I have not interrupted the Reader by dividing these verses, because I would have him first read over attentively the whole account of the extent of the promised land; and then look over it again, to remark with me the striking observations which arise out of it, considered altogether. If the Reader considers the extent of it, he will discover that it was not in length above 160 miles; and the breadth of it not more than 50. But this little spot, compared to the whole earth, was what the LORD was pleased peculiarly to mark for his people; and to make it the glory of all lands; and consider that such at this hour is the gospel church of JESUS. It is of small extent, and bounded around, as Canaan was, by the idolatrous and profane world. And is there not a striking memorial arising out of this view of Canaan to the spiritual Reader, from the several boundaries of it? The south quarter, bounded by the wilderness of Zin, that memorable wilderness, where the LORD'S mercies, and Israel's ingratitude and rebellion, had been so often marked. The salt sea eastward, did it not remind the people of GOD'S judgments on Sodom and Gomorrah, when Lot was sent out of the overthrow? And was it possible for Israel to look towards Kadesh-barnea, and Mount Keir, to the river of Egypt, to the river of Jordan, and to the great sea westward, without having all the memorials of the LORD'S mercies in these histories again and again brought fresh unto them? Pause, Reader, while beholding these things as the memorials of Israel, and see whether there are not, in your own life, similar tokens, as so many monuments, all the way along, in which the LORD thy GOD hath brought thee these many years through the wilderness, to humble thee and to prove thee! Oh! it is sweet and precious thus to look back, and look around, and view the tokens of JESUS' love. Look at Jacob's conduct, and the prophets, in these instances, and see my soul whether thou canst not find grace to follow their examples. Genesis 28:18; 1 Samuel 7:12.
Numbers 34:2-12
2 Command the children of Israel, and say unto them, When ye come into the land of Canaan; (this is the land that shall fall unto you for an inheritance, even the land of Canaan with the coasts thereof:)
3 Then your south quarter shall be from the wilderness of Zin along by the coast of Edom, and your south border shall be the outmost coast of the salt sea eastward:
4 And your border shall turn from the south to the ascent of Akrabbim, and pass on to Zin: and the going forth thereof shall be from the south to Kadeshbarnea, and shall go on to Hazaraddar, and pass on to Azmon:
5 And the border shall fetch a compass from Azmon unto the river of Egypt, and the goings out of it shall be at the sea.
6 And as for the western border, ye shall even have the great sea for a border: this shall be your west border.
7 And this shall be your north border: from the great sea ye shall point out for you mount Hor:
8 From mount Hor ye shall point out your border unto the entrance of Hamath; and the goings forth of the border shall be to Zedad:
9 And the border shall go on to Ziphron, and the goings out of it shall be at Hazarenan: this shall be your north border.
10 And ye shall point out your east border from Hazarenan to Shepham:
11 And the coast shall go down from Shepham to Riblah, on the east side of Ain; and the border shall descend, and shall reach unto the side of the seaa of Chinnereth eastward:
12 And the border shall go down to Jordan, and the goings out of it shall be at the salt sea: this shall be your land with the coasts thereof round about.