Numbers 34

Numbers 34:17 . These are the men that shall divide the land — Although the division of the land was to be made by lot, ( Numbers 34:13 ,) yet it was proper there should be some persons appointed to oversee this business, and to take care that there should be no fraud nor quarrels in the drawing of the lots. The management of it, therefore, is ordered to be in the hands of the high-priest, of the governor, or chief general, and a principal officer chosen out of each tribe, as its representative. Eleazar the priest — Was to preside in God’s name, to cast lots, to prevent contentions, to consult with God in cases of difficulty, and to see that the whole business was transacted in a solemn and religious manner.

Numbers 34:19 . Of the tribe of Judah — The tribes are not set down here in the same order that was observed at their first and second numbering, ( Numbers 1:5-7 ; Numbers 26:5 ,) but according to the situation in which they were afterward placed in the land of Canaan; as if Moses had foreseen what tribes should be next neighbours one to another. And as, when they encamped, they were placed according to their brotherhood, so, in inheriting the land, we see a similar order observed: Judah and Simeon, both sons of Leah, dwelt by one another: next, Benjamin of Rachel, and Dan of Rachel’s maid: Manasseh and Ephraim, both sons of Joseph, had the next place: Zebulon and Issachar, who dwelt next together, were both sons of Leah: and the last pair were Asher of Leah’s maid, and Naphtali of Rachel’s maid. Here, therefore, we have an evident proof of the wisdom of God’s providence, and of his peculiar care of his people.

(18) And ye shall take one prince of every tribe . . . — In addition to Eleazar the high priest, and Joshua the commander of the army, one chief man, or prince, was to be selected out of each of the ten tribes which were interested in the division, as at the first census one out of each tribe was associated with Moses and Aaron ( Numbers 1:4 ), and as was probably the case at the second census under Moses and Eleazar. (Comp. Numbers 27:2 .) Security was thus afforded for the equity and impartiality of the allotment; the position of the territory only, and not its dimensions, being determined by lot. With the exception of Caleb, the names of the princes selected for this purpose are not mentioned elsewhere.