Numbers 34:13 kjv
And Moses commanded the children of Israel, saying, This is the land which ye shall inherit by lot, which the LORD commanded to give unto the nine tribes, and to the half tribe:
Numbers 34:13 nkjv
Then Moses commanded the children of Israel, saying: "This is the land which you shall inherit by lot, which the LORD has commanded to give to the nine tribes and to the half-tribe.
Numbers 34:13 niv
Moses commanded the Israelites: "Assign this land by lot as an inheritance. The LORD has ordered that it be given to the nine-and-a-half tribes,
Numbers 34:13 esv
Moses commanded the people of Israel, saying, "This is the land that you shall inherit by lot, which the LORD has commanded to give to the nine tribes and to the half-tribe.
Numbers 34:13 nlt
Then Moses told the Israelites, "This territory is the homeland you are to divide among yourselves by sacred lot. The LORD has commanded that the land be divided among the nine and a half remaining tribes.
Numbers 34 13 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Gen 12:7 | To your offspring I will give this land... | God's initial promise of land to Abram. |
| Gen 15:18 | To your descendants I give this land... | Renewal of the covenant land promise. |
| Ex 6:4 | I also established My covenant with them to give them the land of Canaan... | God reiterates the promise to Abraham, Isaac, Jacob. |
| Num 26:52-56 | The Lord said to Moses, "The land shall be divided by lot... to a larger tribe you shall give a larger inheritance." | God's prior command for land division by lot. |
| Num 32:33 | So Moses gave to the Gadites, the Reubenites, and to half the tribe of Manasseh... | Explains why only nine and a half tribes remain for allocation. |
| Deut 1:8 | See, I have set the land before you. Go in and take possession... | Command to possess the promised land. |
| Deut 34:4 | This is the land of which I swore to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob... | Moses views the land, affirming God's oath. |
| Josh 1:6 | You are to allot as an inheritance to this people the land... | Joshua's divine commission to distribute the land. |
| Josh 14:1-2 | Eleazar the priest, Joshua the son of Nun, and the heads of the fathers' houses of the tribes... allotted the inheritance... by lot... as the Lord had commanded. | Fulfillment of the command to divide by lot. |
| Josh 15:1-12 | The lot for the tribe of the people of Judah... | Example of a specific tribe receiving their inheritance. |
| Josh 17:1-6 | There was also a lot for the tribe of Manasseh, for he was Joseph’s firstborn... and the rest of the sons of Manasseh... | Details Manasseh's portions, including the western half. |
| Josh 18:6 | You are to draw the lot for yourselves before the Lord our God. | Instruction for the remaining tribes to use lots. |
| Josh 19:51 | These are the inheritances that Eleazar the priest, Joshua the son of Nun, and the heads of the fathers’ houses... divided by lot... | Summary of the completion of the land division. |
| Ps 78:55 | He drove out nations before them; He allotted their inheritance by measure and settled the tribes of Israel in their tents. | God's sovereign hand in establishing Israel in the land. |
| Ps 105:44 | And He gave them the lands of the Gentiles; And they inherited the labor of the peoples... | God's gift of the land to Israel as an inheritance. |
| Prov 16:33 | The lot is cast into the lap, but its every decision is from the Lord. | Reinforces the theological principle of "lot" being divinely directed. |
| Ezek 47:21-23 | You shall divide this land among yourselves according to the tribes of Israel. You shall allot it as an inheritance for yourselves... | Prophetic future division, maintaining tribal inheritance. |
| Acts 1:26 | And they cast lots for them, and the lot fell on Matthias... | The practice of casting lots in decision-making continued. |
| Eph 1:11 | In Him also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestined according to the purpose... | Spiritual inheritance in Christ, God's sovereign plan. |
| Heb 11:8-9 | By faith Abraham obeyed when he was called... going out, not knowing where he was going. By faith he went to live in the land of promise... | Abraham's faith in God's promise of a land inheritance. |
Numbers 34 verses
Numbers 34 13 Meaning
Numbers 34:13 details Moses' authoritative declaration to the Israelites regarding the upcoming division of the Promised Land. It specifies that this particular territory, the land whose boundaries were just described (Nu 34:1-12), is to be allocated as a permanent inheritance to the nine and a half tribes of Israel. This allocation process is to be conducted "by lot," signifying that the distribution is not based on human negotiation or might, but rather determined by divine decree and guidance, ensuring fairness and God's sovereign will in fulfilling His covenant promise.
