Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Numbers 34:13
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:
Verse 13. This is the land which ye shall inherit by lot] Much of what is said concerning this land is peculiarly emphatic. It is a land that contains a multitude of advantages in its climate, its soil, situation, c. It is bounded on the south by a ridge of mountains, which separate it from Arabia, and screen it from the burning and often pestiferous winds which blow over the desert from that quarter. On the west it is bounded by the Mediterranean Sea on the north, by Mount Libanus, which defends it from the cold northern blasts; and on the east by the river Jordan, and its fertile, well-watered plains. It is described by God himself as “a good land, a land of brooks of water, of fountains, and depths that spring out of valleys and hills; a land of wheat, and barley, and vines, and fig trees, and pomegranates; a land of olive oil and honey; a land wherein there was no scarcity of bread, and where both iron and copper mines abounded,” De 8:7-9: a land finely diversified with hills and valleys, and well watered by the rain of heaven, in this respect widely different from Egypt; a land which God cared for, on which his eyes were continually placed from the beginning to the end of the year; watched over by a most merciful Providence; in a word, a land which flowed with milk and honey, and was the most pleasant of all lands; De 11:11-12; Eze 20:6. Such was the land, and such were the advantages that this most favoured people were called to possess. They were called to possess it by lot that each might be satisfied with his possession, as considering it to be appointed to him by the especial providence of God; and its boundaries were ascertained on Divine authority, to prevent all covetousness after the territories of others.
Fuente: Adam Clarke’s Commentary and Critical Notes on the Bible
13-15. The two tribes and thehalf-tribe have received their inheritance on this side JordanTheconquered territories of Sihon and Og, lying between the Arnon andmount Hermon, were allotted to themthat of Reuben in the mostsoutherly part, Gad north of it, and the half Manasseh in thenorthernmost portion.
Fuente: Jamieson, Fausset and Brown’s Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
And Moses commanded the children of Israel, saying,…. Strictly enjoining them to observe what he was about to say to them:
this is the land which ye shall inherit by lot; as above described and bounded:
which the Lord commanded to give unto the nine tribes, and to the half tribe; to the tribes of Judah, Simeon, Benjamin, Dan, Ephraim, Zebulun, Issachar, Asher, and Naphtali, and the half tribe of Manasseh; though this command is not before expressed, it is very probable it was delivered to Moses at the same time he had the mind of God concerning the settlement of the tribes of Reuben and Gad, and the other half tribe of Manasseh, on the other side Jordan; see Nu 32:31.
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
This land, according to the boundaries thus described, the Israelites were to distribute by lot (Num 26:56), to give it to the nine tribes and a half, as the tribes of Reuben, Gad, and half Manasseh had already received their inheritance on the other side of the Jordan (Num 32:33.).
Fuente: Keil & Delitzsch Commentary on the Old Testament
Verses 13-15:
The territory within the boundaries described above were to be the lot of nine and a half tribes. The tribes of Reuben, Gad, and half the tribe of Manasseh had asked for their portion on the east side of Jordan, see chapter 32. They had no territory west of Jordan, in the Land of Canaan.
Fuente: Garner-Howes Baptist Commentary
13. And Moses commanded the children of Israel. Though this is a repetition, yet it is not a superfluous one; for he contrasts the new allotment of the nine tribes and a half with the former grant; (229) for the exception, which is immediately added, as to the lands beyond Jordan, given to the Reubenites, and Gadites, and half tribe of Manasseh, does not exclude them from their part of the promised inheritance was if they were disinherited, and therefore banished beyond the boundaries prescribed by God — but only from being subject to the casting of lots, because they had by special privilege obtained from their brethren what would else have been included in the common inheritance. Not that this had been revealed from the beginning, but because God in His indulgence had complied with their request, whereby they enlarged the boundaries of the land. And assuredly it would have been absurd that no place should be given them among their brethren in the promised land, as if they were cast off from the family of Abraham. We have lately seen that this part, which seemed to be separated from the others, was included in the limits laid down by God. Moses, therefore, merely wished to declare that what remained was to be divided by lot.
(229) “La donation qui avoit este desia faite de la region de Basan;” the grant which had been already made of the district of Bashan. — Fr.
Fuente: Calvin’s Complete Commentary
‘And Moses commanded the children of Israel, saying, “This is the land which you shall inherit by lot, which Yahweh has commanded to give to the nine tribes, and to the half-tribe; 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: the two tribes and the half-tribe have received their inheritance beyond the Jordan at Jericho eastward, toward the sunrising.” ’
What he has described was to be seen as the land which was to be divided among them by lot. It was the land which Yahweh had commanded should be given to the nine and a half tribes. The other two and a half tribes have received theirs in Transjordan, east of Jordan. But note the tacit assumption that this had been given to them by Yahweh as well. It is ‘their inheritance’ (see Deu 2:30-31; Deu 3:2; Deu 3:18).
So the land that they were to possess was marked out before them. It remained for them to take possession in the name of Yahweh, and with His powerful assistance. He had brought them safely from Egypt (Num 33:1-49), now He would take them safely into the promised land (Num 33:51-53).
Fuente: Commentary Series on the Bible by Peter Pett
Num 34:13. This is the land which ye shall inherit by lot The land of Canaan, properly so called, was bounded on the south by the high mountains which separated it from Arabia, and screened it from the burning winds that blow from that quarter, after having traversed the desarts; on the west, by the Mediterranean sea, whence blew refreshing gales; on the north, by mount Libanus, which guarded it from the cold northern blasts; and on the east, by the fine champaign countries watered by the Jordan, particularly about Jericho, abounding with palm-trees, and a prodigious increase. See Lowman on the Civil Government of the Hebrews, p. 38, 39. It is repeated here, that this is the land which they should inherit, that they might not extend their desires beyond the bounds of God’s gracious grant to them.
Fuente: Commentary on the Holy Bible by Thomas Coke
It is worthy remark, that the whole division is of GOD’S appointing. Yes! he appoints now, to the whole tribes, and to the half tribes of his people, their habitations here. And frequently, like Canaan, it is but of small extent, – very scanty and limited. But what saith JESUS! Fear not little flock, it is your FATHER’S good pleasure to give you the kingdom. My poor Brother! if you are to have a kingdom hereafter, do not regard the humbleness of your accommodations now. Luk 12:32 .
Fuente: Hawker’s Poor Man’s Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
This is the land: Num 34:1, Jos 14:1, Jos 14:2
Reciprocal: Num 26:55 – by lot Jos 18:6 – that I may cast Eze 45:1 – shall divide by lot Eze 48:29 – General
Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
Num 34:13. This is the land which ye shall inherit This is repeated, that they might not extend their desires beyond the bounds of Gods gracious grant to them. And, by the foregoing description, it appears that they were placed in a very pleasant land, sheltered from the sultry air of the deserts of Arabia by great mountains on the south, refreshed by western breezes from the Mediterranean sea, and on the north defended by mount Lebanon from the colder blasts of that quarter, and having the delightful plains of Jordan on the east.