Numbers 34

Chapter 34 describes the borders of Canaan. This is where God commanded Israel to settle, following the guidelines in 26:52–56. Since Abraham's call, the promised land of Canaan has been central to the Old Testament story (Genesis 12:1–7). A generation of Hebrews died in the wilderness for not believing what the faithful spies reported (Numbers 13). Yet, God reaffirmed his promise of land (33:53).

Here, God reviews the plan and outlines the promised land's intended boundaries (compare Joshua 13–19; Ezekiel 47–48). Old Testament Israel did not fully capture this territory. It almost did during the time of the kings David and Solomon (see 2 Samuel 24:1–9). But these borders generally describe the region of Canaan as defined by Egyptian texts from 1500–1200 BC. This was when the Hebrews invaded. The region actually occupied by Israel changed from time to time.

Portions of the southern boundary of Canaan were familiar to Israel from earlier experiences in the Wilderness of Zin, located on the northwestern border of Edom (see chapters 13–14). This southern border curved from the southern end of the Dead Sea to the Mediterranean Sea, running east to west.

From the southern end of the Dead Sea, the boundary ran through the Ascent of Akrabbim toward Zin (compare 13:21). The southernmost point was Kadesh-barnea (see 13:26). Hazar-addar and Azmon are unknown.

The Brook of Egypt is not the Nile River. It refers to a wadi (a dry riverbed that fills with water during the rainy season). This wadi marked the border between Canaan and Egypt and flowed toward the Mediterranean Sea (see 1 Kings 8:65). I

In Old Testament times, Israel had little control over this southern coastal area.

• The natural western boundary of Canaan was the Mediterranean coast ("the Great Sea," 34:6). The northern boundary started at the Mediterranean and went east to Mount Hor. This was somewhere in the Lebanon mountain range (not the place of Aaron's death, 20:22–29).

• Lebo-hamath: Compare 13:21; 1 Kings 8:65; Amos 6:14.

Sea of Chinnereth (or Galilee): Its eastern side (literally shoulder) is the ridge that rises steeply from the eastern shore.

The natural eastern border of Canaan followed the Jordan River down to the Salt Sea (or Dead Sea). The Jordan River and the Salt Sea were part of the Great Rift Valley. They were strong barriers, but people could cross them.

This boundary did not include the lands east of the Jordan River. Reuben, Gad, and half of the tribe of Manasseh lived there. These settlements were not part of Canaan. There were outside the first borders of the promised land.

Apportion this land by lot: Compare with 26:55–56. Two and a half tribes (Reuben, Gad, and half the tribe of Manasseh) settled in Transjordan (the region east of the Jordan River; compare with 32:33). So, Canaan was to be divided among the nine and a half remaining tribes.

Eleazar (the high priest) and Joshua (the political leader) were to divide the land among the remaining tribes. The 10 tribal leaders who would help them are listed in 34:19–28.

Caleb son of Jephunneh is the only tribal leader mentioned elsewhere in Numbers (13:6, 30; 14:6–38). Most of the older generation had died during the wilderness period (Numbers 26:63–65). But the two faithful spies were still leading their people.