Numbers 36

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Numbers 36

We have in this chapter the determination of another question that arose upon the case of the daughters of Zelophehad. God had appointed that they should inherit, Num. 27:7. Now here, I. An inconvenience is suggested, in case they should marry into any other tribe, Num. 36:1-4. II. It is prevented by a divine appointment that they should marry in their own tribe and family (Num. 36:5-7), and this is settled for a rule in like cases (Num. 36:8; 9); and they did marry accordingly to some of... read more

Matthew Henry

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Numbers 36:1-4

We have here the humble address which the heads of the tribe of Manasseh made to Moses and the princes, on occasion of the order lately made concerning the daughters of Zelophehad. The family they belonged to was part of that half of the tribe of Manasseh which we yet to have their lot within Jordan, not that half that was already settled; and yet they speak of the land of their possession, and the inheritance of their fathers, with as great assurance as if they had it already in their hands,... read more

Matthew Henry

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Numbers 36:5-13

Here is, I. The matter settled by express order from God between the daughters of Zelophehad and the rest of the tribe of Manasseh. The petition is assented to, and care taken to prevent the inconvenience feared: The tribe of the sons of Joseph hath said well, Num. 36:5. Thus those that consult the oracles of God concerning the making of their heavenly inheritance sure shall not only be directed what to do, but their enquiries shall be graciously accepted, and they shall have not only their... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Numbers 36

INTRODUCTION TO NUMBERS 36 This chapter gives an account of an application made by the heads of the tribe of Manasseh, concerning the inheritances of the daughters of Zelophehad, which, should they marry into other tribes, would be removed thither, and so be a loss to theirs, Numbers 36:1 , which case was judged worthy of regard; and to remedy this inconvenience, they were ordered to marry into the family of their father's tribe, and this was to be a law to all heiresses for the future... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Numbers 36:1

And the chief fathers of the families of the children of Gilead ,.... The princes, as Aben Ezra; so the Septuagint version, which was the tribe of Manasseh, whose grandson Gilead was, as follows: the son of Machir, the son of Manasseh of the families of the sons of Joseph, came near ; to the house of judgment, as the Targum of Jonathan, the sanhedrim or court of judicature, consisting of the following persons: and spoke before Moses ; the Septuagint version adds, "and before Eleazar... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Numbers 36:2

And they said ,.... One in the name of the rest: the Lord commanded my lord ; that is, Moses, whom they address in a very respectable manner, being the chief governor of the nation under God: to give the land for an inheritance by lot to the children of Israel ; which command may be seen, in Numbers 26:53 , and my lord was commanded by the Lord to give the inheritance of Zelophehad our brother ; or kinsman, being of the same tribe: unto his daughters ; who sued for it, and... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Numbers 36:3

And if they be married to any of the sons of the other tribes of the children of Israel ,.... Which was not an unreasonable supposition, and perhaps was judged very probable and likely, if some method was not taken to prevent it; which they might conclude from the application of some young men of the other tribes unto them: then shall their inheritance be taken from the inheritance of our fathers, and shall be put to the inheritance of the tribe whereunto they are received ; for the... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Numbers 36:4

And when the jubilee of the children of Israel shall be ,.... At which time inheritances were to be restored to the original proprietors of them; yet this would be of no service in the present case, but rather the contrary, since it would fix the inheritances of these daughters in another tribe or in other tribes into which they should marry; and so Aben Ezra and Jarchi interpret it, "though" there shall be a jubilee, that will be of no advantage; it will not remedy this inconvenience: for ... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Numbers 36:5

And Moses commanded the children of Israel ,.... Even all the tribes of Israel, whom the following law concerned, as well as the tribe of Manasseh: according to the word of the Lord ; whom no doubt he consulted on this occasion, as he did when the daughters of Zelophehad applied unto him about the inheritance of their father: saying, the tribe of the sons of Joseph hath said well ; in showing such a concern for the welfare of their tribe; the consideration of which would be of... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Numbers 36:6

This is the thing which the Lord doth command concerning the daughters of Zelophehad ,.... Concerning this affair relative to them; the Targum of Jonathan paraphrases the words,"not for the generations that rise up after the division of the land, but for the daughters of Zelophehad;'as if this order only respected them, or what might happen before the land was divided, but not after; and this is the general opinion of the Jewish writers; but it seems, that as the following law not only... read more

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