2). The Dividing Up Of The Land That Was Set Before Them (Numbers 33:50 to Numbers 34:29).
Having arrived at the plains of Moab with the land visible over the Jordan, a preliminary indication of what would be expected of them, and what they might expect to receive, was now provided for them. This will be followed in Numbers 34 by a brief description of the land and the names of those who will divide it out between them. The picture is being dangled in front of their eyes of the prize that lies before them.
Instruction Concerning Dividing Up The Land By Lot in the Future So That Each Man Has His Lot and For the Purifying of the Land (Numbers 33:50-56).
a Introductory words of Yahweh (Numbers 33:50-51).
b When they enter the land they are to drive out the inhabitants of the land (Numbers 33:50-52).
c They are to take possession of the land (33:53).
c They are to inherit the land by lot fairly, and each is to have his ‘lot' (Numbers 33:54).
b If they do not drive out the inhabitants of the land they will be a constant pain and trouble to them (Numbers 33:55).
a Final warning of Yahweh (Numbers 33:56).
There were two prongs to the requirements. One was that they were to receive the land by lot. It was theirs for the taking, and Yahweh Himself would dispose of it among them. And the second was that they must remember His word about driving out the Canaanites in their totality. The land must be purified from all the sin and idolatry that had been committed in it.
‘And Yahweh spoke to Moses in the plains of Moab by the Jordan at Jericho, saying,'
These are triumphant words. This time when Yahweh spoke to Moses it was on the very borders of the promised land.
“ Speak to the children of Israel, and say to them, When you pass over the Jordan into the land of Canaan, then you shall drive out all the inhabitants of the land from before you, and destroy all their figured stones, and destroy all their molten images, and demolish all their high places.”
Their solemn duty on possessing the land is again stressed. They must drive out all the inhabitants of the land, and must destroy all tokens of idolatry and places for their worship (compare Numbers 32:21; Exodus 23:24-33; Exodus 34:10-14; Deuteronomy 7:2; Deuteronomy 7:5 and often). The land had to be cleansed by the driving out or destruction of all that offended Yahweh, for the iniquity of these nations had now reached overflowing (compare Genesis 15:16).
“ And you shall take possession of the land, and dwell in it; for I have given to you the land that you might possess it.”
And on the positive side they themselves were to possess it and dwell in it, to live in its cities and farm its fields. For Yahweh was giving it to them for this purpose. This was the dream for which they would fight.
“ And you shall inherit the land by lot according to your families; to the more you shall give the more inheritance, and to the fewer you shall give the less inheritance. Wherever the lot falls to any man, that shall be his; according to the tribes of your fathers shall you inherit.”
And when they did inherit the land it was to be by lot, which would indicate Yahweh's will in its disposal, and they were to do it by and in accordance with their clans. The many would receive much, the fewer less. This was their inheritance from Yahweh. All was to be by lot and not by man's devising. Each man would receive what the lot indicated. And all would receive within their tribes, and dependent on their size.
“ But if you will not drive out the inhabitants of the land from before you, then will those whom you allow to remain of them be as pricks in your eyes, and as thorns in your sides, and they will vex you in the land in which you dwell.”
But if they failed to drive out the inhabitants of the land, those inhabitants would remain, ever to be to them a sore in their eyes, thorns in their sides, a vexation. (compare Joshua 23:12-13; Judges 2:3; Psalms 106:34; Psalms 106:36). It would permanently mar the enjoyment of their dwelling in the land.
Note the vivid picture. They would be well aware from their days of wandering of the prickly bushes that could tear at the eyes, and the thorns that could pierce their sides. This was not something that they would want to find in the new land.
“ And it will come about, that, as I thought to do to them, so will I do to you.”
And even more, if they neglect to purify the land from idolatry Yahweh Himself will do to Israel what He had thought to do to those nations. They would come to be in such a state that He would drive them out, and destroy their places of worship. And they would have brought it all on themselves. This is the basis of all the warnings and prophecies elsewhere, see especially Leviticus 26:14-39; Deuteronomy 28:15-68.
There is a reminder here for us that as we too go forward with God we must remove from our lives all that could hinder our forward march, so that we might please Him Who has chosen us to be soldiers (2 Timothy 2:4-5). We too must set aside every weight and the sin which does so easily beset us (Hebrews 12:1). We too must avoid what attacks the eye (Matthew 5:29; Matthew 6:23; Matthew 18:9) and the thorns that seek to tear at us (1 Timothy 6:9)