1 Then came H7126 the daughters H1323 of Zelophehad, H6765 the son H1121 of Hepher, H2660 the son H1121 of Gilead, H1568 the son H1121 of Machir, H4353 the son H1121 of Manasseh, H4519 of the families H4940 of Manasseh H4519 the son H1121 of Joseph: H3130 and these are the names H8034 of his daughters; H1323 Mahlah, H4244 Noah, H5270 and Hoglah, H2295 and Milcah, H4435 and Tirzah. H8656
2 And they stood H5975 before H6440 Moses, H4872 and before H6440 Eleazar H499 the priest, H3548 and before H6440 the princes H5387 and all the congregation, H5712 by the door H6607 of the tabernacle H168 of the congregation, H4150 saying, H559
3 Our father H1 died H4191 in the wilderness, H4057 and he was not in H8432 the company H5712 of them that gathered themselves together H3259 against the LORD H3068 in the company H5712 of Korah; H7141 but died H4191 in his own sin, H2399 and had no sons. H1121
4 Why should the name H8034 of our father H1 be done away H1639 from among H8432 his family, H4940 because he hath no son? H1121 Give H5414 unto us therefore a possession H272 among H8432 the brethren H251 of our father. H1
5 And Moses H4872 brought H7126 their cause H4941 before H6440 the LORD. H3068
6 And the LORD H3068 spake H559 unto Moses, H4872 saying, H559
7 The daughters H1323 of Zelophehad H6765 speak H1696 right: H3651 thou shalt surely H5414 give H5414 them a possession H272 of an inheritance H5159 among H8432 their father's H1 brethren; H251 and thou shalt cause the inheritance H5159 of their father H1 to pass H5674 unto them.
8 And thou shalt speak H1696 unto the children H1121 of Israel, H3478 saying, H559 If a man H376 die, H4191 and have no son, H1121 then ye shall cause his inheritance H5159 to pass H5674 unto his daughter. H1323
9 And if he have no daughter, H1323 then ye shall give H5414 his inheritance H5159 unto his brethren. H251
10 And if he have no brethren, H251 then ye shall give H5414 his inheritance H5159 unto his father's H1 brethren. H251
11 And if his father H1 have no brethren, H251 then ye shall give H5414 his inheritance H5159 unto his kinsman H7607 that is next H7138 to him of his family, H4940 and he shall possess H3423 it: and it shall be unto the children H1121 of Israel H3478 a statute H2708 of judgment, H4941 as the LORD H3068 commanded H6680 Moses. H4872
Worthy.Bible » Commentaries » Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible » Commentary on Numbers 27
Commentary on Numbers 27 Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
CHAPTER 27
Nu 27:1-11. The Daughters of Zelophehad Ask for an Inheritance.
3. Our father died in the wilderness, and he was not … in the company of … Korah—This declaration might be necessary because his death might have occurred about the time of that rebellion; and especially because, as the children of these conspirators were involved along with their fathers in the awful punishment, their plea appeared the more proper and forcible that their father did not die for any cause that doomed his family to lose their lives or their inheritance.
died in his own sin—that is, by the common law of mortality to which men, through sin, are subject.
4. Give unto us a possession among the brethren of our father—Those young women perceived that the males only in families had been registered in the census. Because there were none in their household, their family was omitted. So they made known their grievance to Moses, and the authorities conjoined with him in administering justice. The case was important; and as the peculiarity of daughters being the sole members of a family would be no infrequent or uncommon occurrence, the law of inheritance, under divine authority, was extended not only to meet all similar cases, but other cases also—such as when there were no children left by the proprietor, and no brothers to succeed him. A distribution of the promised land was about to be made; and it is interesting to know the legal provision made in these comparatively rare cases for preserving a patrimony from being alienated to another tribe. (See on Nu 36:5).
Nu 27:12-17. Moses Being Told of His Approaching Death, Asks for a Successor.
12. The Lord said unto Moses, Get thee up into this mount Abarim, and see the land—Although the Israelites were now on the confines of the promised land, Moses was not privileged to cross the Jordan, but died on one of the Moabitic range of mountains, to which the general name of Abarim was given (Nu 33:47). The privation of this great honor was owing to the unhappy conduct he had manifested in the striking of the rock at Meribah [Nu 20:12]; and while the pious leader submitted with meek acquiescence to the divine decree, he evinced the spirit of genuine patriotism in his fervent prayers for the appointment of a worthy and competent successor [Nu 27:15-17].
16. God of the spirits of all flesh, set a man over the congregation—The request was most suitably made to God in this character, as the Author of all the intellectual gifts and moral graces with which men are endowed, and who can raise up qualified persons for the most arduous duties and the most difficult situations.
Nu 27:18-23. Joshua Appointed to Succeed Him.
18. Take thee Joshua … a man in whom is the spirit, and lay thine hand upon him—A strong testimony is here borne to the personality of the divine Spirit—the imposition of hands was an ancient ceremony. (See Ge 48:14; Le 1:4; 1Ti 4:14).
20, 21. Thou shalt put some of thine honour upon him—In the whole history of Israel there arose no prophet or ruler in all respects like unto Moses till the Messiah appeared, whose glory eclipsed all. But Joshua was honored and qualified in an eminent degree, through the special service of the high priest, who asked counsel for him after the judgment of Urim before the Lord.