Numbers 34 15

Numbers 34:15 kjv

The two tribes and the half tribe have received their inheritance on this side Jordan near Jericho eastward, toward the sunrising.

Numbers 34:15 nkjv

The two tribes and the half-tribe have received their inheritance on this side of the Jordan, across from Jericho eastward, toward the sunrise."

Numbers 34:15 niv

These two-and-a-half tribes have received their inheritance east of the Jordan across from Jericho, toward the sunrise."

Numbers 34:15 esv

The two tribes and the half-tribe have received their inheritance beyond the Jordan east of Jericho, toward the sunrise."

Numbers 34:15 nlt

on the east side of the Jordan River, across from Jericho toward the sunrise."

Numbers 34 verses

Numbers 34 15 Meaning

Numbers 34:15 states that the tribes of Reuben, Gad, and the half-tribe of Manasseh had already obtained and settled their assigned land inheritance. This land was specifically located on the eastern side of the Jordan River, directly facing Jericho towards the east. This verse serves to clarify and distinguish their settled possession from the land described in the preceding verses (Numbers 34:1-12), which refers to the territories west of the Jordan yet to be conquered and distributed among the remaining nine and a half tribes.

Numbers 34 15 Context

Numbers chapter 34 provides a divine directive outlining the precise geographical boundaries of the land of Canaan that the Israelites were to conquer and inhabit west of the Jordan River. This meticulous demarcation, ordained by God, was crucial for the fair and orderly distribution of land among the nine and a half tribes designated to dwell within these specific borders. Verse 15, therefore, functions as a critical parenthetical statement within this larger geographical instruction. It serves as a reminder to the original audience that the two and a half tribes (Reuben, Gad, and half of Manasseh) had already secured and settled their inheritance on the eastern side of the Jordan. This pre-arranged settlement, detailed in Numbers 32 and Deuteronomy 3, fulfills an earlier agreement made under Moses’ leadership, differentiating their portion from the main conquest and allocation that was yet to occur for the rest of Israel. It underscores God's methodical planning and faithful provision for each segment of His people, whether through prior agreement or future conquest.

Numbers 34 15 Word analysis

• "These" (אֵלֶּה - 'elleh): This demonstrative pronoun serves to connect back to the previously understood groups. It clearly distinguishes these specific tribes from the general instructions for the majority who would settle west of the Jordan.

• "two tribes" (שְׁנֵי הַמַּטֹּות - shᵉnē hammattōṭ): Explicitly refers to Reuben and Gad. The Hebrew word "maṭṭeh" (מַטֶּה), meaning "staff" or "branch," is commonly used to denote a tribe or clan. It signifies a distinct familial and administrative division of Israel, stemming directly from Jacob’s sons, foundational to their identity and subsequent land allotments.

• "and the half-tribe" (וַחֲצִי הַמַּטֶּה - waḥăṣī hammattṭeh): Refers to the half-tribe of Manasseh. Manasseh, along with Ephraim, descended from Joseph, received a double portion among the tribes (Gen 48:5). This split portion, with half of the tribe choosing to settle east of the Jordan, demonstrates the specific, agreed-upon nature of this unique land arrangement, fitting within God’s overarching plan.

• "have received" (קִבְּלוּ - qibbᵉlū): This verb, in its perfect tense, denotes a completed action. It emphasizes that the acquisition of their land was a past, secure, and established fact. It signifies that their inheritance was fully taken into possession and recognized as theirs by divine approval.

• "their inheritance" (נַחֲלָתָם - naḥălātām): "Inheritance" (נַחֲלָה - naḥalah) means an allotted possession, a heritage, or a divinely appointed portion. For the Israelites, this land was a sacred, direct gift from God, crucial for their covenant identity, the fulfillment of God’s ancient promises to their forefathers, and establishing their rest in the land. It represented secure, permanent ownership under God's blessing.

• "across the Jordan" (מֵעֵבֶר לַיַּרְדֵּן - mē‘ēver layyarden): Literally "from the crossing/other side of the Jordan." The Jordan River (יַרְדֵּן - Yarden) was a primary geographical landmark and symbolic boundary, demarcating the lands conquered before crossing into Canaan proper from the land that was yet to be fully possessed. It highlights their unique position outside the central territory.

• "opposite Jericho" (מִזְרַח יְרֵחֹו - mizraḥ yᵉrēḥo): "Opposite" here is precisely "east of" or "facing Jericho." Jericho (יְרֵחֹו - Yᵉrēḥo), a prominent city in the plains west of the Jordan, served as a vital point of reference. Its mention clarifies the specific location of the Transjordan land in relation to a well-known landmark within Canaan itself.

• "eastward, toward the sunrise" (קֵדְמָה מִזְרַח הַשָּׁמֶשׁ - qēdmāh mizraḥ hashāmesh): "Eastward" (קֵדְמָה - qēdmāh) generally indicates the front or direction of origin. "Toward the sunrise" (מִזְרַח הַשָּׁמֶשׁ - mizraḥ hashāmesh) explicitly reinforces the eastern direction, providing ultimate clarity on the orientation of their territory. The detailed geographical precision emphasizes God’s orderliness in the allocation of His gifts.

• Words-group analysis:

  • "These two tribes and the half-tribe have received their inheritance": This complete phrase highlights the completion and certainty of their land possession. It distinguishes them from the tribes currently being addressed concerning the future conquest and distribution of the land west of the Jordan, confirming a fulfilled divine promise to this specific group.
  • "across the Jordan opposite Jericho, eastward, toward the sunrise": This comprehensive geographical descriptor emphasizes the precise, divinely ordained location of their land. It clearly delineates their territory, underscoring God's meticulous care in setting boundaries and fulfilling His promises according to a detailed plan, ensuring order and identity for His people within their allocated lands.

Numbers 34 15 Bonus section

• The geographical separation of the Transjordan tribes from the main body of Israel (west of the Jordan) sometimes led to distinct cultural expressions and, at times, tensions or misunderstandings between them and the other tribes (e.g., the incident of the large altar in Joshua 22). Yet, they remained part of the covenant people.
• The meticulous detailing of the tribal boundaries throughout Numbers and Joshua emphasizes God’s providential and precise allocation of His gifts. It signifies security and permanence in their God-given homeland, providing a physical embodiment of their identity as the Lord's people in a specific land, echoing God's gift of "rest" and "inheritance" in a deeper spiritual sense in the New Testament.

Numbers 34 15 Commentary

Numbers 34:15 serves as a concise, yet crucial, aside within the detailed mapping of the main Promised Land. It unequivocally declares that the tribes of Reuben, Gad, and half of Manasseh had already entered into and fully possessed their allotted inheritance east of the Jordan. This declaration is more than a geographical note; it underpins several key theological truths. First, it reaffirms God's perfect order and foresight. He is not only planning the future land distribution for the nine and a half tribes but has also meticulously fulfilled past agreements for others. Second, it highlights divine faithfulness; the promise of land to these tribes (initially sought by them, then granted by Moses with conditions) had come to pass. Third, it implicitly emphasizes the diversity within God's single, unified plan—different tribes received their portions under distinct circumstances (before or after the main conquest), yet all were under God’s sovereign hand and ultimately contributed to the corporate body of Israel. This verse stresses that a "received inheritance" is a secured possession, given by God, providing the groundwork for Israel's identity and their future dwelling.