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Dave Burnette's Commentary

Numbers Chapter 34

Written By: God through Inspiration
Penned By: Moses
Date Penned: (1450-1410 BC)
Overview: A Record of A New Generation (c 27-36)
Theme: A Second Approach to the Promised Land (c 22-36)
Message: The Boundaries of Canaan (v 1-29)

Numbers 34 Commentary

(34:1-29) God Creates the Boundaries -  The division of the land was determined by the sacred lot. No tribe was to claim its own land. Everything was an inheritance, granted to them by God. The boundaries declared by God are larger than the area ever actually occupied by the Israelites. The boundaries correspond more to the land conquered by David and to the ideal territory portrayed by Ezekiel (Ezekiel 47-48). The size of the land portrays God's generosity. He often gives us more than we could ask or think (see Ephesians 3:20).

(34:1-29) The Lord Teaches Us Patience - Dividing the land was an emotionally charged issue. Each person was wondering, Will we live to the north, west, or south? The Lord laid out the plan and means for giving the land to the Israelites, and it was such that it forced them to be patient. They would not divide up the land before conquering it. This prevented the temptation to only fight for one's own piece of property. Instead, this plan kept the Israelites all working together for mutual benefit. When we lead new ventures, we should organize them so that everybody has an incentive to work for the good of the whole

(34:16-29) The Lord Gives Us Responsibilities - In God's plan for settling the land, he (1) determined what to do, (2) communicated it clearly to Moses, and (3) assigned specific people to oversee the apportionment of the land. No plan is complete until each job is assigned and everyone understands their responsibilities. When you have a job to do, determine what must be done, give clear instructions, and put people in charge of each part.


Dave Burnette's Life Application

Be a Servant

Each day we walk through the Bible chapter by chapter making an application of our text to help us grow in the Lord. Many applications can be made from each day's text. Today we continue the book of Numbers with Chapter 34 and in today's text we see God's plan for settling the land. He (1) explained what to do (2) communicated His plan clearly to Moses, and (3) assigned specific people to oversee the appointment of the land. This passage reminds me of working in our Ministry today. It takes God's Plan, that we seek out through prayer and studying the Word of the Lord. Then we must oversee all the projects to complete the tasks. We can only manage what the Lord shows us and many times we must trust the Lord by faith to complete the burden He has placed on our heart. It takes obedience and humility realizing that the work is the Lord's and we are simply a tool in the Master's Hands. How about you? Do you have the obedience and humility to follow the Lord as defined in our text today? Let us learn from our text today and be a servant in the Lord's work.

 

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Numbers 34

Numbers 34

 1And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying,

 2Command 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:)

 3Then 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:

 4And 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 Kadeshbarnea, and shall go on to Hazaraddar, and pass on to Azmon:

 5And the border shall fetch a compass from Azmon unto the river of Egypt, and the goings out of it shall be at the sea.

 6And as for the western border, ye shall even have the great sea for a border: this shall be your west border.

 7And this shall be your north border: from the great sea ye shall point out for you mount Hor:

 8From mount Hor ye shall point out your border unto the entrance of Hamath; and the goings forth of the border shall be to Zedad:

 9And the border shall go on to Ziphron, and the goings out of it shall be at Hazarenan: this shall be your north border.

 10And ye shall point out your east border from Hazarenan to Shepham:

 11And 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:

 12And 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.

 13And 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:

 14For 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:

 15The two tribes and the half tribe have received their inheritance on this side Jordan near Jericho eastward, toward the sunrising.

 16And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying,

 17These are the names of the men which shall divide the land unto you: Eleazar the priest, and Joshua the son of Nun.

 18And ye shall take one prince of every tribe, to divide the land by inheritance.

 19And the names of the men are these: Of the tribe of Judah, Caleb the son of Jephunneh.

 20And of the tribe of the children of Simeon, Shemuel the son of Ammihud.

 21Of the tribe of Benjamin, Elidad the son of Chislon.

 22And the prince of the tribe of the children of Dan, Bukki the son of Jogli.

 23The prince of the children of Joseph, for the tribe of the children of Manasseh, Hanniel the son of Ephod.

 24And the prince of the tribe of the children of Ephraim, Kemuel the son of Shiphtan.

 25And the prince of the tribe of the children of Zebulun, Elizaphan the son of Parnach.

 26And the prince of the tribe of the children of Issachar, Paltiel the son of Azzan.

 27And the prince of the tribe of the children of Asher, Ahihud the son of Shelomi.

 28And the prince of the tribe of the children of Naphtali, Pedahel the son of Ammihud.

 29These are they whom the LORD commanded to divide the inheritance unto the children of Israel in the land of Canaan.