Numbers36
New Living Translation
1Then the heads of the clans of Gilead—descendants of Makir, son of Manasseh, son of Joseph—came to Moses and the family leaders of Israel with a petition.
2They said, “Sir, the Lord instructed you to divide the land by sacred lot among the people of Israel. You were told by the Lord to give the grant of land owned by our brother Zelophehad to his daughters.
3But if they marry men from another tribe, their grants of land will go with them to the tribe into which they marry. In this way, the total area of our tribal land will be reduced.
4Then when the Year of Jubilee comes, their portion of land will be added to that of the new tribe, causing it to be lost forever to our ancestral tribe.”
5So Moses gave the Israelites this command from the Lord: “The claim of the men of the tribe of Joseph is legitimate.
6This is what the Lord commands concerning the daughters of Zelophehad: Let them marry anyone they like, as long as it is within their own ancestral tribe.
7None of the territorial land may pass from tribe to tribe, for all the land given to each tribe must remain within the tribe to which it was first allotted.
8The daughters throughout the tribes of Israel who are in line to inherit property must marry within their tribe, so that all the Israelites will keep their ancestral property.
9No grant of land may pass from one tribe to another; each tribe of Israel must keep its allotted portion of land.”
10The daughters of Zelophehad did as the Lord commanded Moses.
11Mahlah, Tirzah, Hoglah, Milcah, and Noah all married cousins on their father’s side.
12They married into the clans of Manasseh son of Joseph. Thus, their inheritance of land remained within their ancestral tribe.
13These are the commands and regulations that the Lord gave to the people of Israel through Moses while they were camped on the plains of Moab beside the Jordan River, across from Jericho.
Study Guide
Public-domain commentary and original-language notes for Numbers 36.
Chapter Summary
In this chapter: The inheritance of the daughters of Zelophehad. (1–4). The daughters of Zelophehad are to marry in their own tribe. (5–12). Conclusion. (13).
vv1-4
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)
vv5-12
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.
v13
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.
Key Words
רֹאשׁ: the head (as most easily shaken), whether literal or figurative (in many applications, of place, time, rank, itc.)
אָב: father, in a literal and immediate, or figurative and remote application
מִשְׁפָּחָה: a family, i.e. circle of relatives; figuratively, a class (of persons), a species (of animals) or sort (of things); by extension a tribe or people
בֵּן: a son (as a builder of the family name), in the widest sense (of literal and figurative relationship, including grandson, subject, nation, quality or condition, etc., (like father or brother), etc.)
גִּלְעָד: Gilad, a region East of the Jordan; also the name of three Israelites
מָכִיר: Makir, an Israelite
מְנַשֶּׁה: Menashsheh, a grandson of Jacob, also the tribe descended from him, and its territory
יוֹסֵף: Joseph, the name of seven Israelites
קָרַב: to approach (causatively, bring near) for whatever purpose
דָבַר: perhaps properly, to arrange; but used figuratively (of words), to speak; rarely (in a destructive sense) to subdue
Cross References
Numbers 36Establishes the background of the daughters of Zelophehad and their initial claim to land.
Supported by Matthew Poole, JFB
Explains the function of the Jubilee year in returning properties, highlighting the present legislative problem.
Supported by Matthew Poole, JFB
Shows historical application where daughters with an inheritance marry their cousins to preserve property.
Supported by Matthew Poole, JFB
God's prior declaration that the daughters of Zelophehad 'speak right' matches the endorsement in verse 5.
Supported by Matthew Poole
Naboth's refusal to yield his inheritance illustrates the sacredness of keeping ancestral tribal land.
The fulfillment of this land grant to Zelophehad's daughters during the partition of Canaan.
Supported by Matthew Poole
Jubilee return-to-possession rules, which would fail to solve the transfer of land via marriage.
Supported by JFB
Lists the genealogy of Manasseh, Machir, and Gilead, framing the tribal context.
Similar summary closing verse for the collection of commandments delivered at Sinai.
Confirms the names of the five daughters of Zelophehad listed in the census.
Geographical parallel establishing the plains of Moab as the location for these final laws.