Numbers 36 12

Numbers 36:12 kjv

And they were married into the families of the sons of Manasseh the son of Joseph, and their inheritance remained in the tribe of the family of their father.

Numbers 36:12 nkjv

They were married into the families of the children of Manasseh the son of Joseph, and their inheritance remained in the tribe of their father's family.

Numbers 36:12 niv

They married within the clans of the descendants of Manasseh son of Joseph, and their inheritance remained in their father's tribe and clan.

Numbers 36:12 esv

They were married into the clans of the people of Manasseh the son of Joseph, and their inheritance remained in the tribe of their father's clan.

Numbers 36:12 nlt

They married into the clans of Manasseh son of Joseph. Thus, their inheritance of land remained within their ancestral tribe.

Numbers 36 verses

Numbers 36 12 Meaning

Numbers 36:12 concludes the matter of the inheritance of Zelophehad's daughters, confirming their full obedience to the divine command that they marry within their father's clan of the tribe of Manasseh. This ensures that their inherited land, initially granted by a unique divine provision, would remain permanently within the tribe to which it was originally allocated by God. It underscores the sanctity of tribal land boundaries and the divinely ordained order for the Israelite inheritance in the Promised Land.

Numbers 36 12 Context

Numbers chapter 36 concludes the detailed legislation regarding the division and settlement of the Promised Land among the tribes of Israel. The immediate context of verse 12 is the resolution of a specific legal problem brought forth by the heads of the tribal families of the sons of Gilead, son of Machir, son of Manasseh. They raised concern that if Zelophehad's daughters, who had no brothers and inherited land (as granted in Num 27), were to marry outside their ancestral tribe, their inheritance would leave Manasseh's tribal portion and diminish it at the time of the Jubilee, potentially transferring it to another tribe. This issue was taken to Moses and the leaders. The Lord's specific instruction was that daughters who inherit land due to a lack of male heirs must marry within a family of their father's tribal clan to ensure their inheritance remains within the original tribal allotment. Numbers 36:12 serves as the final report, confirming that Zelophehad's daughters diligently obeyed this divine command, securing their inheritance within Manasseh.

Numbers 36 12 Word analysis

• וַתִּהְיֶ֙ינָה֙ (va-tihi-yeinah): And they were/became
  • Hebrew verb, הָיָה (hayah), in the waw-consecutive imperfect feminine plural.
  • Significance: Indicates the actualization and fulfillment of the preceding command (Num 36:6). It's not just an instruction, but an action completed, showing obedience.
• לְנָשִׁ֔ים (le-nashim): as wives / to wives
  • נָשִׁים (nashim) is the plural of אִשָּׁה (ishshah), "woman" or "wife." The preposition לְ (le) denotes purpose or result.
  • Significance: Directly refers to their marital status and confirms that the purpose of the preceding decree was for them to be joined in marriage, thereby fulfilling the condition of land retention.
• לְמִשְׁפְּחֹ֖ת בְּנֵי־מְנַשֶּׁ֣ה בֶן־יוֹסֵ֑ף (le-mishpachot b'nei-M'nasheh ben-Yosef): into the families of the sons of Manasseh the son of Joseph
  • מִשְׁפָּחָה (mishpachah) means "family" or "clan." בְּנֵי (b'nei) means "sons of."
  • Significance: Explicitly states their marriage was within their tribal lineage (Manasseh) and specifically within the families (clans) thereof. This reinforces the precise nature of the command – not just within the tribe, but within its sub-divisions. Joseph's name further specifies the ancestral root of the Manasseh tribe, linking to the initial promise of land to Abraham and Jacob's descendants.
• וַתְּהִ֨י נַחֲלָתָ֜ן (va-t'hi nachalatan): and their inheritance remained
  • נַחֲלָה (nachalah) is "inheritance" or "possession." The suffix ־תָן (tan) means "their" (feminine plural).
  • Significance: This is the primary theological and legal focus of the entire discussion. The outcome of their marriages is the preservation of the "inheritance." This concept of land as inheritance is central to Israel's identity and God's covenantal promises. It implies permanence and continuity.
• עַל־שֵׁ֥בֶט מִשְׁפַּ֛חַת אֲבִיהֶֽן (al-shevet mishpachat avihen): in / upon the tribe of the family of their father
  • שֵׁבֶט (shevet) means "tribe." אֲבִיהֶן (avihen) means "their father" (referring to Zelophehad).
  • Significance: "Upon the tribe" (עַל־שֵׁבֶט) indicates the fixed nature and permanent placement of the inheritance. It explicitly connects their actions to the overarching principle of keeping the land within the boundaries of the specific tribe to which it was allotted, thus honoring the divine allocation through their father, Zelophehad.

Words-Group Analysis:

• "Thus they were married... and their inheritance remained"
  • This phrase signifies direct cause and effect. The marriage of the daughters according to God's decree directly led to the desired outcome: the inheritance staying within the proper tribal boundaries. This highlights God's sovereignty over land distribution and His detailed care for order.
• "families of the sons of Manasseh the son of Joseph... tribe of the family of their father"
  • The repetitive emphasis on "family/clan" (mishpachah) and "tribe" (shevet), combined with "father" and specific lineage (Joseph, Manasseh), underscores the intricate structure of Israelite society and the meticulous divine planning behind land allocation. It points to the importance of tribal identity and genealogy as anchors for property rights in the covenant community.

Numbers 36 12 Bonus section

This verse, though specific, provides insight into broader theological principles:

• Divine Providence and Law: It demonstrates that God's law is not rigid but includes mechanisms for wise and just resolution of new issues that arise (like female inheritance in a patriarchal society). The Mosaic Law, divinely inspired, could adapt and clarify without losing its foundational principles of justice and order.
• Corporate Identity and Inheritance: The preservation of tribal land reflects the strong corporate identity of Israel. The individual (the daughters) acts in a way that benefits the larger group (the tribe), securing the collective inheritance and preventing disorder. This concept has echoes in the New Testament idea of the body of Christ.
• Stewardship of God's Gifts: The land of Israel was a gift from God. The meticulous rules surrounding its inheritance, ownership, and transfer underscored that Israel were not absolute owners but rather stewards of God's land (Lev 25:23).
• Foreshadowing Heavenly Inheritance: While earthly inheritance and land are specific to the Old Covenant, the diligence in securing the land inheritance foreshadows the emphasis on securing our spiritual and heavenly inheritance in the New Testament, which is imperishable and undefiled (1 Pet 1:4), gained through faith and obedience to Christ.

Numbers 36 12 Commentary

Numbers 36:12 serves as the satisfying resolution to a specific legal dilemma, highlighting divine meticulousness in managing Israel's inheritance. It reaffirms God's wisdom in foresight, providing solutions for unforeseen circumstances in the new land. The verse emphasizes that land in Israel was not merely a commodity; it was a permanent, divinely apportioned inheritance tied directly to tribal identity and the covenant. The daughters' obedience ensured the integrity of the tribal land boundaries, reinforcing the principle that God's gift of the land and its structured distribution were to be honored and preserved by the people through specific legal and social practices like inter-tribal marriage prohibitions in special inheritance cases. This adherence to divine law showcased the trust in God's order and commitment to maintaining the divinely ordained allocation of the Promised Land, safeguarding each tribe's unique portion until the Jubilee and beyond.