Numbers 36:1 kjv
And the chief fathers of the families of the children of Gilead, the son of Machir, the son of Manasseh, of the families of the sons of Joseph, came near, and spake before Moses, and before the princes, the chief fathers of the children of Israel:
Numbers 36:1 nkjv
Now the chief fathers of the families of the children of Gilead the son of Machir, the son of Manasseh, of the families of the sons of Joseph, came near and spoke before Moses and before the leaders, the chief fathers of the children of Israel.
Numbers 36:1 niv
The family heads of the clan of Gilead son of Makir, the son of Manasseh, who were from the clans of the descendants of Joseph, came and spoke before Moses and the leaders, the heads of the Israelite families.
Numbers 36:1 esv
The heads of the fathers' houses of the clan of the people of Gilead the son of Machir, son of Manasseh, from the clans of the people of Joseph, came near and spoke before Moses and before the chiefs, the heads of the fathers' houses of the people of Israel.
Numbers 36:1 nlt
Then 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.
Numbers 36 1 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Num 27:1-11 | Then drew near the daughters of Zelophehad... the Lord said, “The daughters of Zelophehad are right... you shall give them possession...” | Establishes precedent for daughters' inheritance; direct antecedent to this verse. |
| Josh 17:1-6 | This was the allotment for the tribe of Manasseh, for Machir... | Demonstrates the specific land received by Machir's descendants. |
| Deut 21:17 | He must acknowledge the son of the unloved woman as the firstborn by giving him a double share... | Highlights male-centric inheritance, making female inheritance in Num 27 and 36 remarkable. |
| Lev 25:10 | And you shall consecrate the fiftieth year, and proclaim liberty throughout the land... It shall be a jubilee for you; each of you shall return to his property... | Land is inalienable and tied to families/tribes, emphasizing the concern in Num 36. |
| Eze 47:13-14 | “Thus says the Lord God: These are the boundaries by which you shall divide the land for inheritance among the twelve tribes of Israel...” | Reinforces divine intent for distinct tribal land allotments. |
| Ruth 4:5-10 | Boaz said, “On the day you acquire the field from the hand of Naomi, you also acquire Ruth the Moabitess... to preserve the name of the dead in his inheritance.” | Illustrates the practice of kinsman-redeemer to preserve family/lineage land. |
| 1 Kgs 21:3 | But he said to Naboth, “The Lord forbid that I should give you the inheritance of my fathers.” | Shows the deep-seated value placed on ancestral land inheritance. |
| Gen 48:1-22 | Jacob blessed Ephraim and Manasseh, prophesying over Joseph’s sons. | Context of Manasseh’s tribal identity and significance within Israel. |
| Gen 49:22 | “Joseph is a fruitful bough, a fruitful bough by a spring; his branches run over the wall.” | Prophecy concerning Joseph's descendants, linking to their future prosperity and land. |
| Neh 7:64 | These searched their registration among those enrolled in genealogies, but they were not found there... | Emphasis on meticulous tribal and familial records, essential for land tenure. |
| Prov 19:14 | House and wealth are an inheritance from fathers, but a prudent wife is from the Lord. | General wisdom on inheritance from ancestors. |
| Jer 32:7-8 | “Behold, Hanamel the son of Shallum your uncle is coming to you to buy my field that is at Anathoth... acquire the right of redemption.” | Redemption of property to keep it within the family. |
| Acts 7:5 | Yet he gave him no inheritance in it, not even a foot's length... but promised to give it to him as a possession... | Foreshadows the concept of a greater, spiritual inheritance in Christ. |
| Eph 1:11 | In him we have obtained an inheritance, having been predestined according to the purpose of him... | Christian spiritual inheritance in Christ. |
| Col 1:12 | Giving thanks to the Father, who has qualified you to share in the inheritance of the saints in light. | Believers' participation in divine inheritance. |
| 1 Pet 1:4 | To an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for you. | The eternal spiritual inheritance for believers. |
| Gal 3:28 | There is neither Jew nor Gentile, neither slave nor free, nor is there male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus. | In spiritual inheritance, human distinctions (like gender for land) are transcended. |
| Heb 9:15 | Therefore he is the mediator of a new covenant, so that those who are called may receive the promised eternal inheritance... | Christ as the ultimate provider of eternal inheritance. |
| Rev 21:7 | The one who conquers will have this heritage, and I will be his God and he will be my son. | Final, ultimate spiritual inheritance in God's eternal kingdom. |
Numbers 36 verses
Numbers 36 1 Meaning
Numbers 36:1 presents the leadership of the Manassite tribe of Gilead approaching Moses and the other Israelite leaders. Their purpose is to address a specific concern regarding the inheritance of land by daughters, foreseeing a potential issue with maintaining tribal land boundaries if female heirs were to marry outside their ancestral tribe, thereby alienating their inherited land from their original tribal allocation.
