Numbers 36 5

Numbers 36:5 kjv

And Moses commanded the children of Israel according to the word of the LORD, saying, The tribe of the sons of Joseph hath said well.

Numbers 36:5 nkjv

Then Moses commanded the children of Israel according to the word of the LORD, saying: "What the tribe of the sons of Joseph speaks is right.

Numbers 36:5 niv

Then at the LORD's command Moses gave this order to the Israelites: "What the tribe of the descendants of Joseph is saying is right.

Numbers 36:5 esv

And Moses commanded the people of Israel according to the word of the LORD, saying, "The tribe of the people of Joseph is right.

Numbers 36:5 nlt

So Moses gave the Israelites this command from the LORD: "The claim of the men of the tribe of Joseph is legitimate.

Numbers 36 verses

Numbers 36 5 Meaning

Numbers 36:5 records Moses relaying God's divine command to the Israelites, affirming the complaint lodged by the leaders of the tribes of Joseph. It specifically states that the position taken by the tribes of Joseph regarding the land inheritance of Zelophehad's daughters, and the potential transfer of tribal land, is correct and valid in God's eyes. This verse introduces the definitive resolution to a critical land inheritance dilemma that had significant implications for tribal boundaries and identity within Israel.

Numbers 36 5 Context

Numbers 36:5 is the pivot point in the final chapter of the book of Numbers. Chapters 26 and 27 laid the groundwork for Israel's land inheritance, emphasizing the importance of tribal census and land division by lot. Notably, Numbers 27 records the unique case of Zelophehad's daughters (from the tribe of Manasseh, a son of Joseph) who successfully petitioned Moses and God to receive their deceased father's inheritance in the absence of male heirs, a precedent-setting ruling.

However, Numbers 36 presents a new challenge, originating from the heads of the tribal families of the sons of Joseph (specifically Manasseh). They foresaw a potential issue: if Zelophehad's daughters married outside their tribal clan, their inherited land would effectively transfer to another tribe upon the Jubilee year, diminishing their own tribe's allocation. This threatened the integrity of the divine land distribution as the tribes settled into Canaan. Verse 5 is Moses' response, indicating God's affirmation of the tribes of Joseph's concerns, thereby leading to the supplementary law outlined in the verses that follow (Num 36:6-9), which restricted the marriage choices for female land inheritors. This specific issue provided the impetus for a clarification and further refinement of the land laws.

Numbers 36 5 Word analysis

• Then Moses commanded: "Then Moses commanded" (וַיְצַו מֹשֶׁה - vayĕṣaw Mosheh). Vayĕṣaw indicates an immediate and decisive command or injunction. It denotes authority and a directive action taken by Moses as God's instrument. This highlights Moses' role as the mediator of divine law and the central figure in leading Israel under God's instruction.

• the Israelites: "the Israelites" (אֶת־בְּנֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל - ʾeṯ-bĕnê Yiśrāʾēl). Literally, "the sons of Israel," referring to the collective community, the covenant people chosen by God. This indicates that the command applies to the whole nation, underscoring the communal impact of land laws and inheritance.

• according to the word of the LORD: "according to the word of the LORD" (עַל־פִּי יְהוָה לֵאמֹר - ʿal-pî Yĕhwāh lēʾmōr). This phrase is crucial. ʿAl-pî Yĕhwāh literally means "by the mouth of Yahweh." It profoundly emphasizes that the command's source is not Moses's wisdom or a human committee's deliberation, but direct divine revelation. It guarantees the absolute truthfulness, righteousness, and binding nature of the forthcoming decree. God (Yahweh) is the ultimate Lawgiver and Judge. lēʾmōr means "saying," introducing the specific divine decree.

• saying, 'The tribe: "saying, 'The tribe" (לֵאמֹר מַטֵּה - lēʾmōr maṭṭeh). Maṭṭeh can mean "staff," "rod," or "tribe." Here, it specifically refers to a tribal collective, emphasizing the distinct identity and legal entity of each tribe within Israel.

• of the sons of Joseph: "of the sons of Joseph" (בְּנֵי יוֹסֵף - bĕnê Yosef). This specifically refers to the tribes of Ephraim and Manasseh, descendants of Joseph. Their unique concerns sparked this new legal clarification. This detail underlines that even after specific laws were given (e.g., in Num 27), the complexities of real-life application sometimes required further divine wisdom and adaptation.

• is right.: "is right." (דֹּבְרִים - dōbərîm). From the verb "dabar" (דָּבַר), meaning "to speak," "to say," or "to declare." In this context, it functions idiomatically as "they speak correctly," "their words are just," "they are in the right." It signifies God's vindication of their argument, recognizing the legitimacy and foresight of their concern for tribal patrimony.

• "Moses commanded...according to the word of the LORD": This phrase emphasizes divine authority transmitted through an appointed human leader. It's a standard formulation indicating an oracle or binding instruction directly from God. It reassures Israel that the law is from their covenant God, thus carrying ultimate weight and wisdom.

• "The tribe of the sons of Joseph is right": This declaration highlights God's attentiveness to the complexities of human-raised legal questions. It demonstrates divine justice in recognizing a valid concern and adapting the law's application without altering its core principles. It also shows the importance of maintaining tribal integrity as ordained by God.

Numbers 36 5 Bonus section

• The issue raised by the tribe of Joseph indicates a deep understanding of the intricacies of the Mosaic Law, specifically the Jubilee Year (Lev 25) which was designed to reset land ownership and prevent perpetual enslavement or poverty. They accurately foresaw how Zelophehad's daughters' precedent, combined with Jubilee law, could lead to land migration between tribes, compromising the distinct tribal inheritances from God.
• This verse represents an advanced stage of Israelite jurisprudence. Unlike the common law systems that develop from judicial precedents (like Zelophehad's daughters' case), this issue requires a new divine pronouncement to clarify how earlier laws should be interpreted and applied in combination, setting a higher form of divine statutory amendment.
• It serves as a testament to God's concern for stability, order, and equity within the tribal structures, all of which were vital for maintaining social cohesion and fidelity to the covenant in the Promised Land.
• The entire Numbers 36 chapter effectively "closes the loop" on the inheritance laws presented throughout Numbers, culminating in a refined legal framework that balanced individual inheritance rights with communal and tribal integrity.

Numbers 36 5 Commentary

Numbers 36:5 is a critical verse demonstrating God's meticulous care for the covenant people and the land inheritance He bestowed. It underscores several vital principles. First, it reiterates that God's law is dynamic and responsive to practical human situations, not a rigid, unadaptable code. The previous ruling for Zelophehad's daughters (Num 27) created a new legal precedent, and the current verse provides the divine "patch" to protect the foundational principle of tribal land allocation against unintended consequences. Second, it highlights God's ultimate authority through Moses. Every crucial decision for Israel's welfare, especially concerning the land, originated from the divine will. Third, it validates the careful and responsible foresight of the tribal leaders of Joseph, showing that genuine concerns brought before the Lord receive just consideration and resolution. The ultimate aim was to preserve the divinely ordained tribal boundaries and identities in the land, ensuring each family unit received and retained its generational inheritance according to God's precise plan for their settlement in Canaan.