Defining the geographical borders of the Promised Land is a crucial preparatory step for the upcoming conquest. After a general promise that God would give the Israelites every place they step, He establishes the precise arena of action. This outlines exactly where the obligation of conquest applies and where the inherent holiness of the land will rest.
The designated borders span vast territories. The southern and southeastern boundary begins at the wilderness. This refers to the wilderness of Zin or Kadesh near Edom, where the Israelites first entered, and encompasses the broader desert system of the Sinai Peninsula and the Syrian-Arabian desert [רש"י, רד"ק, ביאור שטיינזלץ]. Moving northwest, the boundary reaches the familiar, forested region of Lebanon, possibly named for the specific trees that grew there [מצודת ציון]. Although Joshua was standing across the Jordan River, this region was either visible to him from afar, or it is highlighted to emphasize its significance [רד"ק, ביאור שטיינזלץ]. A unique approach even suggests that Lebanon serves as a symbolic hint to the future Temple [צאינה וראינה]. The northeastern boundary extends to the Euphrates River, defining the land's width from south to north [רש"י, ביאור שטיינזלץ]. Within these boundaries lies the territory of the Hittites, a powerful regional empire primarily located in northern Syria and parts of Asia Minor [רד"ק, ביאור שטיינזלץ].
The western boundary, which dictates the land's length from east to west, reaches the Mediterranean Sea [רש"י]. It is characterized as a great sea to distinguish it from smaller inland bodies of water like the Dead Sea and the Sea of Galilee [רד"ק]. The western horizon, marked by the setting sun, serves as a simple directional indicator [מצודת דוד, מצודת ציון, ביאור שטיינזלץ]. These detailed boundaries clarify that the Divine promise to inherit the land is strictly limited to this specific area. Any military expansion outside these borders is only permitted after the primary conquest of the Land of Israel is fully completed [מלבי"ם, אברבנאל].
When comparing these borders to the promise previously given to Moses, the descriptions here are notably amplified. The rivers and seas are emphasized as great, and the powerful Hittite nation is explicitly named. This shift reflects Joshua's role as the active military commander. Facing the imminent reality of war, the mission appeared more daunting, and he required highly detailed geographical definitions to plan his campaign [אברבנאל]. Furthermore, the nature of this conquest was contingent on the people's spiritual state. Had the Israelites been flawless in their actions, they would have conquered these territories miraculously, simply by walking through them without needing to fight. However, realizing the promise within these borders now required both spiritual correction and active military effort [מלבי"ם].