Numbers 34:6

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

And as for the western {H3220} border {H1366}, ye shall even have the great {H1419} sea {H3220} for a border {H1366}: this shall be your west {H3220} border {H1366}.

"Your western border will be the Great Sea.

Your western border will be the coastline of the Great Sea; this will be your boundary on the west.

And for the western border, ye shall have the great sea and the borderthereof: this shall be your west border.

Commentary

Numbers 34:6 is a concise but significant verse within the detailed instructions God gave to Moses concerning the division and boundaries of the land of Canaan, the inheritance for the twelve tribes of Israel. Specifically, it defines the westernmost border of this divinely appointed territory.

Context

This verse is part of a larger passage (Numbers 34:1-12) where the Lord meticulously outlines the precise geographical limits of the land that was to be distributed among the Israelite tribes. Following decades of wilderness wandering, and with the conquest of Canaan imminent, God provides clear guidance to prevent future disputes and to ensure the proper fulfillment of His ancient covenant with Abraham. This detailed boundary description follows the allocation of land to the tribes of Reuben, Gad, and half of Manasseh on the east side of the Jordan River (Numbers 32:33) and precedes the appointment of specific leaders responsible for dividing the land among the remaining tribes.

Key Themes

  • Divine Provision and Fulfillment: The verse underscores God's faithfulness in fulfilling His promise to provide a land for His people. The specificity of the borders demonstrates the certainty and tangibility of this divine gift. This aligns with the broader theme of God's covenant promises, first made to Abraham in Genesis 15:18.
  • Geographical Specificity: The "Great Sea" served as an unmistakable and natural boundary, providing a clear and enduring western limit to the Israelite territory. This precision speaks to the orderliness of God's plans.
  • Inheritance and Possession: The detailed outlining of the borders emphasizes the concept of the land as a rightful and secure inheritance for the Israelites, a place where they could settle and thrive as a nation.

Linguistic Insights

The term "the great sea" in Hebrew is Yam HaGadol (ื™ึธื ื”ึทื’ึธึผื“ื•ึนืœ). This phrase consistently refers to the Mediterranean Sea throughout the Old Testament. Its use here clearly and unambiguously identifies the western boundary, a vast and undeniable natural feature.

Significance and Application

Numbers 34:6, though seemingly just a geographical detail, carries profound significance:

  • God's Faithfulness: It serves as a reminder of God's meticulous care and faithfulness in fulfilling His word, even to the smallest detail. Just as He provided a specific, tangible land for Israel, He provides for His people today.
  • Certainty of God's Promises: The unchangeable nature of the Mediterranean Sea as a boundary speaks to the unwavering certainty of God's promises. What God declares, He establishes.
  • Boundaries and Identity: The defined borders helped establish Israel's national identity and security. In a broader sense, God sets boundaries for our lives that provide safety, purpose, and a framework for our spiritual inheritance (Colossians 1:12).
  • Divine Order: The detailed plan for the land's division reflects God's desire for order and peace among His people, avoiding future conflicts over territory.

This verse, part of a larger divine blueprint, assures us that God's plans are perfect, precise, and will ultimately come to pass.

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Cross-References

  • Joshua 15:47 (2 votes)

    Ashdod with her towns and her villages, Gaza with her towns and her villages, unto the river of Egypt, and the great sea, and the border [thereof]:

  • Joshua 15:12 (2 votes)

    And the west border [was] to the great sea, and the coast [thereof]. This [is] the coast of the children of Judah round about according to their families.

  • Ezekiel 47:20 (2 votes)

    The west side also [shall be] the great sea from the border, till a man come over against Hamath. This [is] the west side.

  • Joshua 1:4 (2 votes)

    From the wilderness and this Lebanon even unto the great river, the river Euphrates, all the land of the Hittites, and unto the great sea toward the going down of the sun, shall be your coast.

  • Joshua 9:1 (2 votes)

    ยถ And it came to pass, when all the kings which [were] on this side Jordan, in the hills, and in the valleys, and in all the coasts of the great sea over against Lebanon, the Hittite, and the Amorite, the Canaanite, the Perizzite, the Hivite, and the Jebusite, heard [thereof];

  • Joshua 23:4 (2 votes)

    Behold, I have divided unto you by lot these nations that remain, to be an inheritance for your tribes, from Jordan, with all the nations that I have cut off, even unto the great sea westward.

  • Ezekiel 47:10 (2 votes)

    And it shall come to pass, [that] the fishers shall stand upon it from Engedi even unto Eneglaim; they shall be a [place] to spread forth nets; their fish shall be according to their kinds, as the fish of the great sea, exceeding many.