:13 The land was to be inherited 'by lot' that is it was not left to the people to vie for the best piece of the land.

Of the twelve princes appointed by God to divide the land, only Caleb of Judah remains of the twelve spies, 38 years previously. God kept His word in Num 14:30.

Some have suggested that the Promised Land includes the Sinai and part of Egypt.  But clearly these boundaries do not go south into the Sinai. Besides, it is a preposterous idea to suggest that the land of slavery and idolatry could be part of the Promised Land. This would mean that the Children of Israel were in the Promised Land even before they were liberated. 

Israel held the Sinai Peninsula but gave it back to Egypt even though the Israelis had built towns there.  The settlers were upset with the government that they had to move out and that their towns had to be destroyed.  However, the rabbis had no problem with it as they stated that the Sinai was not part of the Promised Land and Israel should not occupy it.

34:13    Remember that Moses is planning for the time when Israel would be in the land even thugh he knew that he would not go in himself. Such was his commitment that he continued to seek the good of the people even thugh he would not benefit himself. Is this the way that we think of our brethren and sisters?

34:2   Way back in Num 14 as Israel were turned back into the wilderness, God said ‘when ye be come into the land’ – something which might have seemed most improbable at that time, we see now being fulfilled at the end of the wilderness with almost identical words.  God keeps His word! We should always remember that.

34:3 What we call the Dead Sea is always called the Salt Sea in Scripture. Doubtless a comment upon its make up whereas the name we give it is a consequence of the fact that it is high in minerals – nothing, or very little, actually lives in it.

The present-day disputed West Bank is part of the Promised Land (Judea and Samaria).  Also there are territories east of the River Jordan in present-day Jordan and Syria. These are the territories, from north to south, of: Manasseh (east); Gad; and Reuben.  They were the conquered territories, from north to south, of: Bashan; Sihon/Ammon; Moab; and Edom.

34:54 The river of Egypt is not the Nile but a wadi that runs through the Sinai peninsula about half way across the Sinai entering the Mediterranean. However, more significantly, it is one of the boundaries of the land promised to Abraham – Gen 15:18. Significantly the other border – The Euphrates – is not mentioned here in Numbers. This indicates that whilst the entering into the land of Canaan was a fulfilment of the promises to Abraham it was not the complete fulfilment. That must wait until Christ returns and the kingdom is re-established.

v. 2,3 - This concept of there being things that God does not reveal is not exclusive to this passage. Deut.29:29 is quite clear. We are only allowed to know so much at this stage. Job 11:7,8, 38:4-40:2, Rom.11:33,34.

There are many beautiful allusions which can be seen in the Proverbs.

In today's Proverb reading (25:11), a fitly (aptly) spoken word is likened to apples of gold in a picture (framework or border) of silver.

The Song of Solomon uses the figure of apples to describe sweetness, fragrance, and love (Song 2:3; 2:5; 7:8: 8:5). Such attributes befit the aptly spoken word.

But why is there gold in a frame of silver?

Gold is the most precious of metals because it shines brightly and does not tarnish.
Gold represents the metal of tried saints (1 Pet. 1:7). Remember the exhortation to the Laodiceans (Rev.3:18)

Unlike gold, silver will naturally tarnish and if left alone will turn black. Blackness represents sin. The (silver) half shekel of the sanctuary for the ransom of the Children of Israel is indicative of this reality. Silver is also associated with idolatry. For example, the statues of the goddess Diana (who was the Ephesian version of the Babylonian goddess Semiramis) were made of silver (Acts 19:24).

And so we have apples of gold in a framework of silver.

God's saints are found framed in a world of sin. Their responsibility is to shine untarnished amidst the surrounding ungodliness (Phil. 2:15). Their voice should be wholesome and Godly (Col. 3:8; Col. 4:6; 1 Pet. 4:11).

The spoken word should give glory to God (1 Cor. 10:31).

25:21-22  These verses are quoted – Rom 12:20– as instruction to those of us who want to be acceptable living sacrifices. Now the proverb is not teaching us that we can bring punishment upon others by our actions. Rather, as the verse continues, our behaviour marks a difference between the way that God deals with them and us. The judgment is of God.

V.20 - a person who is deeply sad or depressed doesn't need a tactless person telling them to cheer up and snap out of it. It helps to be in tune with a person's feelings so you can have empathy and better connect with them; Rom 12:15 offers some insights into common sense psychology.

