Numbers 27:3-11

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Numbers 27:1-11

Mention is made of the case of these daughters of Zelophehad in the chapter before, Num. 26:33. It should seem, by the particular notice taken of it, that it was a singular case, and that the like did not at this time occur in all Israel, that the head of a family had no sons, but daughters only. Their case is again debated (Num. 36:1-13) upon another article of it; and, according to the judgments given in their case, we find them put in possession, Josh. 17:3; 4. One would suppose that their... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Numbers 27:3

Our father died in the wilderness ,.... As all the generation of the children of Israel did, that came out of Egypt, who were twenty years old and upwards, excepting Joshua and Caleb: and he was not in the company of them that gathered themselves together against the Lord in the company of Korah ; which is observed, not so much to obtain the favour and good will of Moses as to clear the memory of their father from any reproach upon it, he dying in the wilderness; and chiefly to show that... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Numbers 27:4

Why should the name of our father be done away from among his family, because he hath no son .... Or be withdrawn, and his family lose their part and share on that account; this they thought was unreasonable: according to the Targum of Jonathan, to prevent the name of their father being lost, and his part in the land, their motion was, that their mother might marry their father's brother, according to the law in Deuteronomy 25:5 , with which Jarchi agrees; but it does not appear that that... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Numbers 27:5

And Moses brought their cause before the Lord. For it seems it was too difficult for this court to decide; and it devolving upon Moses, as the president of it, and who only could have recourse to God at all times, he carried it to him and consulted with him about it: this, as the Targums of Jonathan and Jerusalem say, was one of the four causes that came before Moses the prophet, that he solved according to the mind of the Lord, which he consulted; one was concerning the blasphemer, ... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Numbers 27:6

And the Lord spake unto Moses ,.... From off the mercy seat, where he consulted him, and from whence he promised to commune with him about any difficult matter that came before him, Exodus 25:22 , saying ; as follows. read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Numbers 27:7

The daughters of Zelophehad speak right ,.... What is just and reasonable: thou shalt surely give them a possession of an inheritance among their father's brethren ; their uncles, or rather the children of them; for it is reasonable to suppose their father's brethren, or their uncles, were dead also: or "in giving thou shall give" F21 נתן תתן "dando dabis", Pagninus, Montanus. ; which, according to Jarchi, denotes two parts or portions they should receive; the part of their... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Numbers 27:8

And thou shalt speak unto the children of Israel ,.... The above affair occasioned a law to be made, in which all the people would have a concern, among whom such cases should happen, as after related: saying, if a man die, and have no son, then ye shall cause his inheritance to pass unto his daughter ; as in the above case of the daughters of Zelophehad; what was determined as to their particular case was made into a general law. read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Numbers 27:9

And if he have no daughter ,.... Dies without any issue: then ye shall give his inheritance unto his brethren ; and the children descending from them; that is, if his father was dead; otherwise, if he was living, he was to be preferred to them, according to the Jewish writers; though, according to our law, no estate in fee simple ascends lineally, or goes from a son, who has made a purchase of it, to a father: in the Misnah it is said F24 Ut supra, (Bava Bathra, c. 8.) sect. 2. ,... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Numbers 27:10

And if he have no brethren ,.... Nor any descendants from them: then ye shall give his inheritance unto his father's brethren ; that is, to his uncles, and to their children. read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Numbers 27:11

And if his father have no brethren ,.... Nor any descending from them: then ye shall give his inheritance unto his kinsman that is next to him of his family : that is nearest of kin to him, though ever so remote; that is, of his father's family, not his mother's, which was no family: and he shall possess it : here the Jews have a saying, that an Israelite is never without heirs F25 Maimon. Hilchot Nechalot, c. 1. sect. 3. : and it shall be unto the children of Israel a... read more

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