Numbers 36:2 kjv
And they said, The LORD commanded my lord to give the land for an inheritance by lot to the children of Israel: and my lord was commanded by the LORD to give the inheritance of Zelophehad our brother unto his daughters.
Numbers 36:2 nkjv
And they said: "The LORD commanded my lord Moses to give the land as an inheritance by lot to the children of Israel, and my lord was commanded by the LORD to give the inheritance of our brother Zelophehad to his daughters.
Numbers 36:2 niv
They said, "When the LORD commanded my lord to give the land as an inheritance to the Israelites by lot, he ordered you to give the inheritance of our brother Zelophehad to his daughters.
Numbers 36:2 esv
They said, "The LORD commanded my lord to give the land for inheritance by lot to the people of Israel, and my lord was commanded by the LORD to give the inheritance of Zelophehad our brother to his daughters.
Numbers 36:2 nlt
They said, "Sir, the LORD instructed you to divide the land by sacred lot among the people of Israel. You were told by the LORD to give the grant of land owned by our brother Zelophehad to his daughters.
Numbers 36 2 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Num 27:1-7 | Then came the daughters of Zelophehad... and Moses brought their case before the LORD. And the LORD spoke unto Moses, saying, The daughters of Zelophehad speak right... | Precedent: God's command for Zelophehad's daughters to inherit. |
| Num 33:54 | You shall divide the land by lot for an inheritance... according to the names of the tribes of your fathers you shall inherit. | General Land Distribution: By lot to tribes. |
| Num 26:55 | Notwithstanding the land shall be divided by lot... | General Land Distribution: Command repeated for each tribe. |
| Deut 19:14 | You shall not remove your neighbor’s landmark, which they of old time have set... | Land Preservation: Importance of established boundaries. |
| Ezek 47:22 | You shall divide it by lot for an inheritance to you, and to the strangers that sojourn among you... | Future Land Distribution: Similar principles apply later. |
| Josh 14:1-2 | And these are the countries which the children of Israel inherited in the land of Canaan, which Eleazar the priest, and Joshua the son of Nun, and the heads of the fathers of the tribes... divided for inheritance by lot. | Fulfillment: Land distributed as commanded. |
| Josh 17:3-6 | But Zelophehad... had no sons, but daughters... And they came near before Eleazar the priest, and before Joshua... and they inherited among their brethren... | Fulfillment: Zelophehad's daughters receive their inheritance. |
| Psa 78:55 | He cast out the nations also before them, and divided them an inheritance by line, and made the tribes of Israel to dwell in their tents. | Divine Sovereignty: God controls the distribution. |
| Psa 16:6 | The lines are fallen unto me in pleasant places; yes, I have a goodly heritage. | Spiritual Inheritance: Earthly inheritance prefigures heavenly. |
| Prov 13:22 | A good man leaves an inheritance to his children’s children... | Wisdom: Value of generational inheritance. |
| Isa 58:14 | Then you shall delight yourself in the LORD; and I will cause you to ride upon the high places of the earth, and feed you with the heritage of Jacob your father... | Prophetic Inheritance: Blessings as a spiritual inheritance. |
| Jer 3:19 | But I said, How shall I put you among the children, and give you a pleasant land, a goodly heritage of the hosts of nations? | Spiritual Inheritance: God's desire for His people. |
| Acts 20:32 | ...the word of His grace, which is able to build you up, and to give you an inheritance among all them which are sanctified. | Spiritual Inheritance: New Testament parallel. |
| Eph 1:11 | In whom also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestinated according to the purpose of Him who works all things after the counsel of His own will. | Spiritual Inheritance: In Christ, by divine purpose. |
| Col 1:12 | Giving thanks unto the Father, who has made us fit to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light. | Spiritual Inheritance: Believers' share in holiness. |
| Heb 9:15 | And for this cause He is the mediator of the new testament, that by means of death... they which are called might receive the promise of eternal inheritance. | Spiritual Inheritance: Eternal life through Christ. |
