Numbers 34:6-7

The Western Border of the Land

34:6 “‘And for a western border ¹  you will have the Great Sea. ²  This will be your western border.

The Northern Border of the Land

34:7 “‘And this will be your northern border: From the Great Sea you will draw a line to Mount Hor;

Numbers 11:22

11:22 Would they have enough if the flocks and herds were slaughtered for them? If all the fish of the sea were caught for them, would they have enough?”

Numbers 13:29

13:29 The Amalekites live in the land of the Negev; the Hittites, Jebusites, and Amorites live in the hill country; and the Canaanites live by the sea and along the banks ³  of the Jordan.” ⁴ 

Numbers 33:8

33:8 They traveled from Pi-hahiroth, ⁵  and passed through the middle of the sea into the wilderness, and went three days’ journey in the wilderness of Etham, and camped in Marah.

Numbers 11:31

Provision of Quail

11:31 Now a wind ⁶  went out ⁷  from the Lord and brought quail ⁸  from the sea, and let them fall ⁹  near the camp, about a day’s journey on this side, and about a day’s journey on the other side, all around the camp, and about three feet ¹⁰  high on the surface of the ground.

[34:6]  ¹ tn The word for west is simply “sea,” because the sea is west of Israel.

[34:6]  ² sn That is, the Mediterranean Sea (also in the following verse).

[13:29]  ³ tn Heb “by the side [hand] of.”

[13:29]  ⁴ sn For more discussion on these people groups, see D. J. Wiseman, ed., Peoples of Old Testament Times.

[33:8]  ⁵ tc So many medieval Hebrew manuscripts, Smr, Syriac, and Latin Vulgate. Other witnesses have “from before Hahiroth.”

[11:31]  ⁷ sn The irony in this chapter is expressed in part by the use of the word רוּחַ (ruakh). In the last episode it clearly meant the Spirit of the Lord that empowered the men for their spiritual service. But here the word is “wind.” Both the spiritual service and the judgment come from God.

[11:31]  ⁸ tn The verb means “burst forth” or “sprang up.” See the ways it is used in Gen 33:12, Judg 16:3, 14; Isa 33:20.

[11:31]  ⁹ sn The “quail” ordinarily cross the Sinai at various times of the year, but what is described here is not the natural phenomenon. Biblical scholars looking for natural explanations usually note that these birds fly at a low height and can be swatted down easily. But the description here is more of a supernatural supply and provision. See J. Gray, “The Desert Sojourn of the Hebrews and the Sinai Horeb Tradition,” VT 4 (1954): 148-54.

[11:31]  ¹⁰ tn Or “left them fluttering.”

[11:31]  ¹¹ tn Heb “two cubits.” The standard cubit in the OT is assumed by most authorities to be about eighteen inches (45 cm) in length.