Numbers-Chapter-34
-hebraicstudies.net-
Please do NOT visit this
site on שַׁבָּת - Shabbat or on
the מוֹעֲדִים - Mo’a’dim - Feasts!
Re Tanakh versions:
Throughout this site I may use any of the following three versions of the Tanakh: 1. “Jewish Publication Society” (JPS-1917), 2. “Mechon-Mamre.org” (MEC), and 3. “Sefaria.org” (SEF), three brilliant
versions, However, the JPS-1917 is my
preferred version!
Colour coded
details of our beloved TaNaKh:
1. Torah = History & Law, 2. Nevi’im = The Prophets. 3. *Ketuvim = all
other Writings.
*The Ketuvim - Includes, Poetical
books - Psalms, Proverbs, Job, the Megillot, or Scrolls - Song of Solomon, Ruth, Lamentations of
Jeremiah, Ecclesiastes, and Esther, prophecy of Daniel, and history
of Ezra, Nehemiah, and Chronicles I & II.
Please Note: Some
alterations or (additions) have been made relating to ‘Names’ and ‘Attributes’
of אֱלֹהִים - Elohim, having been corrected like it
once was pre the “Masoretic Text”.
YYYYYYY
Remember the following truth from our
beloved Torah!
“Ye shall NOT ADD TO
THE WORD which I command you, NEITHER SHALL
YE DIMINISH FROM IT, that ye may keep the commandments of יְהוָה
אֱלֹהֵיכֶם - the LORD your Eloleichem, which I command you”. Davarim -
Deuteronomy 4:2. (JPS-1917).
YYYYYYY
“Numbers Chapter 34”
With Rabbi,
Dr. Reuven Ben Avraham-Goossens, PhD.
Introduction:
This study of Numbers Chapter 34 focuses on the
definition of the Land
of Israel's borders,
highlighting how these physical boundaries serve to define the nation's
spiritual inheritance and identity. The detailed geographic lines, from the
southern wilderness to the Mediterranean,
establish a specific, sacred space designed to foster unity and a unique way of
life for the tribes.
YYYYYYY
Let us read Numbers Chapter
34, verses 1 to 29: (JPS-1917 version of the
Torah). Below this chapter you will find my commentary for this study.
1 “And יְהוָה - the LORD spoke unto Moses, saying: 2 ‘Command
the children of Israel, and say unto them: When ye come into the land of
Canaan, this shall be the land that shall fall unto
you for an inheritance, even the land
of Canaan according to
the borders thereof. 3 Thus your south side
shall be from the wilderness of Zin close by the side
of Edom, and your south border shall begin at the end of the Salt Sea eastward; 4 and your border shall turn about southward of the
ascent of Akrabbim, and pass along to Zin; and the goings out thereof shall be southward of Kadesh-barnea; and it shall go forth to Hazar-addar,
and pass along to Azmon; 5 and
the border shall turn about from Azmon unto the Brook
of Egypt, and the goings out thereof shall be at the Sea. 6 And
for the western border, ye shall have the Great Sea
for a border; this shall be your west border. 7 And
this shall be your north border: from the Great Sea ye shall mark out your line
unto mount Hor; 8 from
mount Hor ye shall mark out a line unto the entrance
to Hamath; and the goings out of the border shall be
at Zedad; 9 and the
border shall go forth to Ziphron, and the goings out
thereof shall be at Hazar-enan; this shall be your
north border. 10 And ye shall mark out your line for
the east border from Hazar-enan to Shepham; 11 and the border shall
go down from Shepham to Riblah,
on the east side of Ain; and the border shall go down, and shall strike upon
the slope of the sea of Chinnereth eastward; 12 and the border shall go down to the Jordan, and the
goings out thereof shall be at the Salt Sea; this shall be your land according
to the borders thereof round about’. 13 And
Moses commanded the children of Israel, saying: ‘This is the land wherein ye
shall receive inheritance by lot, which יְהוָה - the LORD hath commanded to give unto the nine tribes, and to the
half-tribe; 14 for the tribe of the children of
Reuben according to their fathers’ houses, and the tribe of the children of Gad
according to their fathers’ houses, have received, and the half-tribe of
Manasseh have received, their inheritance; 15 the
two tribes and the half-tribe have received their inheritance beyond the Jordan
at Jericho eastward, toward the sun-rising’. 16 And יְהוָה - the LORD spoke unto Moses, saying: 17 ‘These are the names of the men that shall take possession of
the land for you: Eleazar the priest, and Joshua the
son of Nun 18 And ye shall take one prince of every
tribe, to take possession of the land. 19 And these
are the names of the men: of the tribe of Judah, Caleb the son of Jephunneh. 20 And of the
tribe of the children of Simeon, Shemuel the son of Ammihud. 21 Of the tribe of
Benjamin, Elidad the son of Chislon. 22 And of the tribe of the children of Dan a prince, Bukki the son of Jogli. 23 Of the children of Joseph: of the tribe of the children
of Manasseh a prince, Hanniel the son of Ephod; 24 and of the tribe of the children of Ephraim a
prince, Kemuel the son of Shiphtan. 25 And of the tribe of the children of Zebulun a prince, Eli-zaphan the
son of Parnach. 26 And
of the tribe of the children of Issachar a prince, Paltiel
the son of Azzan. 27 And
of the tribe of the children of Asher a prince, Ahihud
the son of Shelomi. 28 And
of the tribe of the children of Naphtali a prince, Pedahel
the son of Ammihud. 29 These
are they whom יְהוָה - the LORD commanded to divide the inheritance unto the children of Israel in the land of Canaan’”.