Numbers 36 1 Context
Numbers chapter 36 serves as the concluding chapter of the book, directly following a series of laws concerning vows (Num 30) and a census (Num 26) which detailed the family divisions within each tribe. Crucially, it directly builds upon the ruling made in Numbers 27:1-11 concerning the daughters of Zelophehad, who were granted the right to inherit land in the absence of a male heir. While that ruling was just, it created a new unforeseen legal and tribal challenge. The men of Manasseh (specifically Gilead’s family, who were paternal relatives to Zelophehad’s daughters) brought this practical problem to Moses, concerned that if these daughters married outside their tribal allocation, their inherited land would be transferred to the tribe of their husband. This would disrupt the God-ordained tribal boundaries and allotments, jeopardizing the purity of the inherited land. The chapter highlights the dynamic and just nature of God's law, which could be expanded upon as new circumstances arose, always aiming to maintain equity and the integrity of the covenantal promises concerning the Promised Land.
Numbers 36 1 Word analysis
- The heads (רָאשֵׁי, rashei): Refers to the most important or leading figures, signifying official representatives and decision-makers of their respective groups. Their approach is formal and authoritative.
- of the fathers' (אָבֹות, avot): Denotes paternal lineage, ancestral lines, and family units. This highlights the concern for maintaining generational and tribal identity connected to land.
- households (לְבֵית, leveit for singular 'house' and hamatot 'tribes' later): Implies the foundational social and administrative units of Israelite society. The collective wisdom of these familial divisions is being sought.
- of the children (לִבְנֵי, livnei): Refers to the descendants or the people belonging to a particular lineage or group. Here, the "children of Gilead" represents a specific clan within Manasseh.
- of Gilead (גִּלְעָד, gil'ad): Gilead was the son of Machir, the son of Manasseh (Num 26:29). This refers to the clan or family of Gilead, not necessarily the region of Gilead, though the name is derived from it. They are direct paternal relatives of Zelophehad, whose daughters are the subject of the legal issue.
- the son (בֶן, ben): Denotes direct male descent, clarifying the lineage.
- of Machir (מָכִיר, makhir): Machir was Manasseh's firstborn and only son (Gen 50:23; Num 26:29). His name here emphasizes the principal lineage of Manasseh from whom the concern arises.
- of Manasseh (מְנַשֶּׁה, menasheh): One of the two sons of Joseph, establishing the specific tribe concerned with the potential land alienation. Manasseh received a significant land allotment.
- of the families (מִשְׁפְּחֹת, mishpeḥot): Clans or extended family groups. Reinforces the hierarchical structure from tribe down to individual households.
- of the children (מִבְּנֵי, mib'nei): Further identifies the specific subdivisions within the tribe.
- of Joseph (יוֹסֵף, yosef): The larger tribal identity that encompasses both Ephraim and Manasseh, underlining their significant position within Israel.
- came near (נִקְרְבוּ, nikr'vu): Signifies a formal approach, typically in a judicial or legislative context. It implies seeking counsel or making a petition before authority.
- and spoke (וַיְדַבְּרוּ, vaydabberu): Denotes deliberate, formal communication. Not casual talk, but a reasoned presentation of a case.
- before Moses (לִפְנֵי מֹשֶׁה, lifnei Moshe): Indicating an audience with the highest divinely appointed leader of Israel, signifying the seriousness and importance of the matter requiring divine direction.
- and before the leaders (וְלִפְנֵי הַנְּשִׂאִים, v'lifnei han'siim): These are the princes or heads of the tribes (Num 1:4). Their presence indicates the issue pertains to inter-tribal land concerns and requires broader consensus and wisdom.
- the heads (רָאשֵׁי, rashei): Repetition emphasizes the official capacity of those present and deliberating.
- of the fathers' (אָבֹות, avot): Reaffirms the patriarchal structure of tribal authority.
- households (הַמַּטּוֹת, hamatot): Refers to the staffs or tribal units, underscoring that this matter concerns the integrity of all the tribes of Israel, not just Manasseh.
Numbers 36 1 Bonus section
The approach taken by the Gileadites to consult Moses and the leaders showcases the wisdom of community engagement and the Spirit-led flexibility within God's revealed law. Instead of a rigid application of the previous ruling, it prompted a nuanced solution. This episode provides an example of God’s law being dynamic and adaptable to ensure the principles of justice, equity, and order are maintained, always keeping the overarching covenantal promises concerning the land intact. It teaches that even divine commands might require specific interpretations or elaborations for various contexts, highlighting the importance of wise leadership and community foresight.
Numbers 36 1 Commentary
Numbers 36:1 opens a critical discourse on the practical implications of Israel's divinely mandated inheritance system, particularly following the progressive revelation regarding female inheritance in Numbers 27. The leaders of the clan of Gilead, from the tribe of Manasseh, wisely identified a potential flaw in the current land distribution model that could undermine God’s specific allocation of land to each tribe. Their proactive approach to Moses and the other tribal leaders demonstrates a deep understanding and respect for both the divine law and the integrity of Israel’s tribal structure. The emphasis on "fathers' households" and "tribes" underscores that land in Israel was not merely property but a perpetual family and tribal inheritance, fundamentally linked to identity, covenant, and the divine promise. This verse highlights the need for careful deliberation in applying God's laws, acknowledging that divine principles can lead to specific rules that may require further refinement to meet new or unforeseen circumstances, ensuring justice and order for the entire community. The meticulous care shown for maintaining tribal boundaries prefigures the eternal boundaries set for God's people.