The Southern Boundary
Study note
God gave Moses specific details about where Israel's borders would be. The southern border started at the wilderness of Zin along the edge of Edom, ran from the southern end of the Dead Sea, passed through several landmarks including Kadesh-barnea, and ended at the River of Egypt, which flowed into the Mediterranean Sea.
1 The Lord told Moses, And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying,
2 "Give the Israelites these orders. You will enter Canaan. Here are the borders of the land you will receive." Command the children of Israel, and say unto them, When ye come into the land of Canaan; (this is the land that shall fall unto you for an inheritance, even the land of Canaan with the coasts thereof:)
3 "The southern border starts at the wilderness of Zin, running along the edge of Edom. On the eastern end, it begins at the southern tip of the Dead Sea." Then your south quarter shall be from the wilderness of Zin along by the coast of Edom, and your south border shall be the outmost coast of the salt sea eastward:
4 "From there, the border curves south of the Scorpion Pass, continues through Zin, and passes south of Kadesh-barnea. Then it runs to Hazar-addar and on to Azmon." And your border shall turn from the south to the ascent of Akrabbim, and pass on to Zin: and the going forth thereof shall be from the south to Kadesh-barnea, and shall go on to Hazar-addar, and pass on to Azmon:
5 "From Azmon, the border turns toward the Brook of Egypt. It ends at the sea." And the border shall fetch a compass from Azmon unto the river of Egypt, and the goings out of it shall be at the sea.
The Western and Northern Boundaries
Study note
The western border was simply the Mediterranean Sea, called the Great Sea. The northern border ran from the Mediterranean Sea to Mount Hor in the north (a different Mount Hor than where Aaron died), then to the entrance of Hamath, and on to Zedad and Hazar-enan. These boundaries described a territory much larger than what Israel actually controlled during most of its history.
6 "The sea coast is your western border." And as for the western border, ye shall even have the great sea for a border: this shall be your west border.
7 "The northern border runs from the Mediterranean Sea to Mount Hor." And this shall be your north border: from the great sea ye shall point out for you mount Hor:
8 "From Mount Hor, draw the line to Lebo-hamath. The border then continues to Zedad." From mount Hor ye shall point out your border unto the entrance of Hamath; and the goings forth of the border shall be to Zedad:
9 "It goes on to Ziphron and ends at Hazar-enan. That is your northern boundary." And the border shall go on to Ziphron, and the goings out of it shall be at Hazar-enan: this shall be your north border.
The Eastern Boundary
Study note
The eastern border ran from Hazar-enan south to Shepham, then down to Riblah east of the Sea of Chinnereth (later known as the Sea of Galilee), and continued along the Jordan River to the Dead Sea. This boundary only described the land west of the Jordan. The tribes of Reuben, Gad, and half of Manasseh had already received their land east of the Jordan.
10 "The eastern border runs from Hazar-enan down to Shepham." And ye shall point out your east border from Hazar-enan to Shepham:
11 "From Shepham, the border descends to Riblah on the eastern side of Ain. Then it continues downhill along the eastern shore of the Sea of Chinnereth." And the coast shall go down from Shepham to Riblah, on the east side of Ain; and the border shall descend, and shall reach unto the side of the sea of Chinnereth eastward:
12 "The border follows the Jordan River down to the Dead Sea. These are the borders of your land on every side." And the border shall go down to Jordan, and the goings out of it shall be at the salt sea: this shall be your land with the coasts thereof round about.
Land for Nine and a Half Tribes
Study note
Moses reminded the people that this land was for only nine and a half tribes. The tribes of Reuben, Gad, and half of Manasseh had already received their inheritance on the east side of the Jordan River near Jericho.
13 Moses told the Israelites, "This is the land you will divide by lot for your inheritance. The Lord has directed that it be given to the nine and a half tribes." And Moses commanded the children of Israel, saying, This is the land which ye shall inherit by lot, which the LORD commanded to give unto the nine tribes, and to the half tribe:
14 "The tribes of Reuben, Gad, and the half-tribe of Manasseh have already received their inheritance." For the tribe of the children of Reuben according to the house of their fathers, and the tribe of the children of Gad according to the house of their fathers, have received their inheritance; and half the tribe of Manasseh have received their inheritance:
15 "These two and a half tribes took their share of land on the east side of the Jordan, across from Jericho, toward the sunrise." The two tribes and the half tribe have received their inheritance on this side Jordan near Jericho eastward, toward the sunrising.
Leaders Appointed to Divide the Land
Study note
God appointed specific leaders from each tribe to help Eleazar the priest and Joshua divide the land fairly. One leader was chosen from each of the nine and a half tribes that would receive land in Canaan. Among these leaders was Caleb from the tribe of Judah, one of only two men from the original generation who would enter the Promised Land.
16 The Lord told Moses, And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying,
17 "Eleazar the priest and Joshua son of Nun will be responsible for dividing the land among you." These are the names of the men which shall divide the land unto you: Eleazar the priest, and Joshua the son of Nun.
18 "Also appoint one leader from each tribe to help with the land distribution." And ye shall take one prince of every tribe, to divide the land by inheritance.
19 "Here are the men: Caleb son of Jephunneh for the tribe of Judah." And the names of the men are these: Of the tribe of Judah, Caleb the son of Jephunneh.
20 "Shemuel son of Ammihud for Simeon." And of the tribe of the children of Simeon, Shemuel the son of Ammihud.
21 "Elidad son of Chislon for Benjamin." Of the tribe of Benjamin, Elidad the son of Chislon.
22 "Bukki son of Jogli, a leader for Dan." And the prince of the tribe of the children of Dan, Bukki the son of Jogli.
23 "Hanniel son of Ephod, a leader for Manasseh from the descendants of Joseph." The prince of the children of Joseph, for the tribe of the children of Manasseh, Hanniel the son of Ephod.
24 "Kemuel son of Shiphtan, a leader for Ephraim." And the prince of the tribe of the children of Ephraim, Kemuel the son of Shiphtan.
25 "Elizaphan son of Parnach, a leader for Zebulun." And the prince of the tribe of the children of Zebulun, Elizaphan the son of Parnach.
26 "Paltiel son of Azzan, a leader for Issachar." And the prince of the tribe of the children of Issachar, Paltiel the son of Azzan.
27 "Ahihud son of Shelomi, a leader for Asher." And the prince of the tribe of the children of Asher, Ahihud the son of Shelomi.
28 "Pedahel son of Ammihud, a leader for Naphtali." And the prince of the tribe of the children of Naphtali, Pedahel the son of Ammihud.
29 These are the men the Lord chose to distribute the inheritance to the Israelites in the land of Canaan. These are they whom the LORD commanded to divide the inheritance unto the children of Israel in the land of Canaan.