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Joshua 1:4
From the wilderness and this Lebanon even unto the great river, the river Euphrates, all the land of the Hittites, and unto the great sea toward the going down of the sun, shall be your coast.

Joshua 9:1
And it came to pass, when all the kings whichwere on this side Jordan, in the hills, and in the valleys, and in all the coasts of the great sea over against Lebanon, the Hittite, and the Amorite, the Canaanite, the Perizzite, the Hivite, and the Jebusite, heardthereof;

Joshua 15:12,47
And the west borderwas to the great sea, and the coastthereof. Thisis the coast of the children of Judah round about according to their families…

will be the coastline of the Great Sea;
The "Great Sea" refers to the Mediterranean Sea, a major geographical landmark in the ancient Near East. This sea was crucial for trade and cultural exchange, influencing the development of civilizations around its shores. The Mediterranean's inclusion as a border highlights the strategic and economic advantages provided to Israel. Historically, the sea served as a natural defense barrier and a means of connecting with other nations, as seen in the trade activities of King Solomon (1 Kings 10:22).

this will be your boundary on the west.
The western boundary set by the Mediterranean Sea emphasizes the completeness of God's promise to Israel, providing them with a land that is both fertile and defensible. This boundary also signifies the extent of the land that the Israelites were to inhabit, as initially promised to Abraham. The setting of boundaries is a recurring theme in Scripture, reflecting God's sovereignty and the establishment of His people in a specific territory, as seen inDeuteronomy 32:8, where God assigns nations their inheritance.

God establishes a definite western edge for Israel, demonstrating that His promises are concrete, not vague (Exodus 23:31: “I will set your borders from the Red Sea to the Sea of the Philistines…”).

• A border clarifies identity—Israel was to be distinct from surrounding nations (Leviticus 20:24).

• A border protects—clear lines limit conflict and encourage stewardship (Deuteronomy 32:8).

• A border reminds—God alone assigns territory, fulfilling His covenant with Abraham (Genesis 15:18).

Rather than an arbitrary line, the LORD chooses a natural feature everyone can see.

• Coasts are unmistakable; no surveyor’s tools are needed.

• Coasts are unchanging landmarks, testifying to God’s unchanging word (Matthew 5:18).

• Coasts invite blessing: maritime trade and provision would flow right to Israel’s doorstep (Isaiah 60:5).

The “Great Sea” refers to the Mediterranean, the largest body of water touching the land promised to Israel (Joshua 15:12).

• Its greatness signals abundance—fish, commerce, and strategic influence (1 Kings 5:9).

• Its vastness pictures God’s limitless faithfulness; as the waves keep coming, so does His covenant love (Psalm 89:34).

• Its western horizon teaches Israel to lift its eyes beyond itself, anticipating blessing to “all families of the earth” (Genesis 12:3).

The verse ends by repeating the point for emphasis, underscoring that no further negotiation or expansion westward was needed (Deuteronomy 2:4–5).

• The border is fixed—Israel must occupy, not overreach (Proverbs 22:28).

• The border is sufficient—contentment flows from trusting God’s allotment (Psalm 16:6).

• The border is still instructive—future prophets use the same western limit when describing the restored land (Ezekiel 47:20).

Numbers 34:6 literally marks Israel’s western frontier along the Mediterranean. In doing so, the LORD shows Himself as the faithful boundary-setter who:

• Provides clear identity and security for His people.

• Uses creation itself as an enduring testimony to His unchanging word.

• Supplies opportunity and blessing through the resources of the Great Sea.

• Calls His people to contentment and obedience within the limits He wisely chooses.