Numbers – Chapter 34

Old Testament • 29 Verses

Chapter Summary

Chapter 34 of Numbers begins: "And the Lord spoke to Moses, saying:" The chapter centers on Moses, Manasses and Eleazar. Across its 29 verses, two threads run through the text: family and covenant relationships and sin and divine judgment. Taken as a whole, the chapter forms one movement in the account, preparing what follows and completing what came before.

1And the Lord spoke to Moses, saying:

2Command the children of Israel, and thou shalt say to them: When you are entered into the land of Chanaan, and it shall be fallen into your possession by lot, it shall be bounded by these limits:

3The south side shall begin from the wilderness of Sin, which is by Edom: and shall have the most salt sea for its furthest limits eastward:

4Which limits shall go round on the south side by the ascent of the Scorpion and so into Senna, and reach toward the south as far as Cadesbarne, from whence the frontiers shall go out to the town called Adar, and shall reach as far as Asemona.

5And the limits shall fetch a compass from Asemona to the torrent of Egypt, and shall end in the shore of the great sea.

6And the west side shall begin from the great sea, and the same shall be the end thereof.

7But toward the north side the borders shall begin from the great sea, reaching to the most high mountain,

8From which they shall come to Emath, as far as the borders of Sedada:

9And the limits shall go as far as Zephrona, and the village of Enan. These shall be the borders on the north side.

10From thence they shall mark out the grounds towards the east side from the village of Enan unto Sephama.

11And from Sephama the bounds shall go down to Rebla over against the fountain of Daphnis: from thence they shall come eastward to the sea of Cenereth,

12And shall reach as far as the Jordan, and at the last shall be closed in by the most salt sea. This shall be your land with its borders round about.

13And Moses commanded the children of Israel, saying: This shall be the land which you shall possess by lot, and which the Lord hath commanded to be given to the nine tribes, and to the half tribe.

14For the tribe of the children of Ruben by their families, and the tribe of the children of Gad according to the number of their kindreds, and half of the tribe of Manasses,

15That is, two tribes and a half, have received their portion beyond the Jordan over against Jericho at the east side.

16And the Lord said to Moses:

17These are the names of the men, that shall divide the land unto you: Eleazar the priest, and Josue the son of Nun,

18And one prince of every tribe,

19Whose names are these: Of the tribe of Juda, Caleb the son of Jephone.

20Of the tribe of Simeon, Samuel the son of Ammiud.

21Of the tribe of Benjamin, Elidad the son of Chaselon.

22Of the tribe of the children of Dan, Bocci the son of Jogli.

23Of the children of Joseph of the tribe of Manasses, Hanniel the son of Ephod.

24Of the tribe of Ephraim, Camuel the son of Sephtan.

25Of the tribe of Zabulon, Elisaphan the son of Pharnach.

26Of the tribe of Issachar, Phaltiel the prince, the son of Ozan.

27Of the tribe of Aser, Ahiud the son of Salomi.

28Of the tribe of Nephtali: Phedael the son of Ammiud.

29These are they Whom the Lord hath commanded to divide the land of Chanaan to the children of Israel.

Important Verses in Numbers 34

“And the Lord spoke to Moses, saying:”

Numbers 34:1

“And the limits shall fetch a compass from Asemona to the torrent of Egypt, and shall end in the shore of the great sea.”

Numbers 34:5

“And Moses commanded the children of Israel, saying: This shall be the land which you shall possess by lot, and which the Lord hath commanded to be given to the nine tribes, and to the half tribe.”

