And your eastern border will run straight from Hazar-enan to Shepham, And your eastern borderThis phrase sets the geographical context for the Israelites' territorial boundaries as they prepare to enter the Promised Land. The term "eastern border" indicates a specific demarcation line that God Himself is establishing for His people. In Hebrew, the word for "border" is "גְּבוּל" (gevul), which signifies a boundary or limit. This boundary is not just a physical demarcation but also a spiritual one, symbolizing the extent of God's promise and provision. It reminds us that God is a God of order and precision, who sets limits for our protection and blessing. will run straight
The phrase "will run straight" suggests a direct and clear path, emphasizing the clarity and precision of God's instructions. The Hebrew root for "straight" is "יָשָׁר" (yashar), meaning upright, correct, or right. This reflects God's nature as one who is righteous and just, providing a path that is straightforward and devoid of confusion. It serves as a metaphor for the believer's journey, which, when aligned with God's will, is marked by clarity and purpose. from Hazar-enan
Hazar-enan is a location mentioned as a starting point for the eastern border. The name "Hazar-enan" can be translated from Hebrew as "village of springs," indicating a place of sustenance and life. This is significant as it symbolizes the beginning of God's provision and blessing for the Israelites. Archaeologically, while the exact location is uncertain, it is believed to be in the northern part of the Promised Land, highlighting the comprehensive nature of God's promise to His people. to Shepham
Shepham marks the endpoint of the eastern border. The name "Shepham" is less clear in its meaning, but it is part of the divine instruction for the land's boundaries. Historically, this reflects the meticulous care with which God delineates the inheritance of His people. It underscores the importance of obedience to God's specific instructions, as each boundary point holds significance in the fulfillment of His covenant. The journey from Hazar-enan to Shepham is not just a physical one but a spiritual journey of faith and trust in God's promises. Persons / Places / Events 1. Hazar-enanA location mentioned as a boundary point for the land of Israel. Its exact location is uncertain, but it is believed to be in the northern part of the Promised Land. 2. ShephamAnother boundary point mentioned in the delineation of the land. Like Hazar-enan, its precise location is not known today, but it is part of the eastern border. 3. Eastern BorderThis refers to the boundary line that God instructed the Israelites to establish for the land they were to inherit. It signifies the divine allocation of land to the tribes of Israel. 4. MosesThe leader of the Israelites who received these instructions from God and communicated them to the people. 5. Promised LandThe land promised by God to the descendants of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. This passage is part of the detailed instructions for dividing this land among the tribes of Israel. Teaching Points Divine Sovereignty in AllocationGod is sovereign over the distribution of land and resources. The boundaries set for Israel were not arbitrary but divinely ordained, reminding us that God has a plan and purpose for each of us. Obedience to God's InstructionsThe Israelites were required to follow God's specific instructions for dividing the land. This teaches us the importance of obedience to God's Word in our lives. Spiritual BoundariesJust as physical boundaries were important for Israel, spiritual boundaries are crucial for believers today. We must establish and respect boundaries in our spiritual lives to maintain holiness and integrity. Inheritance and IdentityThe land was part of Israel's inheritance and identity. As Christians, our identity and inheritance are found in Christ, and we are called to live in a way that reflects this truth. Bible Study Questions 1. How does understanding the specific boundaries of the Promised Land enhance our appreciation of God's promises to Israel? 2. In what ways can we apply the concept of divine boundaries to our personal lives today? 