Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary on the Whole Bible
Numbers Chapter 34
In this chapter God directs Moses, and he is to direct Israel,
PART I.
Concerning the bounds and borders of the land of Canaan (v. 1-15).
PART II.
Concerning the division and distribution of it to the tribes of Israel (v. 16, etc.).
Verses 1-15
We have here a particular draught of the line by which the land of Canaan was meted, and bounded, on all sides. God directs Moses to settle it here, not as a geographer in his map, merely to please the curious, but as a prince in his grant, that it may be certainly known what passes, and is conveyed, by the grant. There was a much larger possession promised them, which in due time they would have possessed if they had been obedient, reaching even to the river Euphrates, Deu. 11:24. And even so far the dominion of Israel did extend in David's time and Solomon's, 2 Chr. 9:26. But this which is here described is Canaan only, which was the lot of the nine tribes and a half, for the other two and a half were already settled, v. 14, 15. Now concerning the limits of Canaan observe,
PART I.
That it was limited within certain bounds: for God appoints the bounds of our habitation, Acts 17:26. The borders are set them,
ITEM 1.
That they might know whom they were to dispossess, and how far the commission which was given them extended (ch. 33:53), that they should drive out the inhabitants.
Those that lay within these borders, and those only, they must destroy; hitherto their bloody sword must go, and no further.
ITEM 2.
That they might know what to expect the
possession of themselves. God would not have his people to enlarge their desire of worldly possessions, but to know when they have enough, and to rest satisfied with
it. The Israelites themselves must not be placed alone in the midst of the earth, but must leave room for their neighbours to live by them. God sets bounds to our
lot; let us then set bounds to our desires, and bring our mind to our condition.
PART II.
That it lay comparatively in a very little compass: as it is here bounded, it is reckoned to be but about 160 miles in length and about fifty in breadth; perhaps it did not contain more than half as much ground as England, and yet this is the country which was promised to the father of the faithful and was the possession of the seed of Israel. This was that little spot of ground in which only, for many ages, God was known, and his name was great, Ps. 76:1. This was the vineyard of the Lord, the garden enclosed; but, as it is with gardens and vineyards, the narrowness of the extent was abundantly compensated by the extraordinary fruitfulness of the soil, otherwise it could not have subsisted so numerous a nation as did inhabit it. See here then,
ITEM 1.
How small a part of the world God has for himself. Though the earth is
his, and the fullness thereof, yet few have the knowledge of him and serve him; but those few are happy, very happy, because fruitful to God.
ITEM 2.
How small a share of the world God often gives to his own people. Those that have their portion in heaven have reason to be content with a small pittance of this
earth; but, as here, what is wanting in quantity is made up in quality; a little that a righteous man has, having it from the love of God and with his blessing, is
far better and more comfortable than the riches of many wicked, Ps. 37:16.
PART III.
It is observable what the bounds and limits of it were.
ITEM 1.
Canaan was itself a pleasant land (so it is called Dan. 8:9), and yet it bordered upon wilderness
and seas, and was surrounded with divers melancholy prospects. Thus the vineyard of the church is compassed on all hands with the desert of this world, which serves
as a foil to it, to make it appear the more beautiful for situation.
ITEM 2.
Many of its borders were its defences and natural fortifications, to render the access of
enemies the more difficult, and to intimate to Israel that the God of nature was their protector, and with his favour would compass them as with a shield.
ITEM 3.
The border reached to the river of Egypt (v. 5), that the sight of that country which they could look into out of their own might remind them of their bondage
there, and their wonderful deliverance thence.
ITEM 4.
Their border is here made to begin at the Salt Sea (v. 3), and there it ends, v. 12. This was the remaining lasting
monument of the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah. That pleasant fruitful vale in which these cities stood became a lake, which was never stirred by any wind, bore
no vessels, was replenished with no fish, no living creature of any sort being found in it, therefore called the Dead Sea. This was part of their border, that it
might be a constant warning to them to take heed of those sins which had been the ruin of Sodom; yet the iniquity of Sodom was afterwards found in Israel (Eze. 16:49),
for which Canaan was made, though not a salt sea as Sodom, yet a barren soil, and continues so to this day. 5. Their western border was the Great Sea (v. 6), which
is now called the Mediterranean. Some consider this sea itself to have been a part of their possession, and that by virtue of this grant, they had the dominion of it,
and, if they had not forfeited it by sin, might have rode masters of it.
Verses 16-29
God here appoints commissioners for the dividing of the land to them. The conquest of it is taken for granted, though as yet there was never a stroke struck towards it. Here is no nomination of the generals and commanders-in-chief that should carry on the war; for they were to get the land in possession, not by their own sword or bow, but by the power and favour of God; and so confident must they be of victory and success while God fought for them that the persons must now be named who should be entrusted with the dividing of the land, that is, who should preside in casting the lots, and determine controversies that might arise, and see that all was done fairly.
ITEM 1.
The principal commissioners, who were of the quorum, were Eleazar and Joshua (v. 17), typifying Christ, who, as priest and king, divides
the heavenly Canaan to the spiritual Israel; yet, as they were to go by the lot, so Christ acknowledges the disposal must be by the will of the Father, Mt. 20:23.
Compare, Eph. 1:11.
ITEM 2.
Besides these, that there might be no suspicion of partiality, a prince of each tribe was appointed to inspect this matter, and to see that
the tribe he served for was in no respect injured. Public affairs should be so managed as not only to give their right to all, but, if possible, to give satisfaction
to all that they have justice done them., It is a happiness to a land to have the princes of their people meet together, some out of every tribe, to concert the
affairs that are of common concern, a constitution which is the abundant honour, ease, and safety, of the nation that is blessed with it.
ITEM 3.
Some observe that the order of the tribes here very much differs from that in which they hitherto, upon all occasions, been named, and agrees with the neighbourhood
of their lots in the division of the land. Judah, Simeon, and Benjamin, the first three here named, lay close together; the inheritance of Dan lay next them on one
side, that of Ephraim and Manasseh on another side; Zebulun and Issachar lay abreast more northerly, and, lastly, Asher and Naphtali most northward of all, as is easy
to observe in looking over a map of Canaan; this (says bishop Patrick) is an evidence that Moses was guided by a divine Spirit in his writings. Known unto God are
all his works beforehand, and what is new and surprising to us he perfectly foresaw, without any confusion or uncertainty.