V.22 - "heap burning coals on his head, and the Lord will reward you" (NIV). I've heard it said this likely is an allusion to the smelting/purification/softening of ore with hot coals so fine metals can be extracted. Perhaps it is refering here to softening and refining attitudes/dispositions in enemies (v.21) so as to win them over by treating them well.  

25:9 The wise man’s counsel is to resolve issues with those concerned rather than to go about as a talebearer seeking support from others whoa re not involved in the dispute.

25:9 The wise man’s counsel is to resolve issues with those concerned rather than to go about as a talebearer seeking support from others whoa re not involved in the dispute.

25:8 The idea of not being hasty to go to strife seems to be the basis of Jesus’ parable – Luke 14:31

V.22 The expression: heap burning coals of fire upon his head is also used in Rom 12:20.  The phrase means to make the individual in question burn with shame. It is hope that the enemy, being shown kindness, will become shamed and repent of his hostility. In Egypt, guilty people were made to carry a pan of burning coals on their head as an indication of shame and repentance.

25:18 The word translated ‘maul’ <04650> is only found in this passage in Scripture However it is derived from the word <06327> which is variously translated ‘scatter’ ‘disperse’ or other similar words. Thus we learn, by looking at the way related words are used elsewhere, what a word which only occurs once in Scripture means.

25:5 The principle of the throne being established in righteousness is built into a prophecy of Messiah – Isa 16:5

Jesus was gaining major status in the eyes on many. Even the officers (subordinates) of the chief priests and Pharisees attested: Never man spake like this man. (v.46). 

Further provoked by Nicodemus' question (v.52), the Pharisees retorted defensively: Art thou also of Galilee? Search, and look: for out of Galilee ariseth no prophet.  This means, perhaps, no major prophet. 

The Pharisees might have been aware that Jonah (and perhaps Nahum) was from Galilee, but the four pillars of Hebrew prophecy, Ezekiel, Daniel, Isaiah, and Jeremiah were not.

Thus, from the Pharisee's viewpoint, the argument could have been:  You are saying that this Jesus is a major prophet, but search the scriptures and see that no major prophet has ever come from Galilee.  However, the Pharisees knew that the Messiah would be born in Bethlehem (Mic 5:2; v.42).  But, they probably did not know that Jesus was born there.

V.2  We are now just six months away from the crucifixion.(from the feast of tabernacles to the the passover) There was a move to have Christ put away during this feast.(V.20,21,25) During the feast an attempt to arrest Jesus was made. (V30) But, on the last day of the feast the Sanhedin sent the temple guard to arrest Him, but, came back empty handed. (V.32,46) It was at time that Nicademus steped forward saying, That a man was innocent until proven guilty. (V.52) 

7:7       Whilst Jesus says ‘the world cannot hate you’ he is not thinking of gentiles. The world he speaks of is the Jewish world. So he is saying that the Jews are ‘evil’ in the way that they behave.

7:15 The Jews amazement was because Jesus had not been to any of their Rabbinical schools. They thought that they were the source of all knowledge about Scripture. Jesus had not been taught by them so he, by implication, could not know anything. However they could clearly see that his exposition had credibility.

a) It’s possible that one of the officers who failed to arrest Jesus tried to make up for this later by slapping him in the presence of Annas, the High Priest’s father in law (John 18:22).
b) Nicodemus had obviously been very impressed by Jesus’ words to him. In today’s chapter he speaks up in favour of not pre-judging Jesus, and by so saying he diffuses a difficult situation, John 7:45-53.  Jesus’ hour was not yet come.

7:6     In what way was ‘your time is always ready’? In one way their time was always ready to repent and believe in him.

7:4 It is difficult to understand what the disciples mean by suggesting that Jesus did things ‘in secret’ as by this time in his ministry he had been all round Galilee and in Jerusalem preaching. Unless they wished to denigrate his teaching as having little impact.

7:10 ‘in secret’ in a way echoes the accusation of his brethren in verse 4 but of course Jesus was not seeking to avoid being seen as subsequent events in the record show. When he was at the feast he became very ‘public’. However there are times when it is good not to be seen openly and there are times when it is important to be ‘public’ with ones comments.