Numbers 36 10

Numbers 36:10 kjv

Even as the LORD commanded Moses, so did the daughters of Zelophehad:

Numbers 36:10 nkjv

Just as the LORD commanded Moses, so did the daughters of Zelophehad;

Numbers 36:10 niv

So Zelophehad's daughters did as the LORD commanded Moses.

Numbers 36:10 esv

The daughters of Zelophehad did as the LORD commanded Moses,

Numbers 36:10 nlt

The daughters of Zelophehad did as the LORD commanded Moses.

Numbers 36 verses

Numbers 36 10 Meaning

Numbers 36:10 succinctly declares the faithful adherence of Zelophehad's daughters to the divine command conveyed through Moses. It affirms that their actions concerning their inheritance and marriage were in precise conformity with the instruction given by the Lord, ensuring the tribal boundaries and the allocated inheritance within Israel remained intact.

Numbers 36 10 Context

Numbers 36:10 is found at the conclusion of the Book of Numbers, specifically closing a significant legal precedent related to land inheritance in the Promised Land. The larger context of Numbers is Israel's journey through the wilderness, their failures, God's sustained faithfulness, and the preparation of the new generation for entry into Canaan. Chapters 26-36 focus on the second census, laws for tribal division of the land, and final instructions before crossing the Jordan.

Specifically, Numbers 36 addresses a specific challenge to the inheritance laws previously established in Numbers 27. In Numbers 27:1-11, Zelophehad's daughters – Mahlah, Noah, Hoglah, Milcah, and Tirzah – approached Moses, Eleazar the priest, and the tribal leaders, requesting an inheritance since their father died without male heirs. God sided with them, establishing a groundbreaking precedent for female inheritance. Numbers 36 opens with the heads of the Gileadite families (from the tribe of Manasseh, to which Zelophehad belonged) expressing concern: if Zelophehad's daughters married into another tribe, their inherited land would transfer, diminishing Manasseh's tribal share upon the Year of Jubilee (Lev 25:10, 28). In response, God commanded through Moses that these heiresses must marry within their own ancestral clan and tribe, thus preserving the tribal boundaries and ensuring that the land allocated to each tribe remained perpetual. Verse 10 explicitly states that the daughters obeyed this specific divine decree, reinforcing the themes of divine authority, human obedience, and the meticulous preservation of God's order for the tribal allocations of the land.

Numbers 36 10 Word analysis

• Just as (ka'asher - כַּאֲשֶׁר): This adverbial phrase denotes exact conformity, precision, and equivalence. It emphasizes that their actions were not merely similar, but precisely according to the prescribed manner. It signifies a direct, unmediated correlation between command and execution.
• the Lord (YHWH - יְהוָה): This is the covenant name of God, revealing Him as the faithful, unchanging God who fulfills His promises and sustains His people. It highlights the divine source of the command, underlining its absolute authority and righteousness. The command originates from the ultimate Sovereign.
• commanded (tsivah - צִוָּה): Derived from the root צוה (tzavah), meaning "to command, order, appoint." It implies a definite and binding instruction, not a suggestion. This is a divine mandate, not open for negotiation or partial observance.
• Moses (Mosheh - מֹשֶׁה): The mediator chosen by God to receive and transmit His laws and commands to Israel. His name underscores his pivotal role in divine revelation and the establishment of the Israelite legal framework. The command came directly from God, but was reliably communicated through Moses.
• so (ken - כֵּן): Similar to "just as," this adverb reaffirms the precise alignment between the command and the action. It functions as a declarative statement confirming the faithfulness of the act to the instruction.
• the daughters (benoth - בְּנוֹת): Referring to Mahlah, Noah, Hoglah, Milcah, and Tirzah. Their collective designation underscores their unified action and demonstrates their communal respect for the divine directive. They are the specific beneficiaries and now executors of this particular law.
• of Zelophehad (liTzelofchad - לְצְלָפְחָד): Identifying the specific family lineage that was the focus of both the initial land inheritance ruling and this subsequent marriage decree. It points to a unique case, handled specifically by God's provision.
• did ('asu - עָשׂוּ): From the root עשה ('asah), meaning "to do, make, perform, accomplish." This verb highlights their active and complete obedience. They didn't just hear or agree; they performed the required action exactly as instructed, bringing the divine command into physical reality.

Words-group by Words-group analysis:

• "Just as the Lord commanded Moses": This phrase firmly establishes the divine authority and the prophetic mediation of the command. It implies meticulousness on God's part in giving the command and requires equal meticulousness in its execution. This phrase is a common biblical formula that stresses God's initiative and authority.
• "so the daughters of Zelophehad did": This parallel structure highlights perfect obedience. The phrase presents a model of living under divine authority, where God's command is perfectly translated into human action. It contrasts starkly with numerous instances in Numbers where Israel disobeys or complains. Their obedience ensured the successful implementation of God's land distribution system.

Numbers 36 10 Bonus section

The story of Zelophehad's daughters throughout Numbers (Ch 27 and Ch 36) provides profound insight into the development and application of Mosaic Law. It's not a rigid, unadaptable code but a living system guided by God's justice, capable of addressing novel situations while maintaining its fundamental principles. This narrative reveals that God is not bound by traditional human constructs (like male-only inheritance) when they contradict justice or threaten the long-term well-being of His people and the fulfillment of His promises (like tribal land allocations). Their initiative (Num 27) and subsequent obedience (Num 36) portray them as individuals of both faith and practicality, willing to engage with divine law and faithfully fulfill its requirements. Their example underlines that seeking God's will and acting upon it are fundamental for preserving the integrity of His covenant community and the blessing associated with it. This passage can also be seen as a microcosm of how God reveals Himself incrementally and specifically for practical governance of His people, illustrating His attention to detail in establishing the land of promise as a settled and orderly inheritance.

Numbers 36 10 Commentary

Numbers 36:10 is a powerful, albeit brief, testament to obedience and the meticulous nature of God's divine ordering. It stands as a concluding affirmation to a unique legal case, highlighting how divine law adapts to specific circumstances while consistently upholding its core principles—in this instance, the preservation of tribal inheritance within Israel. The "daughters of Zelophehad," already notable for their earlier courageous appeal to Moses that led to a groundbreaking law (Num 27), here display a model of unquestioning faithfulness. Having benefited from God's provision in obtaining an inheritance, they now demonstrate their responsibility by conforming their personal lives (marriage choices) to the expanded divine mandate that protected tribal land integrity. Their active doing underscores the critical difference between hearing God's word and performing it, embodying the wisdom of being "doers of the word, and not hearers only" (Jas 1:22). This verse reinforces God's concern for order, fairness, and the meticulous keeping of His covenant structure within His chosen people, ensuring that the foundational principle of inheritance tied to tribal identity, as revealed at Sinai and elaborated for Canaan, remained intact. It serves as an exemplary conclusion, showcasing ideal obedience within a complex legal framework designed by God Himself.