Numbers 36 3

Numbers 36:3 kjv

And if they be married to any of the sons of the other tribes of the children of Israel, then shall their inheritance be taken from the inheritance of our fathers, and shall be put to the inheritance of the tribe whereunto they are received: so shall it be taken from the lot of our inheritance.

Numbers 36:3 nkjv

Now if they are married to any of the sons of the other tribes of the children of Israel, then their inheritance will be taken from the inheritance of our fathers, and it will be added to the inheritance of the tribe into which they marry; so it will be taken from the lot of our inheritance.

Numbers 36:3 niv

Now suppose they marry men from other Israelite tribes; then their inheritance will be taken from our ancestral inheritance and added to that of the tribe they marry into. And so part of the inheritance allotted to us will be taken away.

Numbers 36:3 esv

But if they are married to any of the sons of the other tribes of the people of Israel, then their inheritance will be taken from the inheritance of our fathers and added to the inheritance of the tribe into which they marry. So it will be taken away from the lot of our inheritance.

Numbers 36:3 nlt

But if they marry men from another tribe, their grants of land will go with them to the tribe into which they marry. In this way, the total area of our tribal land will be reduced.

Numbers 36 verses

Numbers 36 3 Meaning

Numbers 36:3 outlines a specific legal provision regarding inherited land. It states that if daughters who have inherited land from their fathers marry men from other tribes of Israel, their inherited land will be taken from the inheritance of their birth tribe and permanently added to the inheritance of their husband's tribe. This provision ensures that the land allotted to each tribe remains within that tribe, preventing the mixing of tribal inheritances and maintaining the distinct boundaries established by divine allocation.

Numbers 36 3 Context

Numbers chapter 36 concludes the book by addressing a final legal challenge related to the inheritance of land within the tribal system. Specifically, it resolves a potential flaw in the precedent set in Numbers 27 concerning Zelophehad's five daughters. Because they had no brothers, God ruled that they should inherit their father's land directly. However, the tribal leaders of Manasseh (Zelophehad's tribe) presented a concern: if these daughters married men from other Israelite tribes, their inherited land would effectively transfer out of the Manassite territory upon their death and into the new tribe through their children, disrupting the divinely ordained tribal boundaries.

The concern raised by the Manassite leaders stemmed from the understanding that each tribe's land inheritance, distributed by lot, was permanent and fundamental to their identity and God's covenant with Israel. This ruling in Numbers 36:3, confirmed by Moses, solidified the principle that inherited land must remain within the tribal lineage through which it was originally allocated. The historical context reflects Israel's impending entry into Canaan and the meticulous organization of their society, laws, and land distribution, ensuring tribal purity, continuity, and the fulfillment of God's promises of a specific land for a specific people.

Numbers 36 3 Word analysis

• And if they be married (וְהָיָה אִם הָיוּ לְאֶחָד - v'hayah im hayu l'echad, literally "And it will be, if they become for one," leading to חַתְנָם - chathnam as "their husbands"):
  • The Hebrew verb חתנו (chathanu, "they marry") implies the establishment of a son-in-law relationship or in-laws. It signifies a complete integration into a new family unit through marriage, which traditionally included an adoption into the husband's clan/tribe. This goes beyond mere conjugal union; it indicates a change of family and, by extension, tribal affiliation in terms of lineage and legal standing.
• to any of the sons of the other tribes of the children of Israel:
  • Emphasizes marriage outside their immediate ancestral tribe, highlighting the cross-tribal issue that sparks this new law. The tribal system was central to Israel's identity and future land distribution.
• then shall their inheritance (וְנָסְפָה נַחֲלָתָן - v'nas'fah nachalatan):
  • nachalah (נחלה): This is a crucial term. It means "inheritance," but not just any property. It specifically refers to an allotted possession, a heritage, especially one received by lot from God. It carries strong connotations of divine gifting, permanence, and ancestral tie. This is not simply real estate; it is a fundamental aspect of tribal identity and the fulfillment of the Abrahamic covenant. The term emphasizes the inalienable nature of this possession, which makes its potential transfer due to marriage a serious legal problem.
• be taken from the inheritance of our fathers:
  • This phrase emphasizes the loss to the birth tribe. The land is directly linked to the "fathers" (ancestral lineage) of the tribe, reinforcing the idea of a fixed tribal patrimony. It underscores the violation of the original divine land grant.
• and shall be added to the inheritance of the tribe whereunto they are received:
  • The transfer is explicit and permanent. The land formally becomes part of the receiving (husband's) tribe's allotment. It indicates a full integration and annexation, not a temporary lease or loan.
• so shall it be taken from the lot of our inheritance:
  • lot (גורל - goral): Refers to the method by which the land was to be divided among the tribes. The use of a "lot" indicated divine determination in the land distribution (e.g., Josh 14:2, Num 26:55). Therefore, taking land from the "lot" signifies disrupting a divinely sanctioned boundary and arrangement. It confirms the fundamental problem: violating the pre-determined tribal allocation of the Promised Land.
  • inheritance (נחלה - nachalah): Reiterates the core concept of inherited tribal possession and underlines that the tribal boundaries, fixed by lot, are fundamental and immutable.