| 1 Pet 1:4 | To an inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fades not away, reserved in heaven for you. | Spiritual Inheritance: Heavenly, imperishable. |
| Deut 4:1-2 | Now therefore hearken, O Israel, unto the statutes and unto the judgments, which I teach you... You shall not add unto the word... nor diminish from it... | Divine Command: Obedience to God's word. |
| Deut 34:10-12 | And there arose not a prophet since in Israel like unto Moses, whom the LORD knew face to face... | Moses' Authority: His unique relationship with God. |
| Rom 13:1-2 | Let every soul be subject unto the higher powers... For there is no power but of God... | Authority: All authority, even human, is ultimately from God. |
| Psa 82:3 | Defend the poor and fatherless: do justice to the afflicted and needy. | Justice: God's concern for the vulnerable. |
| Jas 1:27 | Pure religion and undefiled before God and the Father is this, To visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction... | Compassion: Caring for the vulnerable, similar to Zelophehad's daughters' case. |
Numbers 36 verses
Numbers 36 2 Meaning
Numbers 36:2 presents the tribal heads of Israel approaching Moses, recalling two divine commands regarding the allocation of the Promised Land. Firstly, they acknowledge that the LORD commanded Moses to distribute the land by lot as an inheritance among the children of Israel. Secondly, and more specifically, they remind Moses that the LORD had also commanded him to give the inheritance of Zelophehad, their brother, to his daughters. This verse sets the stage for their concern regarding these daughters' marriages and the subsequent tribal land tenure.
Numbers 36 2 Context
Numbers chapter 36 serves as a crucial addendum to the laws concerning land inheritance outlined earlier, especially those concerning the daughters of Zelophehad in Numbers 27. The narrative takes place in the plains of Moab, as the Israelites prepare to enter the Promised Land. The general principle established earlier (Numbers 26:52-56; 33:50-56) dictated that the land would be distributed among the tribes and clans by lot. In Numbers 27, Zelophehad's daughters, having no brothers, presented a unique case, successfully appealing for their father's inheritance to prevent their lineage's portion from being lost.
Chapter 36 continues this specific case, demonstrating the Israelite leadership's deep concern for maintaining tribal land integrity and boundaries. The verse is a formal statement by the heads of the fathers' houses of the tribe of the children of Gilead, who are descendants of Manasseh and therefore related to Zelophehad. Their immediate concern, leading to the command in the subsequent verses, is that if Zelophehad's daughters were to marry outside their tribal clan, their inheritance would pass to the husband's tribe, diminishing the inheritance of Manasseh and upsetting the divinely appointed tribal boundaries. The historical and cultural context underscores the immense value placed on land as a permanent possession for each tribe and family, directly tied to identity, sustenance, and the fulfillment of God's covenant promises. The land inheritance was a cornerstone of Israelite society, and any perceived threat to its distribution was a serious matter.
Numbers 36 2 Word analysis
And they said: Refers to the "chief fathers of the families of the children of Gilead, the son of Machir, the son of Manasseh" (Num 36:1). This indicates a formal representation by the tribal leadership, emphasizing the communal nature of the concern.
The LORD: Hebrew: YHWH (יהוה), the covenant God of Israel. Emphasizes the divine source and authority of the commands. All commands relating to the land distribution derive directly from Him.
commanded: Hebrew: tsawah (צָוָה), meaning "to command," "appoint," or "ordain." It highlights that these were not mere suggestions or human decisions but authoritative decrees from God, which Moses was tasked to carry out.
my lord: Hebrew: adonai (אֲדֹנִי), literally "my master." This refers to Moses. It signifies their respectful recognition of Moses' leadership and his unique position as mediator of God's law.
to give the land: Refers to the territory of Canaan promised to Israel. The action of "giving" is divinely initiated.