Numbers 34:13

“These are they Whom the Lord hath commanded to divide the land of Chanaan to the children of Israel. ”

Numbers 34:29

Historical Context

Numbers addresses israel on the threshold of the Promised Land, warned by the failures of the wilderness generation within the broader story of God's covenant people. Chapter 34 of 36 moves toward the climax of the book as earlier promises and conflicts converge. It is a genealogical record linking earlier promises to later generations with 29 verses in the Douay-Rheims translation. Moses, Manasses, Eleazar and Joseph appear at the center of the events recorded here. The chapter begins: "And the Lord spoke to Moses, saying:" The chapter ends with: "These are they Whom the Lord hath commanded to divide the land of Chanaan to the children of Israel. " The wider setting of Numbers is this: Numbers takes its name from the two censuses of Israel and covers nearly forty years of wandering between Sinai and the plains of Moab. The book's material reflects the era summarized as follows: Wilderness traditions of the 13th century BC; final form by the 5th century BC.

Who Wrote It

Traditionally attributed to Moses, with priestly editing

When It Was Written

Wilderness traditions of the 13th century BC; final form by the 5th century BC

Catholic Commentary

This chapter traces lines of descent that connect earlier promises to later figures in salvation history. A pivotal line is verse 1: "And the Lord spoke to Moses, saying:" The passage repeatedly touches on family and covenant relationships.

Catholic exegesis reads Numbers 34 within the unity of Scripture and Tradition. the Church sees Israel's journey as an image of our pilgrimage to heaven (CIC 2119). St. Irenaeus and other Fathers of the Church saw in texts like this a preparation for or reflection of Christ, the center of revelation (CIC 461).

Applied to the life of faith, the passage supports the Church's conviction that God guides His people through the desert. Whether read privately or heard in the liturgy, Numbers 34 calls for a response of faith, repentance, and charity.

Main Teachings

  • ✓The family is the first school of faith, where love, obedience, and forgiveness are learned.
  • ✓Sin has real consequences, but God's judgment always aims at conversion and restoration.

People in This Chapter

Moses3 mentionsManasses2 mentionsEleazar1 mentionJoseph1 mentionSamuel1 mention

Reflection for Today

When the Church proclaims Numbers Chapter 34 at Mass or in the Liturgy of the Hours, she treats this text as the living voice of God.

In the four senses of Scripture—literal, allegorical, moral, and anagogical—the Church finds rich meaning in Numbers Chapter 34. At the moral level, the unity of Scripture and the Magisterium challenges us to examine conscience and amend our lives (CIC 2466).

Entrust your meditation to Mary, who pondered God's Word in her heart. Through her intercession, may the message of the unity of Scripture and the Magisterium bear fruit in humility, courage, and charity this day.

💡Catholic Reflection • Church Teachings

Frequently Asked Questions

What is Numbers Chapter 34 about?

Numbers 34 contains 29 verses. It opens with "And the Lord spoke to Moses, saying:" and closes with "These are they Whom the Lord hath commanded to divide the land of Chanaan to the children of Israel. ". The book as a whole is narrative, census lists, and law.

What is a key verse in Numbers 34?

One of the most significant verses is verse 1: "And the Lord spoke to Moses, saying:" It is often cited in Catholic teaching and preaching.

Who appears in Numbers Chapter 34?

This chapter mentions Moses, Manasses, Eleazar, Joseph, Samuel.

Who wrote Numbers and when?

Traditionally attributed to Moses, with priestly editing. Wilderness traditions of the 13th century BC; final form by the 5th century BC.

Related Chapters

Deuteronomy 33Shares people and themes with this chapter1 Chronicles 7Shares people and themes with this chapterJoshua 14Shares people and themes with this chapter

Prayers Related to This Chapter

🙏Prayer for the Family🙏Novena to the Holy Family🙏Act of Contrition🙏Kyrie Eleison

📚 Continue Your Faith Journey

Deepen your understanding with these related articles

Bible & Faith

Trusting God's Plan: Lessons from Biblical Stories of Faith and

8 min readRead article
How to Pray

Hope Prayer: Catholic Faith Trust in God During Difficult Times

10 min readRead article
Catholic Living

Catholic Perseverance: Endurance in the Faith Journey

8 min readRead article
Explore All Articles