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Numbers 34:6

Old Testament Law (Torah) ASV (1901)

What does Numbers 34:6 say?

The American Standard Version records this verse as: “And for the western border, ye shall have the great sea and the border [thereof]: this shall be your west border.” Read the surrounding verses and the named sources below before drawing broader conclusions.

The verse

And for the western border, ye shall have the great sea and the border [thereof]: this shall be your west border.
Numbers 34:6 — American Standard Version

Context — Numbers 34

American Standard Version (1901) — public domain. Click any verse for its study page.
3then your south quarter shall be from the wilderness of Zin along by the side of Edom, and your south border shall be from the end of the Salt Sea eastward;
4and your border shall turn about southward of the ascent of Akrabbim, and pass along to Zin; and the goings out thereof shall be southward of Kadesh-barnea; and it shall go forth to Hazar-addar, and pass along to Azmon;
5and the border shall turn about from Azmon unto the brook of Egypt, and the goings out thereof shall be at the sea.
6And for the western border, ye shall have the great sea and the border [thereof]: this shall be your west border.
7And this shall be your north border: from the great sea ye shall mark out for you mount Hor;
8from mount Hor ye shall mark out unto the entrance of Hamath; and the goings out of the border shall be at Zedad;
9and the border shall go forth to Ziphron, and the goings out thereof shall be at Hazar-enan: this shall be your north border.
← Numbers 34:5Numbers 34:7 →
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What do historical commentaries say?

John Gill's Exposition
John Gill (1697–1771) · Exposition of the Old and New Testament · 18th-century historical commentary
“And as for the western border, etc.] Of the land of Canaan: you shall even have the great sea for a border; and no other, meaning the Mediterranean sea, which lies west of the land of Judea; Aben Ezra calls it the Spanish sea: it has the name of “great”, in comparison of some in the land of Canaan, as the salt sea, and the sea of Tiberias: this shall be your west border; namely, the Mediterranean sea.”
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Jamieson, Fausset & Brown
Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown · Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible · 19th-century historical commentary
“the western border--There is no uncertainty about this boundary, as it is universally allowed to be the Mediterranean, which is called "the great sea" in comparison with the small inland seas or lakes known to the Hebrews.”
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Wesley's Explanatory Notes
John Wesley (1703–1791) · Explanatory Notes upon the New Testament and Old Testament notes · 18th-century historical commentary
“The great sea - This midland sea from the south to the north, so far as it runs parallel with mount Libanus. Numbers 34:7”
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Tyndale Open Study Notes
Tyndale House Publishers · Tyndale Open Study Notes · Modern study notes
“34:6-9 The natural western boundary of Canaan was the Mediterranean coast (34:6). The northern boundary began at the Mediterranean and ran eastward to Mount Hor somewhere in the Lebanon range (not the place of Aaron’s death, 20:22-29). • Lebo-hamath: Cp. 13:21; 1 Kgs 8:65; Amos 6:14.”
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Treasury of Scriptural Knowledge
R. A. Torrey and contributors · The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge · Cross-reference reference work
“Jos 1:4, Jos 9:1, Jos 15:12, Jos 15:47, Jos 23:4; Eze 47:10, Eze 47:15, Eze 47:20 Numbers 34:7”
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Keil & Delitzsch
C. F. Keil & F. Delitzsch · Commentary on the Old Testament · 19th-century historical commentary
“The western boundary was to be "the great sea and its territory," i.e., the Mediterranean Sea with its territory or coast (cf. Deu 3:16-17; Jos 13:23, Jos 13:27; Jos 15:47). Numbers 34:7”
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Related study paths

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Sources and verification