Israel's Inheritance (Numbers 34)

Was the promised land divided by lot among the remaining nine and a half tribes? Was there a committee member from each tribe? How will our inheritance in eternity be decided differently? Let’s begin in Numbers 34.

What were the southern and western borders of Israel’s land?

Then the Lord spoke to Moses, saying, “Command the children of Israel, and say to them: ‘When you come into the land of Canaan, this is the land that shall fall to you as an inheritance—the land of Canaan to its boundaries. Your southern border shall be from the Wilderness of Zin along the border of Edom; then your southern border shall extend eastward to the end of the Salt Sea; your border shall turn from the southern side of the Ascent of Akrabbim, continue to Zin, and be on the south of Kadesh Barnea; then it shall go on to Hazar Addar, and continue to Azmon; the border shall turn from Azmon to the Brook of Egypt, and it shall end at the Sea. As for the western border, you shall have the Great Sea for a border; this shall be your western border.’ (Numbers 34:1-6 NKJV)

What were the northern and eastern borders of Israel’s land?

Your northern boundary will begin at the Mediterranean Sea and run east to Mount Hor, then to Lebo-hamath, and on through Zedad and Ziphron to Hazar-enan. This will be your northern boundary. The eastern boundary will start at Hazar-enan and run south to Shepham, then down to Riblah on the east side of Ain. From there the boundary will run down along the eastern edge of the Sea of Galilee, and then along the Jordan River to the Dead Sea. These are the boundaries of your land. (Numbers 34:7-12 NLT)

To which tribes was the land inside these boundaries allotted?

Moses commanded the children of Israel, saying, “This is the land which you shall inherit by lot, which Yahweh has commanded to give to the nine tribes, and to the half-tribe; for the tribe of the children of Reuben according to their fathers’ houses, the tribe of the children of Gad according to their fathers’ houses, and the half-tribe of Manasseh have received their inheritance. The two tribes and the half-tribe have received their inheritance beyond the Jordan at Jericho eastward, toward the sunrise.” (Numbers 34:13-15 WEB)

Who were the committee members designated by God to assign the land?

The Lord spoke to Moses: These are the names of the men who will assign the inheritance of the land: Eleazar the priest and Joshua, Nun’s son. You will also take one chief from each tribe to apportion the land. These are the names of the men: from the tribe of Judah, Caleb, Jephunneh’s son; from the tribe of the Simeonites, Shemuel, Ammihud’s son; from the tribe of Benjamin, Elidad, Chislon’s son; from the tribe of the Danites, a chief, Bukki, Jogli’s son; from Joseph’s descendants: of the tribe of the Manassites, a chief, Hanniel, Ephod’s son; and from the tribe of the Ephraimites, a chief, Kemuel, Shiphtan’s son; from the tribe of the Zebulunites, a chief, Elizaphan, Parnach’s son; from the tribe of the Issacharites, a chief, Paltiel, Azzan’s son; from the tribe of the Asherites, a chief, Ahihud, Shelomi’s son; from the tribe of the Naphtalites, a chief, Pedahel, Ammihud’s son. These are the ones whom the Lord commanded to assign the inheritance of the Israelites in the land of Canaan. (Numbers 34:16-29 CEB)

Is our inheritance in eternity based upon different criteria, not numbers, but according to our good works of faithfulness?

His master said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant. You have been faithful over a little; I will set you over much. Enter into the joy of your master.’ (Matthew 25:21, 23 ESV)

What of those who did no good works, who chose the lie that they only needed to believe like the demons, but did nothing with their faith?

And throw this good-for-nothing slave into the outer darkness. In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth. (Matthew 25:30 HCSB)

Was the promised land divided by lot among the remaining nine and a half tribes? Was there a committee member from each tribe? How will our inheritance in eternity be decided differently? You decide!