(Numb. 34:1–2:) THEN THE LORD SPOKE UNTO MOSES, SAYING: COMMAND THE CHILDREN OF ISRAEL AND SAY UNTO THEM: WHEN YOU COME INTO THE LAND OF CANAAN, THIS IS THE LAND THAT SHALL FALL TO YOU AS AN INHERITANCES THIS IS THE LAND⁶ teaches that the Holy One showed Moses all that had been and all that was going to be.⁷., Numb. 10:4; Numb. R. 23:5. He showed him Samson arising from Dan and Barak, from Naphtali. So also it was for every generation with its expounders, every generation with leaders,⁸ every generation with its sages, every generation with its wicked, every generation with its righteous.

footnotes: ⁶ These words occur also in Deut. 34:4 (cited below). The midrash, therefore, interprets the two passages together. What follows in Numb. 34:3ff. describes what Israel is about to receive, while Deut. 34:4 (cited below) speaks of the promise to Israel’s future seed and adds that Moses shall see it. ⁷ Tanh ⁸ Gk.: pronoos.

(Deut. 34:4:) AND THE LORD SAID UNTO HIM: THIS IS THE LAND WHICH I SWORE TO ABRAHAM, TO ISAAC, AND TO JACOB, SAYING: I WILL GIVE IT TO YOUR SEED; I HAVE LET YOU SEE IT WITH YOUR OWN EYES…. The Holy One said to Moses: The oath that I swore to them I have fulfilled for their children. It is therefore stated (in Numb. 34:1): SAYING.⁹

footnotes: ⁹ The Hebrew here can imply the giving of one’s solemn word.