Numbers 34 13 Context
Numbers chapter 34 provides the meticulous geographical boundaries of the land of Canaan that the Israelites were to inherit, outlining its dimensions from the Sea of Salt (Dead Sea) to the Great Sea (Mediterranean). The preceding verses (Nu 34:1-12) detailed these specific borders, established directly by God. Verse 13 transitions from the description of the land to the process of its division among the tribes. This command follows the census (Nu 26), which was intended to organize the people for the very purpose of entering and inheriting the land. Historically, the division of conquered territory was often arbitrary or based on military strength. In contrast, God’s detailed command here, delivered through Moses, establishes a precise and divinely ordered system for allocation, ensuring fairness and establishing a lasting possession. This also served as a polemic against common ANE practices where kings would dictate land, asserting YHVH's unique sovereignty as the true grantor and apportioner of the land.
Numbers 34 13 Word analysis
- Moses (מֹשֶׁה, Moshe) commanded (וַיְצַו, vay'tzav): Moses acts as the direct messenger and mediator of God's will. The Hebrew word tzavah (צוה) denotes a firm and binding command, emphasizing divine authority. This isn't a suggestion but an instruction with weight, to be precisely followed.
- the Israelites (אֶת־בְּנֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל, et-b'nei Yisrael): Refers to the collective people of Israel, the covenant nation, who are the recipients of both the command and the land. They are positioned as active participants in the process.
- 'This is (זֹאת, zot) the land (הָאָרֶץ, ha'aretz): Refers directly to the detailed geographical boundaries outlined in Nu 34:1-12. It emphasizes that this specific, divinely delineated territory is the subject of the command, not an undefined general area.
- that you are to allot (אֲשֶׁר תִּתְנַחֲלוּ, asher titnachalu) as an inheritance (בְּנַחֲלָה, b'nachalah): The verb nachal (נָחַל) means to inherit or possess. The land is presented not as a conquest by their own power, but as an inherited possession, a gift received from God (compare Josh 11:23, where "the Lord gave" and Joshua "allotted it"). The term nachalah (נַחֲלָה) denotes an enduring possession or legacy, affirming its permanent tribal ownership.
- by lot (בְּגוֹרָל, b'goral): From goral (גּוֹרָל), a pebble or object used for casting lots to determine a decision. This method removes human favoritism, political manipulation, or personal preference in the division. It signifies divine guidance, indicating that God Himself is ultimately determining each tribe's specific portion (Prov 16:33).
- and which the Lord (יְהוָה, YHWH) has commanded (וַאֲשֶׁר צִוָּה, va'asher tzivah): Explicitly attributes the ultimate source of this instruction and the entire land division plan to YHVH, the covenant God of Israel. It reinforces the divine mandate for this precise method and distribution.
- to be given (לָתֵת, latet): From natan (נָתַן), to give. The infinitive implies that this is a standing instruction, showing that the land is fundamentally a divine bestowal rather than a human acquisition.
- to the nine and a half tribes (לְתִשְׁעַת הַמַּטּוֹת וַחֲצִי הַמַּטֶּה, l'tish'at ha'mattot va'chatzi ha'mattah): This precise count acknowledges that two and a half tribes (Reuben, Gad, and the half-tribe of Manasseh) had already received their inheritance east of the Jordan River (Nu 32:33, Josh 13:8). This demonstrates God's organized and consistent adherence to prior arrangements and promises within His plan for His people.
Numbers 34 13 Bonus section
The instruction to divide the land "by lot" highlights God's providence and care in mundane, practical matters, not just grand theological ones. It served as a reminder that the land was ultimately a gift from God, and its division was not a human right but a divine distribution, preventing human disputes and tribal envy based on perceived worth or military prowess. This act of drawing lots for inheritance, seen again in Josh 14-19, became a foundational aspect of Israel's social and economic structure, tying each family directly to a specific portion of God's land as a perpetual possession.
Numbers 34 13 Commentary
Numbers 34:13 serves as a pivotal summary, articulating the divine mandate for the orderly distribution of the Promised Land. It moves beyond geographical description to administrative instruction, highlighting God’s precise methodology. The emphasis on "inheritance" (not mere conquest), "by lot" (divine guidance over human decision), and the explicit mention of "the Lord has commanded" collectively underscores divine sovereignty over every aspect of Israel’s settlement. This verse is not just a procedural note; it is a theological statement about God's faithfulness to His covenant promises (to give the land) and His wisdom in ensuring an equitable, divinely appointed distribution that would minimize strife and reflect His will for His people's flourishing. The precise count of "nine and a half tribes" further speaks to the detailed and historical integrity of God's overarching plan for all twelve tribes, fulfilling earlier allocations.