Day 33 Reading Schedule : Numbers 34-36, Deuteronomy 1-2

Numbers 34: The Borders of the Land of Canaan 

[Summary]

This chapter records the four borders of the land of Canaan that the Israelites would occupy and the chieftains of each tribe who were chosen to divide the land as an inheritance. The borders of the land that God had already shown through the covenant with Abraham were the River of Egypt to the south, the Mediterranean Sea to the west (verses 1-5), the Kingdom of Hamath to the north, and the Jordan River and the Salt Sea to the east (verses 6-12). Meanwhile, Moses gave the land east of the Jordan to Reuben, Gad, and the half-tribe of Manasseh and chose one chieftain from each tribe to divide the inheritance (verses 13-29). Among the chieftains chosen at this time, the only ones from the first generation of the Exodus were Caleb and Joshua, as God had said.

The text describes the process of drawing lots to determine the four borders of the land that the Israelites would occupy in Canaan and to determine the portions of each tribe in the land of Canaan. Now Israel was going through all the steps of dividing the territory they would occupy once they entered Canaan. The day when God's covenant to give them the Promised Land of Canaan would be fulfilled was drawing near.

Numbers 35: Cities of the Tribe of Levi and Cities of Refuge 

[Summary]

This chapter mentions the regulations regarding the cities assigned to the Levites who did not receive the land of Canaan as an inheritance and the cities of refuge for accidental murderers. God commanded that 48 cities be given to the Levites from each tribe, and six of them were to be cities of refuge (vv. 1-8). In these cities of refuge, murderers could stay to escape the vengeance of blood. However, a deliberate murderer would be put to death, and only an accidental murderer could stay (vv. 9-21). A murderer who took refuge in a city of refuge had to stay there until the death of the high priest before he could return home (vv. 22-34).

God, who had taught the Israelites about their portions in the battlefield, now speaks of the Levites’ portion in this chapter. In fact, the Levites had no designated territory because they had to have God as their portion. Here, the 42 cities and 6 cities of refuge are mentioned as places for the Levites to reside.

Numbers 36: Supplement to the Law of Female Inheritance 

[Overview]

This chapter is the last chapter of the Book of Numbers and discusses the land issue between tribes that arises when a lover who inherits an estate marries. In chapter 27, God allows daughters to inherit their father’s estate. Then, the chieftain of Gilead petitions Moses, concerned that the daughters who received Zelophehad’s estate would marry other tribes and the land would be transferred to other tribes (verses 1-4). Moses prevented the movement of land between tribes by ordering Zelophehad’s daughters to marry within their own clans according to God’s command (verses 5-12). He emphasizes that all these regulations were the regulations that God commanded Moses in the Plains of Moab and concludes the Book of Numbers (verse 13).

Having talked about the portions of the 11 tribes of Israel and the tribe of Levi, Moses now talks about the land ownership of female heirs in this chapter. That is, in the text, Moses once again clearly confirms the issue of the division of territory and inheritance of the daughters of Zelophehad. And in preparation for the problem that could arise in this case, namely, when the female heir marries and her share passes to her husband's tribe, he also provides correct rules for the marriage of the female heir.

Deuteronomy 1: A Review of God’s Salvation Work 

[Overview]

This chapter records Moses’ sermons that reflect on Israel’s 40 years of wilderness life. Moses, who learned of his imminent death through God, wanted to remind the Israelites, who were mostly the first generation of the Exodus and the second generation, of their turbulent journey in the wilderness and to urge them to obey God’s words. Moses’s review, which began at Mount Horeb, talks about God’s command to conquer Canaan and the administrative organization he established to effectively govern the people (vv. 1-18). However, by recalling the incident of the spies that occurred just before entering Canaan, which resulted in God’s judgment and the ban on the first generation of the Exodus from entering Canaan, and the defeat by the Amorites when they tried to enter in violation of God’s ban (vv. 19-46), he seriously warns against rebellion against God.

The Hebrew title for Deuteronomy is 'Hadevarim', meaning 'the words'. The English name 'Deuteronomy' means 'the second law', which is the farewell speech that Moses left to the new generation before his death. It means that the law was given to the next generation, not the generation that received it directly. Moses delivered and recorded these words in the land of Moab on the other side of the Jordan.

Deuteronomy 2: A Review of God’s Faithfulness and History 

[Overview]

This chapter records Moses’ review of his 40-year wilderness life following the previous chapter. However, unlike Deuteronomy 1, which records the years of suffering and rebellion that Israel experienced, this chapter records the process of carrying out a full-scale war of conquest to enter Canaan. Moses’ continued review speaks of God’s command to establish peace with the Edomites, Moabites, and Ammonites who lived east of the Jordan (verses 1-23). ​​However, God commanded the annihilation of Nesbon, which blocked the Israelites’ path to Canaan and refused to allow them to do so, and Moses and the Israelites attacked Heshbon and annihilated everything (verses 24-37).

After the incident of rebellion against God at Kadesh Barnea, the Israelites began a long 38-year wandering in the wilderness. Moses reminisces about his life, and also writes about the Edomites, Moabites, and Ammonites whom he was not permitted to conquer, and about the conquest of Sihon, king of Heshbon, east of the Jordan. Through this long reminiscence, Moses is trying to ensure that the new generation who lived through the wilderness period has a faith that is not disconnected from the history of the past.