שמות, פרק כ״ג, פסוק ל״א

The promise of the land to the Israelites comes with the outlining of ideal, expansive borders that shape both the geographic and spiritual identity of the nation. These natural boundaries, made up of seas, a desert, and a river, are designed to separate Israel from the other nations of the world. This separation allows the people to live in safety forever, provided they observe the commandments [שד״ל, ביאור יש״ר]. Historically, the achievement of this vast space, encompassing the entire length and width of the land, was fully realized during the reign of King David [רלב״ג, קאסוטו].

Establishing these borders is a process that combines a divine promise with human action. First, God hands the inhabitants of the land over to the people, but this is immediately followed by a demand for the Israelites to actively drive them out [רש״י, שפתי חכמים]. Commentators emphasize that clearing the land is not merely a passive future guarantee, but a strict command. The people must act diligently, avoid laziness, and refuse to make treaties with the local inhabitants, ensuring they do not learn from their evil behaviors [ספורנו, שד״ל, קאסוטו]. Only after the Israelites fulfill their responsibility to drive out the current inhabitants will the promised borders be firmly established [רלב״ג].

The borders themselves are defined by four distinct landmarks. There is a clear consensus among commentators regarding two of these boundaries. The western border is the Mediterranean Sea, also known as the Great Sea, while the northern border is the Euphrates River. The Euphrates is referred to simply as the river because it is recognized as the most significant and well-known river [גור אריה], and its exact name did not need to be stated since it was already detailed in God's earlier promise to Abraham [מזרחי].

However, there are differing views regarding the placement of the Red Sea and the desert. One approach suggests that the Red Sea sits to the east, while the desert where the Israelites traveled forms the southern border [רשב״ם, בכור שור, חזקוני]. Another perspective argues that the Red Sea is actually the southern border, making the Arabian Desert the eastern boundary [העמק דבר, רבנו בחיי, שטיינזלץ]. According to this view, placing both the Red Sea and the desert in the south would be repetitive, so the desert must represent the east [שד״ל].

A unique geometric approach offers a completely different way to visualize these landmarks. Rather than outlining the outer edges of the territory, these four points create two diagonal lines that cross through the land. One diagonal stretches from the Red Sea in the southeast to the Mediterranean in the northwest, while the second diagonal reaches from the desert in the southwest to the Euphrates River in the northeast. This specific layout is meant to hint that the exact intersection of these two lines is the city of Jerusalem, perfectly positioning it as the true center of the land [ביאור יש״ר].