Words-group Analysis

• "And if they be married to any of the sons of the other tribes... then shall their inheritance be taken from... and shall be added to...": This entire conditional clause highlights the cause-and-effect of marriage across tribal lines. It demonstrates the direct impact of individual decisions (marriage) on communal property (tribal inheritance), establishing a legal framework to protect the integrity of the tribal system as divinely ordained.
• "inheritance of our fathers" and "lot of our inheritance": These phrases emphasize the historical, ancestral, and divinely sanctioned nature of the land allocation. The land is not just property; it's a heritage tied to their identity, covenant, and the very structure of Israelite society. Protecting it was protecting the divine plan.

Numbers 36 3 Bonus Section

This ruling can be seen as an instance of how God's law is dynamic and responsive, yet anchored in unchanging principles. While initially providing for the daughters of Zelophehad, God also foresaw the need to protect the broader, divinely established order of tribal land tenure. The subsequent instruction in Numbers 36:6-9 provided a direct solution: Zelophehad's daughters (and any similar heiresses) must marry within their own tribal clan. This entirely solved the problem of inherited land moving between tribes. This entire episode showcases the intricate balance between individual rights (the daughters' right to inherit) and communal welfare (the preservation of tribal boundaries and identity), with God always prioritizing the larger covenant plan. The concept of an unmovable "landmark" (Deut 19:14) found its deep roots and primary application in these very tribal boundaries established by divine lot.

Numbers 36 3 Commentary

Numbers 36:3 represents a critical refinement of Israelite land law, demonstrating God's meticulous care for the ordering of His people and the fulfillment of His promises. The verse provides a direct solution to a unforeseen consequence of the previous ruling in Numbers 27, which allowed daughters without brothers to inherit land. The potential issue, recognized by the tribal leaders of Manasseh, was that such a land transfer via marriage across tribal lines would continually erode the fixed boundaries of the divinely appointed tribal inheritances, leading to eventual chaos and dilution of tribal identities.

The divine response, conveyed through Moses, safeguards the original, unalterable distribution of the Promised Land. The phrase "lot of our inheritance" emphasizes that these land divisions were determined by God's providence, not human choice. To alter them perpetually would undermine God's specific blueprint for the settlement of Israel. This law, therefore, prevented tribal fragmentation and ensured that the tribal distinctions and their associated land allocations, which formed the very framework of Israelite society and a fulfillment of God's covenant with Abraham, would remain intact until the Messiah.

Beyond its immediate legal context, this ruling illustrates principles relevant to believers. Just as physical boundaries were vital for Israel, spiritual boundaries and distinctions are crucial for God's people today. Our "inheritance" in Christ (Eph 1:11, Col 1:12) is also specific and guaranteed, tied to our spiritual lineage. The law's strictness shows God's commitment to His promises and the preservation of order within His covenant people. It is a testament to the wisdom and foresight of God in creating laws that provide for complex, unforeseen circumstances while maintaining the integrity of core theological and societal principles.