« | Numbers 34 | » |
1 Then the LORD spoke to Moses, saying,
2 "Command the children of Israel, and say to them: 'When you come into the land of Canaan, this [is] the land that shall fall to you as an inheritance -- the land of Canaan to its boundaries.
3 'Your southern border shall be from the Wilderness of Zin along the border of Edom; then your southern border shall extend eastward to the end of the Salt Sea;
4 'your border shall turn from the southern side of the Ascent of Akrabbim, continue to Zin, and be on the south of Kadesh Barnea; then it shall go on to Hazar Addar, and continue to Azmon;
5 'the border shall turn from Azmon to the Brook of Egypt, and it shall end at the Sea.
6 ' As for the western border, you shall have the Great Sea for a border; this shall be your western border.
7 ' And this shall be your northern border: From the Great Sea you shall mark out your [border] line to Mount Hor;
8 'from Mount Hor you shall mark out [your border] to the entrance of Hamath; then the direction of the border shall be toward Zedad;
9 'the border shall proceed to Ziphron, and it shall end at Hazar Enan. This shall be your northern border.
10 ' You shall mark out your eastern border from Hazar Enan to Shepham;
11 'the border shall go down from Shepham to Riblah on the east side of Ain; the border shall go down and reach to the eastern side of the Sea of Chinnereth;
12 'the border shall go down along the Jordan, and it shall end at the Salt Sea. This shall be your land with its surrounding boundaries.' "
13 Then Moses commanded the children of Israel, saying: "This [is] the land which you shall inherit by lot, which the LORD has commanded to give to the nine tribes and to the half-tribe.
14 "For the tribe of the children of Reuben according to the house of their fathers, and the tribe of the children of Gad according to the house of their fathers, have received [their inheritance;] and the half-tribe of Manasseh has received its inheritance.
15 "The two tribes and the half-tribe have received their inheritance on this side of the Jordan, [across from] Jericho eastward, toward the sunrise."
16 And the LORD spoke to Moses, saying,
17 "These [are] the names of the men who shall divide the land among you as an inheritance: Eleazar the priest and Joshua the son of Nun.
18 "And you shall take one leader of every tribe to divide the land for the inheritance.
19 "These [are] the names of the men: from the tribe of Judah, Caleb the son of Jephunneh;
20 "from the tribe of the children of Simeon, Shemuel the son of Ammihud;
21 "from the tribe of Benjamin, Elidad the son of Chislon;
22 "a leader from the tribe of the children of Dan, Bukki the son of Jogli;
23 "from the sons of Joseph: a leader from the tribe of the children of Manasseh, Hanniel the son of Ephod,
24 "and a leader from the tribe of the children of Ephraim, Kemuel the son of Shiphtan;
25 "a leader from the tribe of the children of Zebulun, Elizaphan the son of Parnach;
26 "a leader from the tribe of the children of Issachar, Paltiel the son of Azzan;
27 "a leader from the tribe of the children of Asher, Ahihud the son of Shelomi;
28 "and a leader from the tribe of the children of Naphtali, Pedahel the son of Ammihud."
29 These [are] the ones the LORD commanded to divide the inheritance among the children of Israel in the land of Canaan.
The New King James Version (NKJV)
The New King James Version (NKJV) is a modern translation of the Bible that seeks to preserve the stylistic and literary beauty of the original King James Version (KJV) while making it more accessible to contemporary readers. The project to create the NKJV began in 1975, spearheaded by Arthur Farstad and a team of over 130 scholars, theologians, and pastors. They aimed to maintain the traditional language and rhythm of the KJV while updating archaic terms and expressions to be more understandable for modern audiences. The translation was completed and published in 1982, offering a blend of reverence for the past and clarity for the present.
One of the defining features of the NKJV is its commitment to the Textus Receptus, the same Greek text underlying the New Testament of the KJV. This ensures a high degree of continuity between the two versions, making the NKJV familiar to those who have long cherished the KJV. However, the NKJV also considers findings from more recent scholarship and textual criticism, incorporating insights from the latest manuscripts and research. This approach helps to balance respect for the historical text with a recognition of the advancements in biblical studies.
The NKJV has been praised for its readability and poetic qualities, which make it suitable for both private study and public worship. Its translators worked diligently to preserve the lyrical and memorable phrasing of the KJV, which has deeply influenced English literature and religious practice. By modernizing the language without compromising the text’s inherent dignity and solemnity, the NKJV has become a popular choice among those who value both accuracy and elegance in their Bible reading.
Despite its strengths, the NKJV has faced criticism from some quarters. Critics argue that by adhering too closely to the Textus Receptus, it may not fully reflect the breadth of available manuscript evidence. Others feel that it may still be too archaic for some readers, especially those who are new to the Bible or who come from different linguistic backgrounds. Nonetheless, the NKJV remains a significant and respected translation, offering a bridge between the venerable tradition of the KJV and the needs of modern readers.