YYYYYYY
Below is my Commentary
on Numbers Chapter 34:
Verses 1-2: Defining the land’s
borders emphasizes that sacred space requires clear, divinely mandated limits
to transform territory into a spiritual home.
Verses 3-5: The precise, detailed
description of the southern boundary grounds the national inheritance in
specific geographic landmarks, ensuring the people know exactly where their
laws apply.
Verses 6-12: By sketching the western,
northern, and eastern borders, the text creates an enclosed, defined area
essential for the community to maintain its distinct, holy way of life.
Verses 13-15: The allocation of
territory to the tribes across the Jordan acknowledges the broader
scope of settlement while reinforcing the central focus on the primary land
promised to the nation.
Verses 16-28: The specific, designated
leaders appointed to oversee the land’s distribution show how the process of
settling the land relies on both divine direction and ordered human leadership.
Verse 29: This concluding verse identifies those specifically chosen by the Divine
to oversee the inheritance. It serves as a final seal of authority, ensuring
that the transition from a wandering people to a settled nation was handled
with absolute integrity and order. It reminds us that for any great vision to
be realized, it requires the right people, acting under a clear mandate, to see
it through to completion.
YYYYYYY
My Closing Message:
By
concluding the chapter with the names of those tasked with the distribution,
the Torah teaches us that the holiness of the land is matched by the
responsibility of its leaders. Now that the boundaries and the leadership are
set, the nation stands ready to turn a promise into a physical reality.
YYYYYYY
Please Note: “hebraicstudies” links are located down
the page!
This site was originally created, for those who
desired to return to our blessed and wonderful faith. Thus be wise and work on
your faith and pray at least two or three times a day (if possible) and always
seek our beloved אֱלֹהִים - Elohim’s guidance,
for His love is always with us, especially when we seek Him, blessed be He!
However this site has become very much a teaching site with hundreds of
studies!
Remember
what אֱלֹהִים - Elohim, blessed be
He, said the following through a number of our prophets...
“Return unto Me, and I will return unto you, saith צְבָאוֹת- יְהוָה- the LORD of
hosts” Mal’a’chi - Malachi
3:7. (JPS).
YYYYYYY
“Hebraic Studies” motto is as follows;
“The More Torah, the More Life”,
For Elohim is the One who
gave us our ... “Life!”
May the שָׁלוֹם - Shalom = Peace
of צְבָאוֹת- יְהוָה= the LORD of hosts, be with
you, and please always uphold our blessed שַׁבָּת - Shabbat, as well as
the מוֹעֲדִים - Mo’a’dim - Feasts, and continue saying your
daily תְּפִלָּה - Tefeelah’s - Prayers and
regular בְּרָכָה - Be’ra’chah’s - blessings before food
and drinks, etc!
שָׁלוֹם
עֲלֵיכֶם - Shalom
Aleichem - Peace be with you!
Rabbi,
Dr. Reuven Ben Avraham-Goossens, PhD.
Enter ...
http://www.hebraicstudies.net/Site-Index.htm
Enter ...
https://www.hebraicstudies.net
-hebraicstudies.net-
Email
the Rabbi
RBA@hebraicstudies.net
If the email link does not open - You can also
copy the link and use it.
Although
the author does not believe in having to copyright “Hebraic Studies” commenced
in the mid 1980’,
but there have been
occasions where there parts of his studies have been taken and
quoted out of context
under my name, and
thus he has been misquoted by those who have their own reasons for doing
so.
Thus,
it is only for this reason these works are fully covered under strict ...
Copyright © 2025 - “Hebraic Studies” - All
rights reserved.