34:1–15 “Command the people of Israel” (v. 1; cf. 5:2; 28:2; 33:2; 35:2) is echoed in the framing conclusion (34:29; cf. v. 13). The syntax of “when you enter” (Hb. ki + participle; v. 2; cf. 35:10, “when you cross”) may be emphatic, thus yielding “for/now you are entering” (cf. Deut. 11:31; “For you are to cross”). The expression “land of Canaan” (Num. 34:2) occurs only twice in Exodus (Ex. 6:4; 16:35), three times in Leviticus (Lev. 14:34; 18:3; 25:38), and once in Deuteronomy (Deut. 32:49). The twelve occurrences in Numbers, mainly with the new generation in view (Num. 13:2, 17; 26:19; 32:30, 32; 33:40, 51; 34:2 [2x], 29; 35:10, 14), accentuate the land theme and accelerate the overall movement of the Israelites toward Canaan.

The language of “The land that shall fall . . . inheritance” (34:2; Josh. 13:6; Ezek. 47:14) reflects either the distribution by lots, which, after cast, “fall” (napal, cf. Jonah 1:7), or an “inheritance” (nakhalah) that comes down like water in a wadi (nakhal). The extremities of the southern frontier of Canaan are, on the east, the “end of the Salt [Dead] Sea” (Num. 34:3) and, on the west, “the sea” (v. 5), that is, the “Great [Mediterranean] Sea” (v. 6). The latter forms the entire western border of Canaan, in fact. Between these perimeters lies the formidable “Brook of Egypt” (cf. v. 5).

On Canaan’s “south side” (peʾat negeb, “southern edge”; v. 3) is the Negeb “wilderness of Zin alongside Edom” (34:3).305 “Alongside” (ʿal-yade) indicates a stretch of border, not a point (cf. Judg. 11:26). Like Canaan’s border, Judah’s southeastern flank is also “to the boundary [gebul] of Edom” (Josh. 15:1), that is Edomite territory in the Sinai Peninsula. To reconnoiter Canaan the Israelite scouts went up through the Negeb (Num. 13:22) from Kadesh into the wilderness of Zin (13:21; 32:8; 33:36). The “southern border” (gebul negeb; 34:3) heads in a southwesterly direction from the “Salt Sea” (v. 3), which has 34 percent salinity, ten times greater than ocean water. “On the east” (qedemah, “forward”; v. 3) reflects an eastward orientation from southern Canaan, as does the “eastern [qadmoni, “before”] sea” (Ezek. 47:18), also designating the Dead Sea.

The “ascent of Akrabbim” (Num. 34:4; “Scorpions’ Pass”) is on the southeast corner of Canaan (v. 4) and Judah (Josh. 15:3; Judg. 1:36). It descends from the north side of Nahal Zin toward the Arabah about 20 miles (32 km) south of the Dead Sea. From Roman times Scorpions’ Pass was identified with this ascent.306 “Zin” (Num. 34:4) may refer to Nahal (wadi) Zin, like the Arnon and the Jabbok (21:24; neither qualified with “wadi”) and the “Jordan” (34:12; not qualified with “river”).307 The Zin Valley, the most important and the largest connecting the Sinai to the Arabah, divides the Negeb highlands into northern and southern parts, forming a natural border of Canaan to the north and Edomite Sinai territory to the south.308 The most important road connecting the Arabah and the Mediterranean coast, the Darb es-Sultan, traverses the valley309 and is no doubt taken by Israel to descend to the Arabah. “Its limit” (v. 4), that is, “its [the border’s] going out/direction” (yatsaʾ), is westward.

“Kadesh-barnea” (v. 4; cf. comment on 33:18b–36 [at v. 36]) covers a region about 50 miles (80 km) south of Beersheba.310 The two sites, moving westward from Kadesh, are often identified by following a series of springs, as are two others on Judah’s southern border (Josh. 15:3). “Hazar-addar” (Num. 34:4; cf. Hezron and Addar, Josh. 15:3) is possibly Ein Qudeis/Qedeis or a nearby fort, 2 miles (3.2 km) west of Ein Qudeirat (Kadesh-barnea).311 “Azmon” (or ʿatsmonah; LXX asemona; cf. comment and note on Num. 33:18b–36 [at v. 29], “Hashmonah”) may be Ein Muweilih.312

The “Brook [nakhal] of Egypt” (34:5), the formidable Wadi el-Arish, separates Canaan and Egypt.313 Originating in the upper reaches of the northern half of Sinai, its tributaries divide that half into eastern and western quarters. They funnel rainwaters into the main trunk, which, turning northwestward, drains into the Mediterranean about 40 miles (65 km) south of Gaza. “Western border” (gebul yam; v. 6) is literally “sea border.” The “Great Sea” (vv. 6, 7) is also the “western” (ʾaharon, “behind” when oriented eastward) sea (Deut. 11:24); “to the sea” (yammah) also means westward (Gen. 13:14).

