Numbers 34:28

Caleb son of Jephunneh is the only tribal leader mentioned elsewhere in Numbers (13:6, 30; 14:6–38). Most of the older generation had died during the wilderness period (Numbers 26:63–65). But the two faithful spies were still leading their people.

Eleazar (the high priest) and Joshua (the political leader) were to divide the land among the remaining tribes. The 10 tribal leaders who would help them are listed in 34:19–28.

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.