Bible Commentaries
Numbers 34

Verses 1-29

The Boundaries of the Land of Promise

On the land and the tribes inhabiting it see on Numbers 13:21.

3-5. The southern border: this started from the S. extremity of the Dead Sea, here called the Salt Sea (Numbers 34:3), and proceeded in a SW. direction to the ascent of Akrabbim, i.e. ’of scorpions’ (Numbers 34:4), a row of cliffs about 8 m. distant; thence it passed by way of Kadesh-Barnea to the River of Egypt, where it reached the Mediterranean Sea (Numbers 34:5). The ’River of Egypt’ is not the Nile but a brook, now identified with the Wady el-Arish, flowing into the sea about 20 m. S. of Gaza. It is frequently mentioned as the SW. border of Canaan: see 1 Kings 8:65; 2 Kings 24:7; 2 Chronicles 7:8; Isaiah 27:12. This southern boundary was also the boundary of Judah and Simeon: see Joshua 15:1-4; Joshua 19:9.

6. The western border was formed by the Mediterranean Sea, the Great Sea.

7-9. The northern border: the places mentioned on this line are unknown. Mt. Hermon is too far E. to be identified with mount Hor, which is probably some spur of the Lebanon range.

10-12. The eastern border was formed by the Sea of Chinnereth (afterwards called the Lake of Gennesaret, Sea of Galilee, or Lake of Tiberias), the River Jordan, and the Dead Sea.

13-15. See Numbers 32.

16-29. A list of the persons entrusted with the division of the land W. of the Jordan, one being chosen from each of the tribes interested, in addition to Eleazar and Joshua. The names are all new with the exception of that of Caleb (Numbers 34:19).