Albert Barnes Commentary Numbers 27
Albert Barnes Commentary
Numbers 27
Albert Barnes Commentary
Numbers 27
"Then drew near the daughters of Zelophehad, the son of Hepher, the son of Gilead, the son of Machir, the son of Manasseh, of the families of Manasseh the son of Joseph; and these are the names of his daughters: Mahlah, Noah, and Hoglah, and Milcah, and Tirzah." — Numbers 27:1 (ASV)
Previously, women in Israel had not enjoyed any distinct right of inheritance. Yet a father, whether or not sons had been born to him, had the power, either before or at his death, to direct part of his estate to a daughter; in such a case, her husband married into her family rather than she into his, and the children were regarded as belonging to the family from which the estate had come. Thus, Machir, Zelophehad's ancestor, although he had a son Gilead, also, it is probable, left an inheritance to his daughter, the wife of Hezron of the tribe of Judah. For this reason, their descendants, among whom was Jair, were counted as belonging to the tribe of Manasseh (Numbers 32:41; 1 Chronicles 2:21 and following).
"And they stood before Moses, and before Eleazar the priest, and before the princes and all the congregation, at the door of the tent of meeting, saying," — Numbers 27:2 (ASV)
By the door of the tabernacle of the congregation - The place of solemn assembly of the elders. The daughters of Zelophehad presented their case to the princes, the heads of tribes and families, who were making the census under the supervision of Moses and Eleazar.
"Our father died in the wilderness, and he was not among the company of them that gathered themselves together against Jehovah in the company of Korah: but he died in his own sin; and he had no sons." — Numbers 27:3 (ASV)
But died in his own sin — that is, perished under the general sentence of exclusion from the land of promise passed on all the older generation, but limited to that generation alone. By virtue of the declaration in (Numbers 14:31), the daughters of Zelophehad claim that their father’s sin should not be visited upon them.
"Why should the name of our father be taken away from among his family, because he had no son? Give unto us a possession among the brethren of our father." — Numbers 27:4 (ASV)
Give to us - As representing our father; so that he, through us his representatives, may enjoy a like inheritance with his brothers.
"And Jehovah said unto Moses, Get thee up into this mountain of Abarim, and behold the land which I have given unto the children of Israel." — Numbers 27:12 (ASV)
Mount Abarim - See Numbers 21:20 note.
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