Numbers 36

Moseh being consulted about the daughters of Zelaphead, commands them by Gods order to marry among their father’s Tribe, verse 1, etc. The like general command for all inheriting daughters of female heirs, 8. The obedience of the daughters of Zelaphead, 10:

1. And the heads of the fathers of the Family of the children of Gilead, [i.e. those to whom it belonged to consider of such things as were of general concernment of the whole Tribe] the son of Machir, the son of Manasseh, of the families of the children of Joseph, approached and spake before the face of Moseh, and before the face of the chief (ones) heads of the fathers of the children of Israel, [of the institution of this assembling, see above, chapter 11.]

2. And said; The LORD commanded my Lord, [i.e. thee Moseh, see above, ch. 26. 55, 56. And 33. 54.] to give that land for an inheritance unto the children of Israel by lot: and my Lord is charged by the LORD to give the inheritance of our brother [i.e. kinsman, being of one and the same tribe with us] Zelaphead [Heb. Tselopehad] to his daughters. [see above, chapter 27. 7. Their meaning is, that the former command about dividing the inheritances by lot, would not well agree with this, if so be that the daughters of Zelaphead shall be permitted to transport the inheritances by marriage, unto other Tribes; as appeareth by the sequel.]

3. If they shall become wives [i.e. if they come to marry; and so in the sequel] to one of the sons of the (other) Tribes of the children of Israel, then their inheritance would be withdrawn from the inheritance of our Fathers, and added to the inheritance of that Tribe to whom they shall become; thus there would be somewhat withdrawn from the Lot of inheritance.

4. Also when the children of Israel shall have a year of Jubilee; [Wherein every one returned to his possession; see Leviticus 25:13. Which law would have been made of no effect, by such matches.] then their inheritance would be added to the inheritance of that Tribe, to whom they became: thus their inheritance would be withdrawn from the inheritance of our Fathers.

5. Then Moseh commanded the children of Israel, according to the mouth of the LORD: [Whereby is given to understand, that Moseh first enquired the LORD’s advice about this matter] saying, The Tribe of the children of Joseph speaks aright.

6. This is the Word which the LORD, had commanded of the daughters of Zelaphead, saying; Let them become wives to them which shall be good in their eyes: [i.e. which shall please them, or whom they shall fancy and like of] onely, let them become wives to the Family of the Tribe of their Father.

7. So the inheritance of the children of Israel shall not be turned about from Tribe to Tribe: for the children of Israel shall cleave every one to the inheritance of the Tribe of his Fathers.

8. Moreover, every daughter inheriting inheritance, of the Tribe of the children of Israel, shall become wise to one of the family of the Tribe of her father; [This now is a general Law, which it pleased God to give for the civil government of Israel, concerning daughters, who in default of heirs male, should come to inherit in their fatherly house] That the children of Israel may hereditarily possess every one the inheritance of his Fathers.

9. Thus the inheritance shall not be turned about from the one Tribe to the other: for the Tribes of the children of Israel shall cleave every one to his inheritance.

10. According as the LORD had commanded Moseh, so did the daughters of Zelaphead.

11. For Machla , Thirsa and Hogla, and Milce, and Noha, Zelapheads daughters, became wives to the sons of their uncles.

12. They became wives among the families of Manasse, Joseph’s son: thus their inheritance remained [Heb. Was, or, hath been: see Psalm 37. On v. 18.] to the Tribe of the Family of their Father.

13. These are the Commandments, and the rights, which the LORD commanded to the children of Israel by the Ministry [Heb. By the hand] of Moseh, in the plain fields of the Moabites, by the Jordan of Jericho.