Like the southern border depicted geographically with the term negeb (cf. Num. 34:3), so perhaps the expression “northern border” (gebul tsaphon; Num. 34:7; cf. 2:25, “north side”) may use as a geographical counterpoint tsaphon, namely, Mount Zaphon (Ps. 48:2 NIV; Isa. 14:13) overlooking the Mediterranean in northern Syria. This border connects five locations. On the northwestern corner of Canaan, “Mount Hor” (Num. 34:7, 8; not to be confused with Mount Hor in the Negeb, 33:37) is possibly Ras Shaqqah, 30 miles (50 km) north-northeast of Beirut on the Mediterranean.314 Then the border reaches eastward to “Lebo-hamath” (34:8), the northern limit of Israel’s exploration (cf. comment on 13:21–24). The equivalent transcription of “Lebo” in Egyptian and Assyrian sources indicates it to be a city near Riblah at the source of the Orontes River, south of Hamath, today’s Lebweh.315 The city of Hamath is midway on the route connecting Lebo, Riblah (cf. discussion on 34:11 below), Ebla, and Aleppo. Hamath marks the northern border in Ezekiel 47:17.

The “limit” (Num. 34:8, 9), or “going out/direction” (cf. v. 4), continues eastward to the next three northern points. The name “Zedad” (v. 8) is preserved in modern Sadad, 35 miles (55 km) northeast of Lehweh (Lebo), near the Damascus-Homs Road. Given its location on the desert border, the next two locations, “Ziphron” and “Hazar-enan” (v. 9), are identified with desert oases east of Zedad.316

“Hazar-enan” (v. 10; cf. v. 9) marks the northeast corner of the “eastern border” (qedemah; v. 10; cf. discussion on v. 3 above), which descends “from Shepham to Riblah” (v. 11), both unidentified.317 Riblah cannot be Riblah on the Orontes in the land of Hamath (2 Kings 23:33).318 “Ain” (Num. 34:11) is identified as Khirbet ʿAyyun, 3 miles (5 km) east of the Sea of Galilee, north of the Yarmouk.319 The border follows “the shoulder,” perhaps the range of heights on the eastern side of the sea or the steep slope on the southeast side. The name “the Sea of Chinnereth” (v. 11) reflects the “harp” (kinnur) shape of the Sea of Galilee. The border then goes “down to the Jordan” (v. 12; cf. comment on 22:1–21; yarden, from yarad, “descend”), descending on its meandering course from 686 feet (209 m) below sea level at the Chinnereth to 1,284 feet (396 m) at the “Salt Sea” (34:12; cf. discussion on v. 3 above). In reference to Canaan, the Israelites are either “on the other side of the Jordan” or “on this side of the Jordan” (32:19). From Canaan, Transjordan is “beyond the Jordan” (34:15).

“The land of Canaan as defined by its borders” (v. 2) is now “your land as defined by its borders” (v. 12). “All around” (sabib) refers to the above boundary compass points, much like the Levites, who camp “around” the tabernacle compass points to safeguard it from defilement (1:53; cf. 3:23, 29, 35, 38). Like the tabernacle and the camp, the land must not be defiled (35:34; cf. 5:3; 19:13, 20).

Numbers 34:13–15 reiterate the distinction between the Cisjordan inheritance, which nine tribes and a half-tribe “shall inherit” (from nahal; v. 13), and the Transjordan inheritance, which two tribes and a half-tribe “by fathers’ houses” (v. 14) “have received” (laqakh, “taken”; vv. 14, 15; cf. Section Overview; Josh. 13:8; 18:7). This sets the stage for next section.

34:16–29 “Eleazar the priest and Joshua” (v. 17) are given overall oversight of the land division. Under them, “one chief” (v. 18; cf. 7:2) is taken from each of the nine tribes and the half-tribe (34:19–28).

“Divide . . . for inheritance” (vv. 17, 18, 29) renders one Hebrew word, a verb (nakhal). In chapter 26 “divide for inheritance” was expressed with a different verb (khalaq) and a complement (nakhalah; 26:53, 56). The burden in chapter 34 is not so much dividing the inheritance as it is appointing chiefs who will oversee the actual inheritance transaction, who will “make inherit” (AT; causative form of nakhal) “the people of Israel” (34:29), the direct object.320

The order of names—Judah followed by Simeon (vv. 19–20, the only time in seven lists in Numbers)—supports this view, since it already assumes Simeon’s inheritance within Judah’s borders (Josh. 19:1). Moreover, the entire list moves from south to north and assumes the actual tribal allocations: Judah, Simeon, Benjamin, Dan (cf. Josh. 19:40–47), Manasseh, and Ephraim, all south of Jezreel; Zebulun, Issachar, Asher, and Naphtali to the north. Viewed as such, the Lord’s directives to Moses are prophetic. The lots to be cast (Num. 33:54; Joshua 15–19) will confirm his word. “The land of Canaan” (Num. 34:29) frames the chapter (cf. v. 2).