Joshua 17:4 kjv
And they came near before Eleazar the priest, and before Joshua the son of Nun, and before the princes, saying, The LORD commanded Moses to give us an inheritance among our brethren. Therefore according to the commandment of the LORD he gave them an inheritance among the brethren of their father.
Joshua 17:4 nkjv
And they came near before Eleazar the priest, before Joshua the son of Nun, and before the rulers, saying, "The LORD commanded Moses to give us an inheritance among our brothers." Therefore, according to the commandment of the LORD, he gave them an inheritance among their father's brothers.
Joshua 17:4 niv
They went to Eleazar the priest, Joshua son of Nun, and the leaders and said, "The LORD commanded Moses to give us an inheritance among our relatives." So Joshua gave them an inheritance along with the brothers of their father, according to the LORD's command.
Joshua 17:4 esv
They approached Eleazar the priest and Joshua the son of Nun and the leaders and said, "The LORD commanded Moses to give us an inheritance along with our brothers." So according to the mouth of the LORD he gave them an inheritance among the brothers of their father.
Joshua 17:4 nlt
These women came to Eleazar the priest, Joshua son of Nun, and the Israelite leaders and said, "The LORD commanded Moses to give us a grant of land along with the men of our tribe." So Joshua gave them a grant of land along with their uncles, as the LORD had commanded.
Joshua 17 4 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Num 27:1-7 | Then came the daughters of Zelophehad... saying... thou shalt surely give them a possession... | Original divine command for Zelophehad's daughters. |
| Num 36:1-12 | If they be married to any of the sons of the other tribes... their inheritance... shall be added to the tribe... | Further regulation of Zelophehad's daughters' inheritance. |
| Josh 14:1 | These are the inheritances... which Eleazar the priest, and Joshua the son of Nun, and the heads... distributed. | Context of leaders distributing land. |
| Josh 14:5 | As the Lord commanded Moses, so the children of Israel did... | Obedience to divine command in land distribution. |
| Josh 19:51 | These are the inheritances... which Eleazar the priest, and Joshua the son of Nun... divided. | The leaders' consistent role in dividing the land. |
| Gen 12:7 | And the Lord appeared unto Abram, and said, Unto thy seed will I give this land... | Foundation of the promise of land inheritance. |
| Gen 13:15 | For all the land which thou seest, to thee will I give it, and to thy seed for ever. | Reiteration of the Abrahamic land promise. |
| Ps 78:55 | He cast out the heathen... and divided them an inheritance by line... | God's act of allotting inheritance to Israel. |
| Eze 47:14 | And ye shall inherit it, one as well as another... for I have lifted up mine hand to give it... | Principle of equal inheritance in the future land division. |
| Acts 7:5 | And he gave him none inheritance in it, no, not so much as to set his foot on: yet he promised that he would give it... | God's promise of land inheritance before its fulfillment. |
| Deut 10:18 | He doth execute the judgment of the fatherless and widow... | God's care for the vulnerable, including those without male protectors. |
| Ps 68:5 | A father of the fatherless, and a judge of the widows, is God in his holy habitation. | God as defender of the defenseless. |
| Prov 31:8-9 | Open thy mouth for the dumb... and plead the cause of the poor and needy. | Call for justice and advocacy for the weak. |
| Isa 1:17 | Learn to do well; seek judgment, relieve the oppressed, judge the fatherless, plead for the widow. | Exhortation to practice justice and righteousness. |
| Jam 1:27 | Pure religion... is this, To visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction... | Practical righteousness involves caring for the vulnerable. |
| Rom 2:11 | For there is no respect of persons with God. | God's impartiality in judgment and justice. |
| Gal 3:28 | There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female... | Spiritual equality in Christ, resonating with a pursuit of justice. |
| Esth 4:16 | If I perish, I perish. | Boldness in approaching authority for a righteous cause. |
| Heb 4:16 | Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy... | Boldness in seeking divine favor and justice. |
| Phil 4:6 | Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication... | Encouragement to present petitions to God. |
| Heb 11:8-9 | By faith Abraham, when he was called... went out... as in a strange country... | Faith in the promise of inheritance, even if not fully realized immediately. |
| Heb 11:39-40 | These all, having obtained a good report through faith, received not the promise... that they without us should not be made perfect. | Faithfulness leading to future fulfillment of promises. |
| Eph 1:11 | In whom also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestinated... | Believers' spiritual inheritance in Christ. |
| Col 1:12 | Giving thanks unto the Father... who hath made us meet to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints... | Spiritual inheritance as a gift from God. |
| Heb 9:15 | And for this cause he is the mediator of the new testament... for the redemption of the transgressions... that they which are called might receive the promise of eternal inheritance. | Christ's role in securing an eternal spiritual inheritance. |
Joshua 17 verses
Joshua 17 4 Meaning
Joshua 17:4 details the appeal made by the daughters of Zelophehad to the leaders of Israel: Eleazar the priest, Joshua the son of Nun, and the tribal princes. They assert their claim to an inheritance in the land, referencing the direct command of the Lord to Moses concerning their specific case. This verse signifies their tenacious pursuit of a just claim, based not on prevailing societal norms of patriarchal inheritance but on an explicit divine decree. It underlines God's equitable justice and His faithful fulfillment of promises regarding land distribution in Canaan, even through unconventional means.