3. How does the fulfillment of God's promises to Israel in the Old Testament encourage us in our faith journey? 4. What are some spiritual boundaries that you need to establish or reinforce in your life? 5. How does the concept of inheritance in the Promised Land relate to our inheritance in Christ as described in the New Testament? Connections to Other Scriptures Genesis 15God's covenant with Abraham, promising the land to his descendants, sets the stage for the territorial boundaries described in Numbers 34. Joshua 13-21These chapters detail the actual distribution of the land among the tribes, fulfilling the instructions given in Numbers 34. Ezekiel 47This passage also describes the boundaries of the land, echoing the instructions in Numbers 34 and pointing to a future restoration. People Addar, Ahihud, Ammihud, Asher, Azzan, Benjamin, Bukki, Caleb, Chislon, Dan, Eleazar, Elidad, Elizaphan, Enan, Gad, Hanniel, Israelites, Issachar, Jephunneh, Jogli, Joseph, Joshua, Kemuel, Manasseh, Moses, Naphtali, Nun, Paltiel, Parnach, Pedahel, Phaltiel, Reuben, Samuel, Shelomi, Shemuel, Shiphtan, Simeon, ZebulunPlaces Ain, Akrabbim, Brook of Egypt, Canaan, Edom, Great Sea, Hazar-addar, Hazar-enan, Jordan River, Kadesh-barnea, Lebo-hamath, Mount Hor, Plains of Moab, Riblah, Salt Sea, Sea of Chinnereth, Shepham, Zedad, Zin, ZiphronTopics Border, Boundary, Designate, Draw, East, Eastern, Eastward, Enan, Hazar, Hazarenan, Hazar-enan, Ha'zar-e'nan, Limit, Line, Mark, Marked, Point, Run, Shepham, YourselvesDictionary of Bible Themes Numbers 34:1-12 4207 land, divine gift Numbers 34:1-15 7258 promised land, early history Numbers 34:10-12 4357 salt Library The Talmudic Girdle of the Land under the Second Temple, Taken Out of the Jerusalem Sheviith, Fol. 36 3
What all these things mean, I cannot so much as conjecture; yea, nor can I scarce conjecture, what the meaning is of some of them. Neither is there any Oedipus at hand, nor Sphinx herself, to explain and unriddle them. The Talmudists are silent from making any comments here, nor have we the advantage of any other commentator. We must, therefore, act here according to the uncertain instruction of nods and winks; and that either by saying nothing, or by mere conjecture, since that the mind of the authors …
John Lightfoot—From the Talmud and HebraicaThe Northern Coasts of Galilee. Amanah. The Mountain of Snow.
This coast is described by Moses, Numbers 34:7: "From the Great Sea to mount Hor: from mount Hor to the entrance of Hamath," &c. Mount Hor, in the Jewish writers, is Amanah; mention of which occurs, Canticles 4:8, where R. Solomon thus: "Amanah is a mount in the northern coast of the land of Israel, which in the Talmudical language is called, The mountainous plain of Amanon; the same with mount Hor." In the Jerusalem Targum, for mount 'Hor' is the mount Manus: but the Targum of Jonathan renders it …
John Lightfoot—From the Talmud and Hebraica What is to be Said of the Sea of Apamia.
'The sea of Apamia' is reckoned the seventh among those seas that compass the land of Israel; which word hath a sound so near akin to the word Pamias, by which name the Rabbins point out the fountains of Jordan,--that the mention of that word cannot but excite the memory of this, yea, almost persuade that both design one and the same place: and that the sea Apamia was nothing else but some great collection of waters at the very springs of Jordan. This also might moreover be added to strengthen that …
John Lightfoot—From the Talmud and Hebraica Pamias. Paneas, the Spring of Jordan.
The maps assign a double spring of Jordan; but by what right it scarce appears; much less does it appear by what right they should call this Jor,--and that Dan. There is indeed mention in Josephus of little Jordan and great Jordan. Hence, as it seems, was the first original of the double spring in the maps, and of a double river at those first springs. For thus Josephus; "There are fountains (in Daphne) which send little Jordan, as it is called, into the great." He treats, in the text cited, of the …
John Lightfoot—From the Talmud and Hebraica The Lake of Gennesaret; Or, the Sea of Galilee and Tiberias.
