Hor to Lebo-hamath, then extend to Zedad,

  6. Ziphron to Hazar-enan

    continue to Ziphron, and end at Hazar-enan. This will be your boundary on the north.

  7. East

    Shepham down to Chinnereth

    And your eastern border will run straight from Hazar-enan to Shepham,

    then go down from Shepham to Riblah on the east side of Ain and continue along the slopes east of the Sea of Chinnereth.

  8. Down the Jordan to the Salt Sea

    Then the border will go down along the Jordan and end at the Salt Sea.

  9. All around

    Your land on every side

    This will be your land, defined by its borders on all sides.”

This will be your land, defined by its borders on all sides.

Numbers 34:12

Moses

Reflect

Lines in pleasant places

God drew every border of Israel’s land before they owned a single field in Canaan: “This will be your land, defined by its borders on all sides.” The promise was as sure as the map, though no one had crossed the Jordan yet. What has God promised you in Christ that you cannot see yet? Write it down, and next to it one reason you can trust Him to keep it. Then pray: Lord, teach me to live today on what You have already said.

Leaders to Divide the Land

Seen from behind beside the tabernacle court, Eleazar in the high priest's garments and Joshua in a plain wool cloak stand side by side, looking west over the camp.

Then the LORD said to Moses, “These are the names of the men who are to assign the land as an inheritance for you: Eleazar the priest and Joshua son of Nun. Appoint one leader from each tribe to distribute the land.

0:13

Narrated by Bob Souer · BSB audio, public domain

An old, strong man with a white beard and weathered face, in a plain wool cloak, stands in profile on a rise with a staff, looking west toward far hills in clear morning light.

The leaders

One leader from each tribe

  1. Judah

    Caleb son of Jephunneh

    These are their names:

    Caleb son of Jephunneh from the tribe of Judah;

  2. Simeon

    Shemuel son of Ammihud

    Shemuel son of Ammihud from the tribe of Simeon;

  3. Benjamin

    Elidad son of Chislon

    Elidad son of Chislon from the tribe of Benjamin;

  4. Dan

    Bukki son of Jogli

    Bukki son of Jogli, a leader from the tribe of Dan;

  5. Manasseh

    Hanniel son of Ephod

    Hanniel son of Ephod, a leader from the tribe of Manasseh son of Joseph;

  6. Ephraim

    Kemuel son of Shiphtan

    Kemuel son of Shiphtan, a leader from the tribe of Ephraim;

  7. Zebulun

    Eli-zaphan son of Parnach

    Eli-zaphan son of Parnach, a leader from the tribe of Zebulun;

  8. Issachar

    Paltiel son of Azzan

    Paltiel son of Azzan, a leader from the tribe of Issachar;

  9. Asher

    Ahihud son of Shelomi

    Ahihud son of Shelomi, a leader from the tribe of Asher;

  10. Naphtali

    Pedahel son of Ammihud

    and Pedahel son of Ammihud, a leader from the tribe of Naphtali.”

These are the ones whom the LORD commanded to apportion the inheritance to the Israelites in the land of Canaan.

Question

Quick question

Ten tribal leaders were named to help Eleazar and Joshua divide the land west of the Jordan. One name on the list had been waiting for this for almost forty years.

Whose name comes first among the tribal leaders who would divide the land?

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Numbers 34

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A verse to carry with you

This will be your land, defined by its borders on all sides.

Numbers 34:12

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