Boundaries of the Land

34 The Lord told Moses, ² “Issue these orders to the Israelis: ‘You’re about to enter the land of Canaan. This territory has been apportioned to you as your inheritance: the entire land of Canaan, all the way to its borders.’”

The Southern Border of Israel

³ “‘To your south is the Wilderness of Zin, bordering Edom. Your southern border is to extend east toward the far end of the Dead^[a] Sea, ⁴ then it is to turn southward to the ascent of Akrabbim, cross Zin, and then run south of Kadesh-barnea and proceed from there to Hazar-addar and across to Azmon. ⁵ Then the border is to turn from Azmon toward the wadi^[b] of Egypt and from there to the Mediterranean^[c] Sea.’”

The Western Border of Israel

⁶ “‘The western^[d] border is to be the Mediterranean^[e] Sea. This is to be the western border.’”

The Northern Border of Israel

⁷ “‘Your northern border is to extend from the Mediterranean Sea to Mount Hor. ⁸ From Mount Hor, you are to mark out the entrance to Hammath, with the border running through Zedad, ⁹ then through Ziphron, and then to Hazar-enan. This is to be the northern border.’”

The Eastern Border of Israel

¹⁰ “‘You are to mark the border on the east from Hazar-enan to Shepham. ¹¹ The border is then to extend from Shepham to Riblah, on the east side of Ain, then to the Sea of Chinnereth^[f] on the east. ¹² The border is to continue along the Jordan River all the way to the Dead Sea. This is to be your land, as measured by its boundaries.’”

Assigning Tribal Responsibilities

¹³ Moses commanded the Israelis, “You are to inherit this land by lot, just as the Lord commanded to give it to the remaining^[g] nine and a half tribes. ¹⁴ The tribes of Reuben, Gad, and half the tribe of Manasseh, as defined by their ancestral houses, have received their inheritance. ¹⁵ These two and a half tribes received their inheritance this side of the Jordan River, east of Jericho, facing the rising sun.”

¹⁶ Then the Lord told Moses, ¹⁷ “These are the names of the men who are to divide the land for your inheritance: Eleazar the priest and Nun’s son Joshua. ¹⁸ You are to appoint a leader from each tribe to divide the land for inheritance. ¹⁹ These are the names of the men: Appoint Jephunneh’s son Caleb from the tribe of Judah, ²⁰ Ammihud’s son Shemuel from the tribe of Simeon, ²¹ Chislon’s son Elidad from the tribe of Benjamin, ²² and Jogli’s son Bukki is to be leader of the tribe of Dan. ²³ From the tribe of Joseph, you are to appoint Ephod’s son Hanniel to be leader of the half tribe of Manasseh, ²⁴ Shiphtan’s son Kemuel to be leader of the half tribe of Ephraim, ²⁵ Parnach’s son Elizaphan to be leader of the tribe of Zebulun, ²⁶ Azzan’s son Paltiel to be leader of the tribe of Issachar, ²⁷ Shelomi’s son Ahihud to be leader of the tribe of Asher, ²⁸ and Ammihud’s son Pedahel to be leader of the tribe of Naphtali.”

²⁹ These are the ones whom the Lord commanded to divide the inheritance of the Israelis in the land of Canaan.