« | Numbers 34 | » |
1 Then the Lord said to Moses,
2 "Tell the people of Israel, 'When you go into the land of Canaan, this is the land that will be given to you, all the land of Canaan.
3 Your south side will be from the Desert of Zin along the side of Edom. It will go east from the end of the Salt Sea.
4 Then the side of your land will turn from the south up to the pass of Akrabbim and on to Zin. Its end will be south of Kadesh-barnea. It will go to Hazaraddar and on to Azmon.
5 Then it will turn from Azmon to the river of Egypt, and will end at the sea.
6 'The west side of your land will be the shore of the Great Sea.
7 'Your north side will be from the Great Sea to Mount Hor.
8 And it will go from Mount Hor to the Lebohamath, and end at Zedad.
9 Then it will go to Ziphron and end at Hazerenan. This will be the north side.
10 'The east side of your land will be from Hazer-enan to Shepham,
11 then down from Shepham to Riblah on the east side of Ain. Then it will go down to the hill on the east side of the Sea of Chinnereth.
12 It will go down to the Jordan and end at the Salt Sea. This will be the sides all around your land.' "
13 Moses told the people of Israel, "This is the land you will receive by drawing names, which the Lord has said should be given to the nine and a half-family groups.
14 For the sons of Reuben have received their land by their fathers' houses. The sons of Gad have received theirs by their fathers' houses. And the half-family group of Manasseh has received their land.
15 The two and a half-family groups have received their land on the other side of the Jordan from Jericho, toward the east."
16 The Lord said to Moses,
17 "Eleazar the religious leader and Joshua the son of Nun are the men who will divide the land to be given to you.
18 And take one leader of every family group to divide the land among you.
19 These are the names of the men. Take Caleb the son of Jephunneh of the family group of Judah.
20 Take Samuel the son of Ammihud of the family group of the sons of Simeon.
21 Take Elidad the son of Chislon of the family group of Benjamin.
22 Take Bukki the son of Jogli as the leader of the family group of the sons of Dan.
23 Of the sons of Joseph, take Hanniel the son of Ephod as the leader of the family group of the sons of Manasseh.
24 Take Kemuel the son of Shiphtan as the leader of the family group of the sons of Ephraim.
25 Take Elizaphan the son of Parnach as the leader of the family group of the sons of Zebulun.
26 Take Paltiel the son of Azzan as the leader of the family group of the sons of Issachar.
27 Take Ahihud the son of Shelomi as the leader of the family group of the sons of Asher.
28 And take Pedahel the son of Ammihud as the leader of the family group of the sons of Naphtali."
29 These are the men whom the Lord told to divide the land among the people of Israel in the land of Canaan.
The New Life Version (NLV)
The New Life Version (NLV) is a unique English translation of the Bible designed to be exceptionally easy to read and understand. First published in 1969, the NLV was created by Gleason Ledyard, a missionary and linguist, to make the Scriptures accessible to people who have limited English proficiency or are new to the language. Ledyard’s aim was to provide a Bible that even those with minimal education could read and comprehend, thus opening the door for a wider audience to engage with the biblical texts.
A defining characteristic of the New Life Version is its use of a limited vocabulary of about 850 basic English words, along with some necessary theological terms. This restricted vocabulary ensures that the language remains simple and straightforward, making the text accessible to young readers, new Christians, and those for whom English is a second language. The translators also avoided idiomatic expressions and complex sentence structures, further enhancing clarity and understanding. This makes the NLV a particularly valuable resource for educational and missionary work.
The NLV also emphasizes faithfulness to the original texts, despite its simplified language. The translation aims to maintain the integrity and message of the original Hebrew, Aramaic, and Greek manuscripts. By carefully choosing words that accurately convey the meaning of the original texts while ensuring simplicity, the NLV provides a balance between accessibility and fidelity. Additionally, the NLV includes explanatory footnotes and cross-references that help readers understand the context and deeper meanings of the passages, making it a useful tool for both personal study and group teaching.
However, the New Life Version is not without its critics. Some scholars and traditionalists argue that the limited vocabulary and simplified language can lead to a loss of nuance and depth found in the original texts. They suggest that the NLV’s focus on simplicity may sometimes oversimplify complex theological concepts. Despite these criticisms, the New Life Version remains a valuable translation for its intended audience, offering a clear and approachable rendition of the Bible that helps a wide range of readers engage with the Scriptures and grow in their faith.