Numbers 36 7

Numbers 36:7 kjv

So shall not the inheritance of the children of Israel remove from tribe to tribe: for every one of the children of Israel shall keep himself to the inheritance of the tribe of his fathers.

Numbers 36:7 nkjv

So the inheritance of the children of Israel shall not change hands from tribe to tribe, for every one of the children of Israel shall keep the inheritance of the tribe of his fathers.

Numbers 36:7 niv

No inheritance in Israel is to pass from one tribe to another, for every Israelite shall keep the tribal inheritance of their ancestors.

Numbers 36:7 esv

The inheritance of the people of Israel shall not be transferred from one tribe to another, for every one of the people of Israel shall hold on to the inheritance of the tribe of his fathers.

Numbers 36:7 nlt

None of the territorial land may pass from tribe to tribe, for all the land given to each tribe must remain within the tribe to which it was first allotted.

Numbers 36 verses

Numbers 36 7 Meaning

Numbers 36:7 establishes a permanent divine decree concerning land inheritance within the Israelite tribes. It explicitly forbids the transfer of tribal land inheritances from one tribe to another through marriage or any other means, ensuring that each Israelite retains their allotted land within their own ancestral tribe. This rule serves to preserve the integrity of the tribal land boundaries, which were divinely ordained and distributed, thereby maintaining the distinct identity and heritage of each of the twelve tribes. It reinforces the principle that every individual's portion of the land is intrinsically linked to the tribe of their fathers, an unchangeable and abiding heritage from the Lord.

Numbers 36 7 Context

Numbers 36:7 concludes a specific legal discussion prompted by the case of Zelophehad's daughters (Num 27:1-11). Having no brothers, these five women petitioned Moses, Eleazar the priest, and the leaders for their father's tribal land inheritance, arguing that their father's name should not vanish from his family line simply because he had no sons. The Lord affirmed their plea, establishing a law that daughters could inherit when there were no sons, a significant and somewhat innovative legal provision for that time.

However, this ruling presented a new concern for the tribal leaders of Manasseh (Zelophehad's tribe). They approached Moses, expressing worry that if these daughters married men from other tribes, their inherited land would transfer to the new tribe, disrupting the divinely mandated land boundaries established for the children of Israel in the promised land (Num 36:1-3). Their concern was rooted in the permanent allocation of tribal land (Josh 14-19) which formed the socio-economic backbone of Israelite society and identified each tribe. Numbers 36:7, therefore, provides the divine solution to this problem: Zelophehad's daughters, and any future daughters inheriting land, must marry within their own tribe, ensuring the inheritance remains within its designated tribal borders, maintaining the integrity of the divine land grant for all generations.

Numbers 36 7 Word analysis

• So shall no: This phrase signifies a definitive and immutable decree. It's a strong prohibition, establishing a legal and permanent standard to prevent tribal land transfer.
• inheritance (Hebrew: nachalah - נַחֲלָה): This term signifies an allotted portion, particularly a landed possession. In the Old Testament, it primarily refers to the land promised by God to Israel and distributed among its tribes and families. It was not just property but a divine gift, foundational to an Israelite's identity, security, and participation in the covenant. The "inheritance" symbolized God's faithfulness and their covenantal relationship with Him.
• of the children of Israel: This emphasizes the law's universal application to the entire nation, encompassing every tribe and family within God's covenant people.
• remove (Hebrew: sur - סוּר): To turn aside, depart, deviate. In this context, it implies a permanent shifting or transfer of the land from its divinely assigned tribal ownership. It points to a violation of the established boundaries and the order God set forth.
• from tribe to tribe: This directly addresses and forbids the inter-tribal transfer of land. It underscores the importance of maintaining distinct tribal divisions and their respective land allocations as given by God.
• for every one of the children of Israel: This highlights individual responsibility within the collective framework, linking personal marital choices directly to the preservation of national land law.
• shall keep himself (Hebrew: dabaq - דָּבַק): To cling, cleave, be joined, hold fast to. This verb signifies strong adherence, loyalty, and commitment. It is a powerful term often used to describe cleaving to God (e.g., Deut 4:4). Here, it implies an unwavering dedication and personal commitment to maintaining one's tribal land and identity.
• to the inheritance of the tribe of his fathers: This re-emphasizes the patrilineal principle and the enduring link between an individual, their tribal lineage, and their God-given land inheritance. It secures the historical and geographical continuity of each tribe within the promised land.

• "So shall no inheritance... remove from tribe to tribe": This group of words states the absolute prohibition at the heart of the law. It ensures the permanence of the divine land distribution. It safeguards against the dilution of tribal distinctiveness and potential disputes arising from shifting boundaries, crucial for a people whose identity and future were deeply rooted in their land and lineage.
• "for every one of the children of Israel shall keep himself to the inheritance of the tribe of his fathers": This phrase explains the rationale and provides the positive command for adhering to the rule. It establishes individual accountability within the communal structure. The active verb "keep himself" signifies personal responsibility in preserving tribal integrity and upholding God's order, directly reflecting the covenantal expectation of loyalty and obedience.

Numbers 36 7 Bonus section

The careful maintenance of tribal land inheritances, as commanded in Numbers 36:7, played a vital role in the preservation of tribal genealogies. These genealogies were crucial for tracking the fulfillment of God's promises, especially the Davidic lineage for the coming Messiah. If land freely transferred between tribes, the clear lines of tribal descent, inherently linked to their geographic territories, would have blurred, making it challenging to verify one's tribal identity for priestly roles or kingship (Ezra 2:62). Thus, this law wasn't merely about property rights but also about safeguarding the Messianic hope of Israel by preserving accurate tribal records rooted in their physical inheritance. This careful demarcation also provided a type and shadow of the spiritual inheritance that believers have in Christ, where their "inheritance" in Him is eternally secure and unchangeable (1 Pet 1:4).

Numbers 36 7 Commentary

Numbers 36:7 represents a crucial piece of the intricate Mosaic Law designed to maintain God's intended order for Israel. It showcases the divine concern for preserving the integrity of the tribal land allotments, which were not merely economic assets but tangible signs of God's covenant faithfulness and promises (Gen 12:7, Ex 32:13). The land was deeply interwoven with the identity, destiny, and even the future Messianic lineage of each tribe. The stricture against tribal land transfer, even through a righteous cause like daughterly inheritance, reveals a prioritization of communal tribal integrity over individual family convenience, balancing a new progressive law with established divine boundaries. The term "cleave" or "keep himself" (Hebrew: dabaq) here holds profound significance; it reflects a call for adherence not just to land but to the divinely ordained structure and covenant, echoing the call to "cleave to the Lord" (Deut 4:4). This highlights the theological principle that loyalty to God extends to the structures and provisions He establishes for His people.

For instance, this law provided a stable socio-economic framework, preventing the rapid consolidation of wealth or the loss of a tribe's land. In practical usage, it ensured families maintained a permanent stake in the land of their forefathers, fostering a sense of rootedness, historical continuity, and responsibility towards their designated portion of God's blessing. It would mean, for example, that if a daughter inherited land and needed to marry, her marital options were specifically constrained to men within her own ancestral tribe (Numbers 36:8).