where it will turn from AzmonAzmon is a location mentioned in the delineation of the southern border of the Promised Land. It is believed to be near the southwestern edge of Canaan. The turning from Azmon signifies a change in direction, indicating a boundary line. This reflects the importance of land boundaries in ancient Israel, as land was a divine inheritance. The precise location of Azmon is uncertain today, but it is thought to be near the modern-day border between Israel and Egypt. This turning point emphasizes the meticulous care God took in defining the land for His people, underscoring the theme of divine order and provision.
join the Brook of Egypt
The Brook of Egypt, often identified with Wadi El-Arish, served as a natural boundary between Egypt and Canaan. This brook is not the Nile but a smaller seasonal stream that marked the southwestern border of the land promised to the Israelites. The mention of this brook highlights the geographical and political boundaries that were significant in the ancient Near East. It also serves as a reminder of God's promise to Abraham regarding the extent of the land (Genesis 15:18). The boundary at the Brook of Egypt symbolizes the separation from Egypt, a place of bondage, and the entrance into a land of promise and freedom.
and end at the Sea
The "Sea" referred to here is the Mediterranean Sea, known in biblical times as the Great Sea. This western boundary of the Promised Land provided access to maritime trade routes and cultural exchanges, which were crucial for the economic and cultural development of Israel. The sea also represents the vastness and abundance of God's provision. In a broader biblical context, the sea can symbolize chaos and the unknown, yet here it marks the boundary of a land of order and promise. The ending at the sea signifies the completion of the territorial promise, reflecting God's faithfulness in fulfilling His covenant with Israel.
Persons / Places / Events
1.
AzmonA location mentioned as part of the southern boundary of the land of Canaan. It is a point of transition in the boundary line.
2.
Brook of EgyptOften identified with the Wadi el-Arish, it serves as a natural boundary marker between the land of Canaan and Egypt.
3.
The SeaRefers to the Mediterranean Sea, which is the western boundary of the Promised Land.
4.
The IsraelitesThe people to whom God is giving the land, as part of His covenant promise to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.
5.
MosesThe leader of the Israelites who is receiving these instructions from God regarding the boundaries of the Promised Land.
Teaching Points
God's Faithfulness in PromisesGod's detailed description of the land's boundaries to Moses underscores His faithfulness in fulfilling His promises to the patriarchs. Believers can trust in God's promises for their lives, knowing He is faithful to His word.
The Importance of BoundariesJust as God set physical boundaries for the Israelites, He sets spiritual and moral boundaries for His people today. Understanding and respecting these boundaries leads to a life of blessing and protection.
The Role of Leadership in God's PlanMoses' role in communicating God's instructions highlights the importance of godly leadership. Leaders are called to faithfully convey God's word and guide His people according to His will.
The Significance of ObedienceThe Israelites' success in possessing the land depended on their obedience to God's instructions. Similarly, our spiritual success is tied to our obedience to God's commands.
Bible Study Questions and Answers
1.What is the meaning of Numbers 34:5?
2.How does Numbers 34:5 define the southern border of the Promised Land?
3.What significance does the "Brook of Egypt" hold in biblical history and prophecy?
4.How can understanding biblical boundaries guide our spiritual and moral decisions today?
5.What connections exist between Numbers 34:5 and God's covenant promises to Israel?
6.How can we apply the concept of divine boundaries to our personal lives?
7.What is the significance of the Wadi of Egypt in Numbers 34:5 for Israel's boundaries?
8.How does Numbers 34:5 reflect God's promise to the Israelites regarding their land?
9.Why is the southern boundary described in Numbers 34:5 important for understanding Israel's territorial claims?
10.What are the top 10 Lessons from Numbers 34?
11.Do the territorial descriptions in Joshua 15:1-12 conflict with other biblical texts or known ancient boundaries, suggesting an editorial or historical inconsistency?
12.Should oaths be taken? (Numbers 30:2 vs. Matthew 5:34)
13.Numbers 20:1 - Why is Miriam's death recorded so briefly, with no details about her mourning or burial, unlike other prominent figures?
14.Who was Balak in the Bible?What Does Numbers 34:5 Mean
Turn from AzmonNumbers 34:5 begins, “it will turn from Azmon…”.
• Azmon served as the last inland marker on the southern border after the line had run westward from Mount Hor (Numbers 34:4).
• The verb “turn” signals a decisive change in direction, establishing a precise, literal corner of the land. Israel would not wander vaguely here; the boundary turned exactly at Azmon.
