Matthew Henry Commentary Numbers 36
Matthew Henry Commentary
Numbers 36
Matthew Henry Commentary
Numbers 36
"And the heads of the fathers` [houses] of the family of the children of Gilead, the son of Machir, the son of Manasseh, of the families of the sons of Joseph, came near, and spake before Moses, and before the princes, the heads of the fathers` [houses] of the children of Israel: and they said, Jehovah commanded my lord to give the land for inheritance by lot to the children of Israel: and my lord was commanded by Jehovah to give the inheritance of Zelophehad our brother unto his daughters. And if they be married to any of the sons of the [other] tribes of the children of Israel, then will their inheritance be taken away from the inheritance of our fathers, and will be added to the inheritance of the tribe whereunto they shall belong: so will it be taken away from the lot of our inheritance. And when the jubilee of the children of Israel shall be, then will their inheritance be added unto the inheritance of the tribe whereunto they shall belong: so will their inheritance be taken away from the inheritance of the tribe of our fathers." — Numbers 36:1-4 (ASV)
The leaders of the tribe of Manasseh pointed out the evil that might follow if the daughters of Zelophehad were to marry into any other tribes. They sought to preserve the divinely appointed system of inheritances and to ensure that disputes and quarrels would not arise among future generations. It is the wisdom and duty of those who have worldly estates to settle their affairs and arrange for the distribution of their property, so that no strife and contention may arise. (Numbers 36:5–12)
"And Moses commanded the children of Israel according to the word of Jehovah, saying, The tribe of the sons of Joseph speaketh right. This is the thing which Jehovah doth command concerning the daughters of Zelophehad, saying, Let them be married to whom they think best; only into the family of the tribe of their father shall they be married. So shall no inheritance of the children of Israel remove from tribe to tribe; for the children of Israel shall cleave every one to the inheritance of the tribe of his fathers. And every daughter, that possesseth an inheritance in any tribe of the children of Israel, shall be wife unto one of the family of the tribe of her father, that the children of Israel may possess every man the inheritance of his fathers. So shall no inheritance remove from one tribe to another tribe; for the tribes of the children of Israel shall cleave every one to his own inheritance. Even as Jehovah commanded Moses, so did the daughters of Zelophehad: for Mahlah, Tirzah, and Hoglah, and Milcah, and Noah, the daughters of Zelophehad, were married unto their father`s brothers` sons. They were married into the families of the sons of Manasseh the son of Joseph; and their inheritance remained in the tribe of the family of their father." — Numbers 36:5-12 (ASV)
Those who consult the oracles of God, concerning making their heavenly inheritance sure, will not only be directed what to do, but their inquiries will also be graciously accepted. God would not have one tribe enriched at the expense of another. Each tribe was to keep to its own inheritance.
The daughters of Zelophehad submitted to this appointment. How could they fail to marry well when God himself directed them? Let the people of God learn how suitable and proper it is, like the daughters of Israel, to be united only to their own people. Ought not every true believer, Israel, to be united only to their own people?
Ought not every true believer in Jesus, to be very attentive in the near and tender relations of life, to be united only to those who are united to the Lord? All our intentions and inclinations ought to be subjected to the will of God when it is made known to us, and especially in contracting marriage. Although the word of God allows affection and preference in this important relation, it does not sanction that foolish, ungovernable, and idolatrous passion, which does not care what the end may be, but in defiance of authority, is intent on self-gratification.
All such conduct, however disguised, is against common sense, the interests of society, the happiness of the marriage relation, and, what is still more evil, against the religion of Christ.
"These are the commandments and the ordinances which Jehovah commanded by Moses unto the children of Israel in the plains of Moab by the Jordan at Jericho." — Numbers 36:13 (ASV)
These are the judgments the Lord commanded in the plains of Moab. Most of them related to the settlement in Canaan, into which the Israelites were now entering. Whatever new condition God, by his providence, brings us into, we must beg him to teach us its duties, and to enable us to do them, that we may do the work of the day in its day, the duty of a place in its place.
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