Numbers 34:4-5 NIV

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Numbers 34:1-15

We have here a particular draught of the line by which the land of Canaan was meted, and bounded, on all sides. God directs Moses to settle it here, not as a geographer in his map, merely to please the curious, but as a prince in his grant, that it may be certainly known what passes, and is conveyed, by the grant. There was a much larger possession promised them, which in due time they would have possessed if they had been obedient, reaching even to the river Euphrates, Dan. 11:24. And even so... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Numbers 34:4

And your border ,.... That is, the south border, which is still describing: shall turn from the south to the ascent of Akrabbim ; or Maalehacrabbim, as in Joshua 15:3 so called from the multitude of serpents and scorpions in it, see Deuteronomy 8:15 , so Kimchi says F11 Sepher Shorash. "in voce" עקרב . , a place of serpents and scorpions was this ascent: Dr. Shaw F12 Travels, tom. 2. ch. 1. p. 279. says Akrabbim may probably be the same with the mountains of Accaba,... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Numbers 34:5

And the border shall fetch a compass ,.... Not go on in a straight line, but turn about: from Azmon unto the river of Egypt ; the river Nile, as both the Targums of Jonathan and Jerusalem; but Aben Ezra seems to deny that that river is meant: and some think that Rhinocolura, which flows into the Mediterranean sea, is meant; or the "valley of Egypt", Casiotis, which divided Judea from Egypt, as follows: and the goings out of it ; not of the river, but of the border: shall be at the... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Numbers 34:5

The river of Egypt - The eastern branch of the river Nile; or, according to others, a river which is south of the land of the Philistines, and fails into the gulf or bay near Calieh. read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Numbers 34:3-5

The southern boundary commenced at the Dead Sea. The broad and desolate valley by which the depressed bed of that sea is protected toward the south, is called the Ghor. A deep narrow glen enters it at its southwest corner; it is called Wady-el-Fikreh, and is continued in the same southwestern direction, under the name of Wady el-Marrah; a wady which loses itself among the hills belonging to “the wilderness of Zin;” and Kadesh-barnea (see Numbers 13:26 note), which is “in the wilderness of Zin,”... read more

Joseph Benson

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - Numbers 34:4-6

Numbers 34:4-6. From the south to Kadesh-barnea Rather, shall extend on the south to Kadesh-barnea westward. Unto the river of Egypt That is, the Nile. Not that the Jews did really extend their territories so far as the Nile; but thus far they were allowed to extend them. The goings out of it shall be at the sea The Midland or Mediterranean sea, called the sea, emphatically, and (Numbers 34:6,) the great sea, in opposition to the sea of Galilee, and the Dead sea, which are indeed... read more

Donald C. Fleming

Bridgeway Bible Commentary - Numbers 34:1-29

Plans for the division of Canaan (33:50-34:29)As Canaan was to become the land of Yahweh’s people, all the former inhabitants and all trace of their religion had to be removed. Failure to do this would bring trouble for Israel (50-56).Moses then gave the boundaries of the land that Israel was to occupy. The southern boundary went from the Dead Sea through Kadesh-barnea to the Brook of Egypt, which it followed to the coast. The western boundary followed the coast along the Mediterranean Sea. The... read more

E.W. Bullinger

E.W. Bullinger's Companion Bible Notes - Numbers 34:4

Akrabbim = Maaleh-akrabbim. Joshua 15:3 . = the ascent of scorpions. Compare Deuteronomy 8:15 . going forth = ascending. Compare Joshua 15:3 . read more

E.W. Bullinger

E.W. Bullinger's Companion Bible Notes - Numbers 34:5

river. Hebrew. nachal, a wady; not nahar, a river. Here used of "Sihor", and called the river of Egypt. Compare Genesis 15:18 , where it is nahar = the Nile. read more

Thomas Coke

Thomas Coke Commentary on the Holy Bible - Numbers 34:4-5

Numbers 34:4-5. To the ascent of Akrabbim— Or to Maaleh-akrabbim, as it is rendered, Jos 15:3 which signifies, according to Bochart, the mount of scorpions; so called from the multitude of those creatures found there. See Deu 8:15 and Hieroz. lib. 4: cap. 29. Hence that tract adjoining to Idumea is called Arabatine, 1Ma 5:3. Hazar-addar is, in the Vulgate, the village of Addar; which seems justified by Jos 15:3 where it is simply called Addar. The river of Egypt means, as we have explained it,... read more