Numbers 34 18

Numbers 34:18 kjv

And ye shall take one prince of every tribe, to divide the land by inheritance.

Numbers 34:18 nkjv

And you shall take one leader of every tribe to divide the land for the inheritance.

Numbers 34:18 niv

And appoint one leader from each tribe to help assign the land.

Numbers 34:18 esv

You shall take one chief from every tribe to divide the land for inheritance.

Numbers 34:18 nlt

Enlist one leader from each tribe to help them with the task.

Numbers 34 verses

Numbers 34 18 Meaning

Numbers 34:18 outlines the divine instruction for appointing twelve leaders, one from each of the participating tribes, whose essential role was to assist Eleazar the High Priest and Joshua in the sacred and precise task of allotting the land of Canaan as an inheritance to the Israelite tribes. This commandment emphasizes an organized and divinely sanctioned process for the future settlement of the Promised Land, ensuring fair distribution and the establishment of Israelite society according to God's design.

Numbers 34 18 Context

Numbers chapter 34 meticulously details God's precise boundaries for the land of Canaan that Israel was to inherit (vv. 1-12), serving as the Promised Land. Following this, Moses reconfirms that the tribes of Reuben, Gad, and half-Manasseh had already received their inheritance on the east side of the Jordan (vv. 13-15). The subsequent section (vv. 16-29), where verse 18 is located, then specifies the administrative structure for the actual division of the land west of the Jordan. Eleazar the priest and Joshua are designated as the primary overseers (vv. 16-17), and verse 18 introduces the need for one distinguished leader from each tribe to assist them. This setup ensures an organized, fair, and representative process for the tribal distribution of God's promised inheritance, preventing disputes and affirming tribal identity.

Numbers 34 18 Word analysis

• And you shall take (וְנָשִׂ֨יא אֶחָ֧ד... תִּקְח֥וּ - wə-nāśīʾ eḥāḏ... tiqəḥū): The introductory "And" links this instruction directly to the previous commissioning of Eleazar and Joshua. "You shall take" is a divine command given to Moses, highlighting the imperative and sacred nature of this administrative step. It underscores God's active involvement in the minute details of Israel's future, from land boundaries to the leaders responsible for its division. This is not merely human policy but divine orchestration.
• leader (נָשִׂיא - nāśīʾ): This Hebrew term signifies a prince, chieftain, or headman, not just an ordinary person. It refers to an individual holding a significant position of authority and influence within their respective tribe. Such leaders were typically heads of their ancestral houses and were representatives of their tribal lineage and interests. Their appointment for this specific task emphasized the gravitas and official nature of the land distribution. This highlights that significant tasks required proven, recognized leadership, echoing practices of careful delegation within the Israelite societal structure.
• from every tribe (לַמַּטֶּה - lam-maṭṭeh): Literally, "to/for the tribe." This emphasizes the representation of each distinct tribal entity in the critical process of land allocation. It ensured that each tribe's unique concerns and heritage claims were properly represented during the division. This inclusion underlines the communal and inclusive nature of God's provisions for His people, ensuring fairness and preventing favoritism.
• to allot the land (לְנַחֵ֖ל אֶת־הָאָֽרֶץ׃ - lə-naḥēl ʾeṯ-hā-ʾāreṣ):
  • to allot (lə-naḥēl, from root נָחַל - nāḥal): This verb means "to cause to inherit," "to distribute as an inheritance," or "to possess." It signifies the act of formally giving out or bestowing an inheritance. The use of this term here deeply links the act of dividing the physical territory to the concept of the Promised Land as a divine inheritance, a gift from God based on His covenant promises to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. It implies that the land is not merely conquered territory but a gracious gift.
  • the land (hā-ʾāreṣ): Refers specifically to the land of Canaan, the divine inheritance. It is not just any territory but the Promised Land, central to Israel's identity and their covenant relationship with God. The organized and deliberate process of its allocation under chosen leaders affirmed its sacred status and critical importance to Israel's national existence and spiritual future.
• Words-group Analysis: "one leader from every tribe": This phrase highlights the systematic approach to governance and administration within ancient Israel. It reinforces the tribal structure, a fundamental aspect of Israelite identity, and underscores the importance of equitable representation in communal matters, especially for something as vital as land. The leaders were to act on behalf of their tribe's best interests but also within the framework of God's overall plan for the twelve tribes as a united people. The method chosen here, where a team of leaders, led by the high priest and military general, oversees the division by lot, speaks to God's careful foresight to prevent disputes and ensure order.

Numbers 34 18 Bonus section

The choice of "Nasi" (prince/leader) specifically denotes individuals with authority and respect. This command foreshadows the meticulous and fair land distribution recorded in the Book of Joshua, where the leaders appointed here play their part. The involvement of these tribal representatives, alongside Eleazar the priest (representing God's holy presence and will) and Joshua (representing military and civil leadership), created a powerful tripartite authority ensuring both divine blessing and human accountability in the crucial act of settling the land. The lot system used in Josh 14-19 for actual division further underscored the divine ultimate say, but the human agency and leadership outlined in Num 34:18 were essential for its orderly execution. This commitment to structure and proper representation emphasizes the importance of good governance in fulfilling divine commands.

Numbers 34 18 Commentary

Numbers 34:18 establishes a crucial administrative detail for the future of the nation of Israel. After God precisely defines the boundaries of the Promised Land, and after reiterating the inheritance of the Transjordan tribes, Moses receives instructions on how the land within these boundaries will be distributed. The core principle here is not simply military conquest and division, but the allotment of an inheritance. The land is a divine gift, and its distribution must reflect God's order and fairness.

The selection of "one leader from every tribe" signifies the divine blueprint for a well-ordered society and a just process. These "leaders" (nasi') were not ordinary men but prominent figures, often heads of their patriarchal houses. Their involvement, alongside Eleazar and Joshua, ensured not only the equitable and official nature of the land division but also accountability to God and to the people. This precise methodology, later implemented as recorded in the Book of Joshua, was designed to prevent inter-tribal strife over territorial claims, cement the identity of each tribe with its allocated portion, and maintain the unique inheritance aspect of God's covenant with His people. It reflects God's concern for detailed provision and order within the community He establishes, ensuring stability and justice from the very foundations of their national life.