Jordan is measured at one hundred and twenty furlongs, from the lake of Samochonitis to that of Gennesaret. That lake, in the Old Testament, is 'The sea of Chinnereth,' Numbers 34:11, &c. In the Targumists, 'The sea of Genesar'; sometimes, 'of Genesor'; sometimes, 'of Ginosar': it is the same also in the Talmudists, but most frequently 'The sea of Tiberiah.' Both names are used by the evangelists; 'the lake of Gennesaret,' Luke 5:1; 'the sea of Tiberias,' John 21:1; and 'the sea of Galilee,' John …
John Lightfoot—From the Talmud and Hebraica Subterraneous Places. Mines. Caves.
Thus having taken some notice of the superficies of the land, let us a little search into its bowels. You may divide the subterraneous country into three parts: the metal mines, the caves, and the places of burial. This land was eminently noted for metal mines, so that "its stones," in very many places, "were iron, and out of its hills was digged brass," Deuteronomy 8:9. From these gain accrued to the Jews: but to the Christians, not seldom slavery and misery; being frequently condemned hither by …
John Lightfoot—From the Talmud and Hebraica Arbel. Shezor. Tarnegola the Upper.
"Arbel a city of Galilee."--There is mention of it in Hosea 10:14. But there are authors which do very differently interpret that place, viz. the Chaldee paraphrast, R. Solomon, Kimchi: consult them. It was between Zippor and Tiberias. Hence Nittai the Arbelite, who was president with Josua Ben Perahiah. The valley of Arbel is mentioned by the Talmudists. So also "The Arbelite Bushel." "Near Zephath in Upper Galilee was a town named Shezor, whence was R. Simeon Shezori: there he was buried. There …
John Lightfoot—From the Talmud and Hebraica The Coast of the Asphaltites, the Essenes. En-Gedi.
"On the western shore" (of the Asphaltites) "dwell the Essenes; whom persons, guilty of any crimes, fly from on every side. A nation it is that lives alone, and of all other nations in the whole world, most to be admired; they are without any woman; all lust banished, &c. Below these, was the town Engadda, the next to Jerusalem for fruitfulness, and groves of palm-trees, now another burying-place. From thence stands Massada, a castle in a rock, and this castle not far from the Asphaltites." Solinus, …
John Lightfoot—From the Talmud and Hebraica Jesus Calls Four Fishermen to Follow Him.
(Sea of Galilee, Near Capernaum.) ^A Matt. IV. 18-22; ^B Mark I. 16-20; ^C Luke V. 1-11. ^a 18 And walking ^b 16 And passing along by the sea of Galilee [This lake is a pear-shaped body of water, about twelve and a half miles long and about seven miles across at its widest place. It is 682 feet below sea level; its waters are fresh, clear and abounding in fish, and it is surrounded by hills and mountains, which rise from 600 to 1,000 feet above it. Its greatest depth is about 165 feet], he [Jesus] …
J. W. McGarvey—The Four-Fold Gospel Kadesh. Rekam, and that Double. Inquiry is Made, Whether the Doubling it in the Maps is Well Done.
The readers of the eastern interpreters will observe, that Kadesh is rendered by all Rekam, or in a sound very near it. In the Chaldee, it is 'Rekam': in the Syriac, 'Rekem': in the Arabic, 'Rakim'... There are two places noted by the name Rekam in the very bounds of the land,--to wit, the southern and eastern: that is, a double Kadesh. I. Of Kadesh, or Rekam, in the south part, there is no doubt. II. Of it, in the eastern part, there is this mention: "From Rekam to the east, and Rekam is as the …
John Lightfoot—From the Talmud and Hebraica Numbers
Like the last part of Exodus, and the whole of Leviticus, the first part of Numbers, i.-x. 28--so called,[1] rather inappropriately, from the census in i., iii., (iv.), xxvi.--is unmistakably priestly in its interests and language. Beginning with a census of the men of war (i.) and the order of the camp (ii.), it devotes specific attention to the Levites, their numbers and duties (iii., iv.). Then follow laws for the exclusion of the unclean, v. 1-4, for determining the manner and amount of restitution …
John Edgar McFadyen—Introduction to the Old Testament Links Numbers 34:10 NIVNumbers 34:10 NLTNumbers 34:10 ESVNumbers 34:10 NASBNumbers 34:10 KJV
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