Numbers 27

Chap. XXVII. Ver. 1-23. The daughters of Zelophehad obtain their father’s inheritance,—‘In the orders for the division of the land just given, no provision had been made for females, in case of the failure of male issue. The five daughters of Zelophehad, therefore, considered themselves as left destitute, having neither father nor brother, and being themselves entirely overlooked: and they agreed to refer the case to Moses and the rulers, whether it were not equitable that they should inherit their father’s portion; especially as he had not incurred a forfeiture, any more than the other Israelites, who were all involved in one common sentence. There was, therefore, no sufficient reason that his memory should be disgraced as if his line were extinct, when he had left so many children.

_ “As no law had been given concerning females inheriting in defect of male issue, Moses consulted the Lord about it: and he not only allowed the justice of the claim, but also gave a “statute of judgment,” by which the magistrates might determine such causes, both in the division of Canaan, and in after ages. It is generally supposed, that brothers and relations, in the line of the father, are exclusively meant; as one great object was to preserve the genealogies distinct.’’— Scott. In the latter part of this chapter, Moses is reminded that he must die on this side the promised land. Moses, like a true patriot, as well as a believer in the faithfulness of God, entreats that a suitable successor might be appointed, as the shepherd of Israel, to conduct the flock of God into the promised land.

Joshua is then named; and Moses is admonished “to put some of his honour upon Joshua;” that is, to admit him to a share in the government, that the people might be accustomed to reverence and obey him, while Moses was yet alive to support him in his authority. In one material respect, however, he was inferior to Moses, who always had access to the most holy place to consult the oracle, whereas Joshua was to stand before the High Priest, and ask counsel of the Lord by Urim. Hence we infer, that this could not be “the prophet like unto Moses,” which was promised; ((Deuteronomy 18:15).) we are, therefore, to look unto another Joshua, even Jesus the Saviour; who, as the immediate successor of Moses introduced the literal children of Israel into the promised land, so will he introduce those who believe in him into that ‘better country,”

the heavenly Canaan, into which, as our forerunner, he hath already entered.

Notes on the verses

Chap. XXVII. Ver. 3. But died in his own sin.—That is, he had not been concerned in raising any insurrection among the people, though he had doubtless been implicated in that general discontent which had excluded the whole generation from entering the land of Canaan. Ver. 7. Thou shalt give them, &c.—There is an anomaly in the present Hebrew text, that has much puzzled translators, pronouns masculine being applied to these female claimants; but it has been of late discovered, that not