Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Numbers 34:2
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: )
The land of Canaan – The name Canaan is here restricted to the territory west of the Jordan.
Fuente: Albert Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
Verse 2. The land of Canaan with the coasts thereof] All description here is useless. The situation and boundaries of the land of Canaan can only be known by actual survey, or by consulting a good map.
Fuente: Adam Clarke’s Commentary and Critical Notes on the Bible
Or, limits, or bounds, to wit, of the land beyond Jordan; which are here particularly described,
1. To direct and bound them in their wars and conquests, that they might not seek the enlargement of their empire, after the manner of other nations, but be contented with their own portion.
2. To encourage them in their attempt upon Canaan, and assure them of their success.
3. To guide them in the approaching distribution of the land.
Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole
2. this is the . . . land ofCanaanThe details given in this chapter mark the generalboundary of the inheritance of Israel west of the Jordan. TheIsraelites never actually possessed all the territory comprisedwithin these boundaries, even when it was most extended by theconquests of David and Solomon.
Fuente: Jamieson, Fausset and Brown’s Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
Command the children of Israel, and say unto them,…. Not to fix the borders, and settle the boundaries of the land, for that is done by the Lord himself, who has determined the times before appointed, and the bounds of men’s habitations, and particularly of Israel, see De 32:8, but to observe and take notice of the limits he had fixed, that they might know how far they were to go on every side, whom they were to drive out, and what they were to divide and inherit, and see what was their right, and preserve it from the encroachments of their neighbours, as well as observe the goodness of God unto them, in thus providing for them:
when ye come into the land of Canaan; to take possession of it by virtue of a grant of it to them:
this is the land that shall fall unto you for an inheritance; it is said to “fall”, because it was divided by lot, each tribe having such a part of it assigned to them, according to the lot that came up unto them: even
the land of Canaan, with the coasts thereof; or according to its borders, which are as follow.
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
XXXIV.
(2, 3) When ye come . . . Better, Ye are entering into the land of Canaan; this is the land which shall fall unto you for an inheritance, (even) the land of Canaan, according to the borders thereof. And your south quarter (or, district) shall be from the wilderness of Zin by the side of Edom; and your south border shall be from the extremity of the salt sea eastward (or, on the east). It was important for the Israelites to be taught that, whilst divinely commissioned to exterminate the idolatrous inhabitants of the land of Canaan, they had no commission to make aggressive wars upon the surrounding nations which were beyond the confines of the land which was allotted to them. The southern boundary which is here described is the same as that of the tribe of Judah, as described in Jos. 15:1-2. The land of the Israelites was to extend towards the south as far as the wilderness of Zin, which was to divide their territory from that of the Edomites.
Fuente: Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers (Old and New Testaments)
I have not interrupted the Reader by dividing these verses, because I would have him first read over attentively the whole account of the extent of the promised land; and then look over it again, to remark with me the striking observations which arise out of it, considered altogether. If the Reader considers the extent of it, he will discover that it was not in length above 160 miles; and the breadth of it not more than 50. But this little spot, compared to the whole earth, was what the LORD was pleased peculiarly to mark for his people; and to make it the glory of all lands; and consider that such at this hour is the gospel church of JESUS. It is of small extent, and bounded around, as Canaan was, by the idolatrous and profane world. And is there not a striking memorial arising out of this view of Canaan to the spiritual Reader, from the several boundaries of it? The south quarter, bounded by the wilderness of Zin, that memorable wilderness, where the LORD’S mercies, and Israel’s ingratitude and rebellion, had been so often marked. The salt sea eastward, did it not remind the people of GOD’S judgments on Sodom and Gomorrah, when Lot was sent out of the overthrow? And was it possible for Israel to look towards Kadesh-barnea, and Mount Keir, to the river of Egypt, to the river of Jordan, and to the great sea westward, without having all the memorials of the LORD’S mercies in these histories again and again brought fresh unto them? Pause, Reader, while beholding these things as the memorials of Israel, and see whether there are not, in your own life, similar tokens, as so many monuments, all the way along, in which the LORD thy GOD hath brought thee these many years through the wilderness, to humble thee and to prove thee! Oh! it is sweet and precious thus to look back, and look around, and view the tokens of JESUS’ love. Look at Jacob’s conduct, and the prophets, in these instances, and see my soul whether thou canst not find grace to follow their examples. Gen 28:18 ; 1Sa 7:12 .
Fuente: Hawker’s Poor Man’s Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
Num 34:2 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:)
Ver. 2. This is the land that shall fall. ] It is God that assigns us our quarters, and cuts us out our several conditions, “appointing the bounds of our habitation.” Act 17:26 This should make us rest contented with our lot, and, having God our portion, say howsoever, as David did, “The lines are fallen to me in pleasant places.” Psa 16:6 It is what our Father sees fit for us.
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
children = sons.
When ye come. After the final command (above) follow instructions as to the quiet possession of the land thus cleared of enemies.
coasts = borders, or confines.
Fuente: Companion Bible Notes, Appendices and Graphics
is the land: Num 33:51-53, Gen 12:6, Gen 12:7, Gen 13:15-17, Gen 15:16-21, Gen 17:8, Deu 1:7, Deu 1:8, Psa 78:55, Psa 105:11, Eze 47:14, Act 17:26
an inheritance: Psa 16:5, Psa 16:6, Jer 3:19, Act 26:18, Eph 1:14, Eph 1:18, 1Pe 1:3, 1Pe 1:4
Reciprocal: Gen 10:15 – Heth Gen 10:19 – And the Num 35:10 – General Jos 1:4 – From the wilderness Jos 11:16 – all that land Jos 11:23 – according to all Jos 13:3 – which is counted Eze 47:13 – This shall Eze 48:29 – General
Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
34:2 Command the children of Israel, and say unto them, When ye come into the land of Canaan;
(this [is] the {a} land that shall fall unto you for an inheritance, [even] the land of Canaan with the coasts thereof:)
(a) Meaning, the description of the land.