Bible Commentaries
Numbers 34

Verse 1

the LORD. Hebrew. Jehovah. App-4 .

spake. See note on Numbers 1:1 .

Verse 2

children = sons.

When ye come. After the final command (above) follow instructions as to the quiet possession of the land thus cleared of enemies.

coasts = borders, or confines.

Verse 3

south quarter. Compare Joshua 15:1 . Begins at east corner.

salt sea. So Numbers 34:12 .

Verse 4

Akrabbim = Maaleh-akrabbim. Joshua 15:3 . = the ascent of scorpions. Compare Deuteronomy 8:15 .

going forth = ascending. Compare Joshua 15:3 .

Verse 5

river. Hebrew. nachal, a wady; not nahar, a river. Here used of "Sihor", and called the river of Egypt. Compare Genesis 15:18 , where it is nahar = the Nile.

Verse 7

great sea: i.e. the Mediterranean, a modern name for the Great Sea.

point out = mark out or claim. Hebrew. ta'ah. Occurs only here.

mount Hor. Not the mount Hor where Aaron died, which was in the south corner of Edom (Numbers 33:37 , Numbers 33:38 ), but another, in the north, mount Hermon, a spur of the Lebanon (Joshua 13:5 ). Hermon had several names. Compare Deuteronomy 3:9 ; Deuteronomy 4:48 .

Verse 8

Hamath. In Amos 6:2 called "Hamath the great", mentioned as in the north border.

Verse 11

Biblah. A city in Hamath, where God executed His judgment on two kings of Judah and others (2 Kings 23:33 ; 2Ki 25:6 , 2 Kings 25:20 , 2 Kings 25:21 .Jeremiah 39:5 , Jeremiah 39:6 ).

Chinnereth. Compare Joshua 12:3 ; Joshua 13:27 . In New Testament "the sea of Galilee" and "sea of Tiberias" (John 6:1 ); also "the lake of Gennesaret" (Luke 5:1 ).

Verse 14

For the tribe. Compare Numbers 32:33 .Joshua 14:2 , Joshua 14:3 .

Verse 17

These are the names. Compare Numbers 13:2-16 . See App-45 .

Eleazar. Because he was the high priest, and had the breastplate with the lots, the "Urim and Thummim. "See notes on Exodus 28:30 and Numbers 26:55 .Joshua 17:4 . See also Numbers 27:21 .

Verse 19

Caleb. The only one of the spies, beside Joshua, left, Ch. Numbers 13:6 , Numbers 13:30 , and Compare Numbers 14:24 .Joshua 14:6 , &c.

Verse 29

These. See the order of the tribes in App-45 .