Numbers Chapter 36
1 The heads of the fathers' households of the family of the children of Gilead, the son of Machir, the son of Manasseh, of the families of the sons of Joseph, came near, and spoke before Moses and before the princes, the heads of the fathers' households of the children of Israel.
2 They said, "The LORD commanded my lord to give the land for inheritance by lot to the children of Israel. My lord was commanded by the LORD to give the inheritance of Zelophehad our brother to his daughters.
3 If they are married to any of the sons of the other tribes of the children of Israel, then their inheritance will be taken away from the inheritance of our fathers, and will be added to the inheritance of the tribe to which they shall belong. So it will be taken away from the lot of our inheritance.
4 When the jubilee of the children of Israel comes, then their inheritance will be added to the inheritance of the tribe to which they shall belong. So their inheritance will be taken away from the inheritance of the tribe of our fathers."
5 Moses commanded the children of Israel according to the LORD's word, saying, "The tribe of the sons of Joseph speak what is right.
6 This is the thing which the LORD commands concerning the daughters of Zelophehad, saying, 'Let them be married to whom they think best, only they shall marry into the family of the tribe of their father.
7 So shall no inheritance of the children of Israel move from tribe to tribe; for the children of Israel shall all keep the inheritance of the tribe of his fathers.
8 Every daughter who possesses an inheritance in any tribe of the children of Israel shall be wife to one of the family of the tribe of her father, that the children of Israel may each possess the inheritance of his fathers.
9 So shall no inheritance move from one tribe to another tribe; for the tribes of the children of Israel shall each keep his own inheritance.' "
10 The daughters of Zelophehad did as the LORD commanded Moses:
11 for Mahlah, Tirzah, Hoglah, Milcah, and Noah, the daughters of Zelophehad, were married to their father's brothers' sons.
12 They were married into the families of the sons of Manasseh the son of Joseph. Their inheritance remained in the tribe of the family of their father.
13 These are the commandments and the ordinances which the LORD commanded by Moses to the children of Israel in the plains of Moab by the Jordan at Jericho.
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Numbers Chapter 36 Guide
The question of the inheritance of women, which had already occurred through the application of the daughters of Zelophehad, came up once more, raised by the heads of the tribes. It was possible that these women might marry men who were members of other tribes. In such case their inheritance would pass over. It was therefore provided that they must marry only within the border of their own tribe.
Thus closes the Book of Numbers. It is essentially a book of the wilderness. The nation was on the eve of entering the land. The actual history is again taken up in the last chapter of Deuteronomy with the account of the death of Moses.
It is impossible to read this book without being impressed first with the failure of the people. It is a record of long-continued stubbornness and foolishness.
Yet what right have we to think or speak harshly of the people, for the book is also the story of the unwearying patience and perpetual faithfulness of God.
Throughout there is manifest the forward movement of God along the highway of His own purpose. This forward movement is not of man but of Jehovah. The book is a revelation of the sure procedure of God toward the final working out into human history of the regeneration of humanity, the first movements of which were recorded in the close of the Book of Genesis, the central forces of which came in the Incarnation of the Son of God, and the final victories of which are not yet.
From "An Exposition of the Whole Bible" by G. Campbell Morgan.
Numbers Chapter 36 Commentary
Chapter Outline
- The inheritance of the daughters of Zelophehad. -- (1-4)
- The daughters of Zelophehad are to marry in their own tribe. -- (5-12)
- Conclusion. -- (13)
Verses 1-4
The heads of the tribe of Manasseh represent the evil which might follow, if the daughters of Zelophehad should marry into any other tribes. They sought to preserve the Divine appointment of inheritances, and that contests and quarrels should not rise among those who should come afterwards. It is the wisdom and duty of those who have estates in the world, to settle them, and to dispose of them, so that no strife and contention may arise. -- (Nu 36:5-12)
Verses 5-12
Those who consult the oracles of God, concerning the making of their heavenly inheritance sure, shall not only be directed what to do, but their inquiries shall be graciously accepted. God would not have one tribe enriched at the expense of another. Each tribe was to keep to its own inheritance. The daughters of Zelophehad submitted to this appointment. How could they fail to marry well, when God himself directed them? Let the people of God learn how suitable and proper it is, like the daughters of Israel, to be united only to their own people. Ought not every true believer Israel, to be united only to their own people. Ought not every true believer in Jesus, to be very attentive in the near and tender relations of life, to be united only to such as are united to the Lord? All our intentions and inclinations ought to be subjected to the will of God, when that is made known to us, and especially in contracting marriage. Although the word of God allows affection and preference in this important relation, it does not sanction that foolish, ungovernable, and idolatrous passion, which cares not what may be the end; but in defiance of authority, determines upon self-gratification. All such conduct, however disguised, is against common sense, the interests of society, the happiness of the marriage relation, and, what is still more evil, against the religion of Christ.
Verse 13
These are the judgments the Lord commanded in the plains of Moab. Most of them related to the settlement in Canaan, into which the Israelites were now entering. Whatever new condition God, by his providence, brings us into, we must beg him to teach us the duties of it, and to enable us to do them, that we may do the work of the day in its day, the duty of a place in its place.
From the "Concise Commentary on the Bible" by Matthew Henry.