Keraia
Numbers 34

Numbers 34:11

The Boundaries of Canaan · Numbers 34:1–15
Read Numbers 34

Translations

Modern
…then go down from Shepham to Riblah on the east side of Ain and continue along the slopes east of the Sea of Chinnereth.
Traditional
And 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:
Literal
…and the border shall go down from Shepham to Riblah on the east side of Ain, and the border shall go down and reach to the eastern side of the Sea of Chinnereth.
Latin
…et de Sephama descendent termini in Rebla contra fontem Daphnim: inde pervenient contra orientem ad mare Cenereth,

Original

Hebrew
English
…then go down from Shepham to Riblah on the east side of Ain and continue along the slopes east of the Sea of Chinnereth.

Notes

Numbers 34:11

Sea of Chinnereth (or Galilee): Its eastern side (literally shoulder) is the ridge that rises steeply from the eastern shore.

Numbers 34:1–29

Chapter 34 describes the borders of Canaan. This is where God commanded Israel to settle, following the guidelines in 26:52–56. Since Abraham's call, the promised land of Canaan has been central to the Old Testament story (Genesis 12:1–7). A generation of Hebrews died in the wilderness for not believing what the faithful spies reported (Numbers 13). Yet, God reaffirmed his promise of land (33:53).

Here, God reviews the plan and outlines the promised land's intended boundaries (compare Joshua 13–19; Ezekiel 47–48). Old Testament Israel did not fully capture this territory. It almost did during the time of the kings David and Solomon (see 2 Samuel 24:1–9). But these borders generally describe the region of Canaan as defined by Egyptian texts from 1500–1200 BC. This was when the Hebrews invaded. The region actually occupied by Israel changed from time to time.

Parallels

Genesis 15:8–21

Places

Ain: A place on the eastern boundary of the Promised Land Chinnereth: Freshwater lake in northern Israel; location of Jesus' ministry Riblah: Place on the eastern border of the Promised Land Shepham: Landmark on the northeastern border of the Promised Land

Glossary

Ain Allotment of the Land Arabah Ashan Chinnereth, Chinneroth Dead Sea Deuteronomy, Book of Kerioth Moses Numbers, Book of Palestine Riblah Sea of Galilee Shepham

Topics

Ain: A Landmark on the Northern Boundary of Palestine Canaanites: Territory of Chinnereth: The Sea of Galilee: Sea (Lake) of Galilee: Called Sea of Chinnereth Holy Land: Extent of As at First Divided Riblah: A Border Town of the Promised Land Shepham: A Place on the Eastern Boundary of the Promised Land