for an inheritance: Hebrew: nachalah (נַחֲלָה), meaning "inheritance," "possession," "heritage." This emphasizes the permanent and generational aspect of land ownership in Israel, meant to secure families and tribes for perpetuity. It was a key element of God's covenant promise.
by lot: Hebrew: goral (גּוֹרָל), meaning "lot" or "allotted portion." This refers to the method of distribution, typically by casting stones or marked objects, which was seen as divinely guided (Prov 16:33). It ensured impartiality and confirmed the divine arrangement.
to the children of Israel: The collective body of the nation, the descendants of Jacob. The entire community benefits from the land distribution.
and my lord was commanded by the LORD: A direct reiteration for emphasis. The leaders are reaffirming the specificity and divine origin of the ruling concerning Zelophehad's daughters.
to give the inheritance of Zelophehad our brother unto his daughters: This is the core issue the leaders are raising. It directly references the specific legal precedent set in Numbers 27. "Our brother" indicates kinship and underscores the immediate tribal relevance of the issue.
"The LORD commanded my lord to give the land for an inheritance by lot to the children of Israel": This phrase group lays down the overarching divine mandate for the entire land distribution process. It establishes the foundational principle that the land, as a divine gift, is to be meticulously divided according to God's ordained method (lot) to the rightful recipients (Israelites), under Moses' leadership. This sacred allocation system aimed to prevent disputes and affirm God's sovereign control over His people's territory.
"and my lord was commanded by the LORD to give the inheritance of Zelophehad our brother unto his daughters": This second phrase group specifically recalls the unique and divinely sanctioned ruling from Numbers 27. It highlights God's exceptional provision for the vulnerability of women in a patriarchal society to ensure that no family lineage would lose its inheritance due to the absence of sons. The use of "our brother" connects Zelophehad to the larger tribal identity and familial concern, underscoring the weight of their request concerning their kinswomen's property rights. The double emphasis on "commanded by the LORD" validates the uniqueness of the daughters' claim while simultaneously setting up the impending discussion about its implications for tribal land boundaries.
Numbers 36 2 Bonus section
The tribal leaders' careful framing of their petition by first affirming Moses' divine mandate concerning both general land distribution and the specific case of Zelophehad's daughters indicates a deep respect for God's law and Moses' authority. They are not challenging the previous divine decree but rather seeking to clarify and extend its application to prevent unforeseen consequences. This scenario demonstrates the living and evolving nature of God's law as applied through human agency; new situations required careful consideration within existing divine principles. The solution that follows (daughters must marry within their tribal clan) beautifully balances the specific right to inheritance with the larger divine purpose of preserving tribal land integrity, showcasing divine wisdom in providing adaptable justice. It also offers a subtle counter-narrative to prevalent ancient Near Eastern customs where female inheritance was often restricted or non-existent, asserting God's care for every member of His covenant community.
Numbers 36 2 Commentary
Numbers 36:2 serves as the explicit restatement of divinely established land laws, presented by the tribal leaders from Manasseh to Moses. It underscores two critical points: first, the comprehensive and impartial method of land distribution "by lot" among all tribes, ensuring a foundational possession for each. This divine blueprint prevented human bias and affirmed God's sovereign orchestration. Second, it highlights the precedent set for Zelophehad's daughters, who, lacking male heirs, were granted their father's inheritance by God's direct command. This innovative ruling, found in Numbers 27, exemplified divine justice, adapting the law to address an unforeseen hardship and protect vulnerable lineages, preventing the dissolution of family inheritance. The tribal heads recall these precise commands not to question them, but to contextualize their pressing concern: the potential for these inheritances to transfer to other tribes through marriage, thus disrupting the God-ordained tribal boundaries and diminishing their allotted portion. The verse thus sets up the crucial legislative amendment in the rest of the chapter, illustrating God's meticulous care for property rights, tribal identity, and the stability of the land tenure system He ordained for His people.