• Joshua later echoes this corner in describing Judah’s territory: “The border passed toward Azmon and went out to the Brook of Egypt” (Joshua 15:4).
• By fixing this turning point, God underscored His orderly allotment of the inheritance (Deuteronomy 32:8;Acts 17:26).
Join the Brook of EgyptNext the text says the border will “join the Brook of Egypt.”
• The Brook (or “Wadi”) of Egypt is a seasonal riverbed marking the southwestern edge of Canaan. It formed a natural, visible frontier—much like the Jordan on the east (Numbers 34:12).
• Isaiah refers to this same feature when prophesying Israel’s future regathering: “from the Brook of Egypt to the Euphrates” (Isaiah 27:12).
• Solomon celebrated festivals “from Lebo-hamath to the Brook of Egypt” (1 Kings 8:65), confirming that later generations understood the brook as Israel’s true southern line.
• A real watercourse—however dry at times—made the boundary unmistakable and protected Israel from encroachment (Exodus 23:31).
End at the SeaFinally, the border will “end at the Sea.”
• This “Sea” is the Mediterranean, repeatedly called “the Great Sea” in Scripture (Joshua 1:4;Ezekiel 47:20).
• By terminating the southern line at the shoreline, God closed the boundary with a vast, immovable landmark.
• The sea provided both defense and opportunity: a barrier against invasion and a gateway for trade, foreshadowing Solomon’s maritime ventures (2 Chronicles 9:21).
• Thus the southern border ran from the inland corner at Azmon, followed the Brook of Egypt westward, and met the Mediterranean—clear, literal, and enduring.
summaryNumbers 34:5 traces three tangible points—Azmon, the Brook of Egypt, and the Mediterranean—forming the southwestern edge of Israel’s inheritance. Each marker affirms God’s precise, trustworthy promise of land: a definite turn, a visible watercourse, and a mighty sea, all underscoring His faithful provision and orderly plan for His people.
(5)
And the border shall fetch a compass . . . --Although the exact spots of some of the places which determined the southern border have not been positively ascertained, there seems, on the whole, very little doubt that the boundary line ran along the valleys which form a natural division between the cultivated land and the desert, from the Arabah on the east to the Mediterranean on the west, the Brook of Egypt--
i.e.,the Wady-el-Arish--forming the western boundary until it reached the sea.
Verse 5. -
The river of Egypt, or
"brook (
נַחַל) of Egypt." Septuagint,
χειμά ῤουνΑἰγύπτου. It was a winter torrent which drained the greater part of the western half of the northern desert of the Sinaitic peninsula. It was, however, only in its lower course, where a single channel receives the intermittent outflow of many wadys, that it was known as the "brook of Egypt," because it formed the well-marked boundary between Egypt and Canaan (cf.
2 Chronicles 7:8, and
Isaiah 27:12, where the Septuagint has
ἕως Ρινοκορούρων, from the name of the frontier fort, Rhinocorura, afterwards built there). So far as we are able to follow the line drawn in these verses, it would appear to have held a course somewhat to the south of west for about half its length, then to have made a southerly deflection to Kadesh, and from thence to have struck north-west until it reached the sea, almost in the same latitude as the point from which it started.
Parallel Commentaries ...
Hebrew
where [it]הַגְּב֛וּל(hag·gə·ḇūl)Article | Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 1366:A cord, a boundary, the territory inclosedwill turnוְנָסַ֧ב(wə·nā·saḇ)Conjunctive waw | Verb - Nifal - Conjunctive perfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 5437:To turn about, go around, surroundfrom Azmon,מֵעַצְמ֖וֹן(mê·‘aṣ·mō·wn)Preposition-m | Noun - proper - feminine singular
Strong's 6111:Azmon -- a place on the southern border of Canaanjoin the Brookנַ֣חְלָה(naḥ·lāh)Noun - masculine singular | third person feminine singular
Strong's 5158:A stream, a winter torrent, a, valley, a shaftof Egypt,מִצְרָ֑יִם(miṣ·rā·yim)Noun - proper - feminine singular
Strong's 4714:Egypt -- a son of Ham, also his descendants and their country in Northwest Africaand endוְהָי֥וּ(wə·hā·yū)Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Conjunctive perfect - third person common plural
Strong's 1961:To fall out, come to pass, become, beat the Sea.הַיָּֽמָּה׃(hay·yām·māh)Article | Noun - masculine singular | third person feminine singular
Strong's 3220:A sea, the Mediterranean Sea, large river, an artifical basin
Links
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OT Law: Numbers 34:5 And the border shall turn about (Nu Num.) 
