John Gill's Bible Commentary Ver. 2. Command the children of Israel, and say unto them , etc.] Not to fix the borders, and settle the boundaries of the land, for that is done by the Lord himself, who has determined the times before appointed, and the bounds of men’s habitations, and particularly of Israel, (see Deuteronomy 32:8), but to observe and take notice of the limits he had fixed, that they might know how far they were to go on every side, whom they were to drive out, and what they were to divide and inherit, and see what was their right, and preserve it from the encroachments of their neighbours, as well as observe the goodness of God unto them, in thus providing for them: when ye come into the land of Canaan ; to take possession of it by virtue of a grant of it to them: this is the land that shall fall unto you for an inheritance ; it is said to “fall”, because it was divided by lot, each tribe having such a part of it assigned to them, according to the lot that came up unto them: even the land of Canaan , with the coasts thereof; or according to its borders, which are as follow.
Matthew Henry Commentary
Verses 1-15 - Canaan was of small extent; as it is here bounded, it is but about 16 miles in length, and about 50 in breadth; yet this was the countr promised to the father of the faithful, and the possession of the see of Israel. This was that little spot of ground, in which alone, for many ages, God was known. This was the vineyard of the Lord, the garde enclosed; but as it is with gardens and vineyards, the narrowness of the space was made up by the fruitfulness of the soil. Though the eart is the Lord's, and the fulness thereof, yet few know him, and serv him; but those few are happy, because fruitful to God. Also, see ho little a share of the world God gives to his own people. Those who have their portion in heaven, have reason to be content with a smal pittance of this earth. Yet a little that a righteous man has, havin it from the love of God, and with his blessing, is far better and mor comfortable than the riches of many wicked. (Nu 34:16-29)
Original Hebrew צו6680 את853 בני1121 ישׂראל3478 ואמרת559 אלהם413 כי3588 אתם859 באים935 אל413 הארץ776 כנען3667 זאת2063 הארץ776 אשׁר834 תפל5307 לכם בנחלה5159 ארץ776 כנען3667 לגבלתיה׃1367
