« | Numbers 34 | » |
1 The Lord spoke to Moses. He said,
2 "Speak to the Israelites and tell them this: You will soon enter the land of Canaan. I am giving you that land to be your very own. These will be it borders:
3 On the south, you will get part of the Zin desert near Edom. Your southern border will start at the south end of the Dead Sea.
4 It will cross south of Scorpion Pass. It will go through the Zin desert to Kadesh Barnea, and then to Hazar Addar and then it will pass through Azmon.
5 From Azmon the border will go to the River of Egypt, and it will end at the Mediterranean Sea.
6 Your western border will be the Mediterranean Sea.
7 Your northern border will begin at the Mediterranean Sea and go to Mount Hor.
8 From Mount Hor it will go to Lebo Hamath, and then to Zedad.
9 Then that border will go to Ziphron and it will end at Hazar Enan. So that will be your northern border.
10 Your eastern border will begin at Enan and it will go to Shepham.
11 From Shepham the border will go east of Ain to Riblah. The border will continue along the hills by Lake Galilee.
12 Then the border will continue along the Jordan River. It will end at the Dead Sea. These are the borders around your country."
13 So Moses gave this command to the Israelites, "That is the land that you will get. You will throw lots to divide the land among the nine tribes and half the tribe of Manasseh.
14 The tribes of Reuben and Gad, and half the tribe of Manasseh have already taken their land.
15 These two and a half tribes took the land near Jericho—they took the land east of the Jordan River."
16 Then the Lord spoke to Moses. He said,
17 "These are the men who will help you divide the land: Eleazar the priest, Joshua son of Nun,
18 and the leaders of all the tribes. There will be one leader from each tribe. These men will divide the land.
19 These are the names of the leaders: from the tribe of Judah—Caleb son of Jephunneh;
20 from the tribe of Simeon—Shemuel son of Ammihud;
21 from the tribe of Benjamin—Elidad son of Kislon;
22 from the tribe of Dan—Bukki son of Jogli;
23 from the descendants of Joseph; from the tribe of Manasseh—Hanniel son of Ephod;
24 from the tribe of Ephraim—Kemuel son of Shiphtan;
25 from the tribe of Zebulun—Elizaphan son of Parnach;
26 from the tribe of Issachar—Paltiel son of Azzan;
27 from the tribe of Asher—Ahihud son of Shelomi;
28 from the tribe of Naphtali—Pedahel son of Ammihud."
29 The Lord chose these men to divide the land of Canaan among the Israelites.
The Easy-To-Read Version (ERV)
The Easy-To-Read Version (ERV) is a Bible translation specifically designed to be accessible and comprehensible for people with limited reading skills or those for whom English is a second language. Originally published in 1987 by the World Bible Translation Center, the ERV was initially developed to serve the deaf community, using a simplified vocabulary and straightforward sentence structures. The goal of the ERV is to make the scriptures understandable to a wide range of readers, ensuring that everyone can grasp the essential messages of the Bible without being hindered by complex language or archaic terms.
One of the defining characteristics of the ERV is its commitment to clarity and simplicity. The translators employed a thought-for-thought translation philosophy, focusing on conveying the meaning of the original texts in plain, everyday English. This approach ensures that readers can easily comprehend the Bible’s teachings and narratives, making it a valuable resource for children, new Christians, and those with limited literacy skills. The ERV avoids technical theological terms and instead uses language that is commonly spoken, making it accessible for personal study and public reading alike.
The ERV also pays careful attention to the cultural and contextual nuances of the original manuscripts. The translators sought to present the Bible’s messages in a way that is relevant and meaningful to contemporary readers while maintaining faithfulness to the original texts. This cultural sensitivity helps bridge the gap between ancient scriptures and modern readers, allowing them to connect more deeply with the biblical stories and teachings. Additionally, the ERV includes helpful footnotes and cross-references that provide further explanation and context, enhancing the reader’s understanding of the text.
Despite its strengths, the ERV has faced some criticism from those who prefer more traditional or literal translations. Critics argue that the simplified language and thought-for-thought approach can sometimes result in a loss of depth and richness found in the original texts. Some theologians believe that the ERV’s emphasis on accessibility may lead to oversimplification of complex theological concepts. Nonetheless, the Easy-To-Read Version remains a highly valuable translation for its target audience, offering a clear and approachable rendition of the Bible that helps people of all backgrounds engage with and understand the scriptures.