Joshua 17 4 Context
Joshua chapter 17 outlines the allocation of territory to the tribe of Manasseh, particularly the portions on both sides of the Jordan. Within this tribal distribution, the passage addresses a unique case involving the daughters of Zelophehad. Having previously been granted an inheritance through a divine decree to Moses in Numbers 27, their claim resurfaces during the final stages of land allotment in Canaan. The historical context is Israel's transition from nomadic wanderers to settled tribes, fulfilling the divine promise of the land of Canaan. In a patriarchal society where land was typically passed down through sons, the absence of male heirs for Zelophehad posed a significant challenge. This verse shows the daughters' proactive reminder to the leadership of God's prior specific instruction, ensuring their family's lineage and rightful share in the land would not be lost due to prevailing social custom.
Joshua 17 4 Word analysis
And they came near (ותקרבנה - va-tikrevnah): From the root "קָרַב" (qarab), meaning "to come near, approach." The verb is Hiphil perfect, indicating a decisive, purposeful approach. This signifies their bold initiative and determined advocacy, showing they did not wait passively but actively sought justice. It also hints at a formal, respectful presentation of their petition to authority.
before Eleazar the priest (לפני אלעזר הכהן - lifney Eleazar ha-kohen): Eleazar, Aaron's son, was the high priest, holding significant spiritual and judicial authority. His presence ensures that the matter is considered according to divine law and spiritual principles.
and before Joshua the son of Nun (ולפני יהושע בן נון - ulefaney Yehoshua ben Nun): Joshua was the civil and military leader, the one tasked by God to divide the land. His involvement meant the petition directly addressed the ultimate executive authority in the land distribution process.
and before the princes (ולפני הנשיאים - ulefaney ha-nesî'îm): These were the heads or chiefs of the tribes, representing the collective wisdom and authority of the people. Their inclusion means the appeal was made to the complete spectrum of Israelite leadership – spiritual, governmental, and tribal. This tripartite leadership ensures comprehensive consideration and legitimacy for the decision.
saying (לאמר - le'mor): Introduces direct speech, indicating their verbal petition.
The Lord commanded Moses (יהוה צוה את משה - YHVH tzavah et Moshe): "יהוה" (YHVH) refers to the covenant God of Israel. "צוה" (tzavah) means "commanded, charged, ordered." This is the crux of their argument: their claim rests directly on a divine injunction given through Moses, the supreme lawgiver. It bypasses any potential human custom or interpretation by appealing to the ultimate authority. This demonstrates a deep understanding and reverence for divine law.
to give us (לתת לנו - latet lanu): "לתת" (latet) means "to give, grant." "לנו" (lanu) is the emphatic pronoun "to us," highlighting the directness and specificity of the divine command concerning them, Zelophehad's daughters.
an inheritance (נחלה - nachalah): A crucial Hebrew term. It denotes a hereditary possession, an allotted portion, an ancestral heritage, usually land, which passes down through generations and is typically permanent. It's more than mere property; it signifies familial continuity, identity, and a share in God's covenantal promises to Israel concerning the land.
among our brethren (בתוך אחינו - betokh acheinu): "Amongst our brothers." This specifies that their inheritance should not be a separate or lesser portion, but fully integrated and equivalent to that given to male heirs, ensuring full recognition and socio-economic standing within their tribal community. It's a demand for equity within their familial and tribal context.
Words-group Analysis:
- "And they came near before Eleazar the priest, and before Joshua the son of Nun, and before the princes": This phrase emphasizes the formal and public nature of their appeal. Their proactive approach demonstrates faith and courage in challenging deeply entrenched social norms by appealing to higher divine authority. It also shows the multi-faceted leadership structure of early Israel.
- "The Lord commanded Moses to give us an inheritance among our brethren": This central declaration highlights their reliance on divine revelation over human tradition. It signifies God's specific and precise nature in guiding His people, even in seemingly minor legal matters, and His commitment to justice and ensuring all parts of Israel, even daughters without brothers, receive their promised land.
Joshua 17 4 Bonus section
This incident highlights the adaptability and flexibility of the Mosaic Law, demonstrating that God's justice is not rigid but can be expanded to ensure equity and fulfill His promises even when unique circumstances arise. It set an important precedent for future cases involving female inheritance and is an early example of women's property rights in a patriarchal society, albeit specific and limited by subsequent regulations in Numbers 36 concerning marriage within their tribe to maintain tribal inheritance integrity. The polemical element, though subtle, counters the implicit societal norm that might otherwise disinherit daughters without brothers, affirming that God's divine instructions supersede human customs for establishing justice and order in His community.
Joshua 17 4 Commentary
Joshua 17:4 captures a pivotal moment of righteous appeal within Israel's land distribution. The daughters of Zelophehad, rather than succumbing to societal pressures or traditional gender roles regarding inheritance, bravely present their case directly to Israel's highest spiritual and secular authorities. Their argument is irrefutable, resting solely on God's explicit command to Moses, establishing a divine precedent for their unique situation. This verse underscores the supreme authority of God's Word and His concern for justice, ensuring that no family would be left out of the promised land due to the lack of a male heir. It teaches that faithfulness to God's commands often requires courage to stand against conventional wisdom, knowing that divine decree ultimately takes precedence and ensures fairness within His covenant people. It is a testament to God's care for vulnerable groups and His precise instructions for ensuring all Israelites received their portion of the covenant inheritance.