Bible Commentaries

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

Numbers 27

Clinging to a Counterfeit Cross
Introduction

1  The daughters of Zelophehad sue for an inheritance.
6  The law of inheritances.
12  Moses, being told of his death, sues for a successor.
18  Joshua is appointed to succeed him.
Verse 1

Then came 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.
the daughters
In the orders for the division of the land, just given, no provision had been made for females, in case of failure of male issue. The five daughters of Zelophehad, therefore, considered themselves as 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. This led to the enactment of an additional law to the civil code of Israel, which satisfactorily ascertained and amply secured the right of succession in cases of inheritance. This law, which is as reasonable as it is just, stands thus:--1. On the demise of the father, the estate descends to the sons. 2. If there be no son, the daughters succeed. 3. If there be no daughter, the brothers of the deceased inherit. 4. If there be no brethren, or paternal uncles, the estate goes to the grand uncles, or brothers of his father. 5. If there be no grand uncles, then the nearest of kin succeeds to the inheritance. Beyond this fifth degree the law does not extend, because there must always have been some among the Israelites who could be called kinsmen.
Zelophehad
26:33, 36:1-12, Joshua 17:3-6, 1 Chronicles 7:15, Galatians 3:28
Verse 2

And they stood before Moses, and before Eleazar the priest, and before the princes and all the congregation, by the door of the tabernacle of the congregation, saying,
15:33,34, Exodus 18:13,14,19-26, Deuteronomy 17:8-10
Verse 3

Our father died in the wilderness, and he was not in the company of them that gathered themselves together against the LORD in the company of Korah; but died in his own sin, and had no sons.
died in the
14:35, 26:64,65
in the company
16:1-3,19,32-35,49, 26:9,10
died in his
Ezekiel 18:4, John 8:21,24, Romans 5:12,21, 6:23
Verse 4

Why should the name of our father be done away from among his family, because he hath no son? Give unto us therefore a possession among the brethren of our father.
Why
Exodus 32:11, Psalms 109:13, Proverbs 13:9
done away
Heb. diminished. Give.
Joshua 17:4
Verse 5

And Moses brought their cause before the LORD.
15:34, Exodus 18:15-19, 25:22, Leviticus 24:12,13, Job 23:4, Proverbs 3:5,6
Verse 6

And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying,
Psalms 68:5,6, Galatians 3:28
Verse 7

The daughters of Zelophehad speak right: thou shalt surely give them a possession of an inheritance among their father's brethren; and thou shalt cause the inheritance of their father to pass unto them.
36:1,2, Psalms 68:5, Jeremiah 49:11, Galatians 3:28
Verse 11

And if his father have no brethren, then ye shall give his inheritance unto his kinsman that is next to him of his family, and he shall possess it: and it shall be unto the children of Israel a statute of judgment, as the LORD commanded Moses.
kinsman
Leviticus 25:25,49, Ruth 4:3-6, Jeremiah 32:8
a statute
35:29, 1 Samuel 30:25
Verse 12

And the LORD said unto Moses, Get thee up into this mount Abarim, and see the land which I have given unto the children of Israel.
mount
33:47,48, Deuteronomy 3:27, 32:49, 34:1-4
Verse 13

And when thou hast seen it, thou also shalt be gathered unto thy people, as Aaron thy brother was gathered.
thou also
31:2, Genesis 25:8,17
as Aaron
20:24-28, 33:38, Deuteronomy 10:6, 32:50
Verse 14

For ye rebelled against my commandment in the desert of Zin, in the strife of the congregation, to sanctify me at the water before their eyes: that is the water of Meribah in Kadesh in the wilderness of Zin.
ye rebelled
20:8-13, Deuteronomy 1:37, 32:51,52, Psalms 106:32,33
Meribah
20:1,13,24, Exodus 17:7
Verse 16

Let the LORD, the God of the spirits of all flesh, set a man over the congregation,
the Lord
Yehowah elohey haroochoth lechol basar, "Jehovah, the God of the spirits of all flesh." This address sufficiently proves, that this holy man believed man to be compounded of flesh and spirit, and that these principles are perfectly distinct. Either the materiality of the soul is a human fable, or, if it be a true doctrine, Moses did not pray under the influence of the Divine Spirit. There is a similar form of expression in ch. 16:22: "O God, the God of the spirits of all flesh;" and in Job 12:10, "In whose hand is the soul nephesh of all living; and the spirit rooach of all flesh of man." These seem decisive proofs, among many others, that the Old Testament teaches that there is an immortal spirit in man; for though rooach sometimes denotes breath or wind, yet it certainly has not that signification here, nor in the other passages cited.
the God
16:22, Hebrews 12:9
set a man
Deuteronomy 31:14, 1 Samuel 12:13, 1 Kings 5:5, Jeremiah 3:15, 23:4,5, Ezekiel 34:11-16,23, Ezekiel 37:24, Matthew 9:38, John 10:11, Acts 20:28, 1 Peter 5:2-4
Verse 17

Which may go out before them, and which may go in before them, and which may lead them out, and which may bring them in; that the congregation of the LORD be not as sheep which have no shepherd.
go out
Deuteronomy 31:2, 1 Samuel 8:20, 18:13, 2 Samuel 5:2, 1 Kings 3:7, 2 Chronicles 1:10, John 10:3,4,9
as sheep
1 Kings 22:17, 2 Chronicles 18:16, Ezekiel 34:5, Zechariah 10:2, 13:7, Matthew 9:36, 10:6, Matthew 15:24, Mark 6:34, 1 Peter 2:25
Verse 18

And the LORD said unto Moses, Take thee Joshua the son of Nun, a man in whom is the spirit, and lay thine hand upon him;
Take thee
11:28, 13:8,16, Exodus 17:9, Deuteronomy 3:28, 31:7,8,23, 34:9
a man
11:17, Genesis 41:38, Judges 3:10, 11:29, 1 Samuel 16:13,14,18, Daniel 5:14, John 3:34, Acts 6:3, 1 Corinthians 12:4-11
lay
23, Deuteronomy 34:9, Acts 6:6, 8:15-19, 13:3, 19:6, 1 Timothy 4:14, 5:22, Hebrews 6:2
Verse 19

And set him before Eleazar the priest, and before all the congregation; and give him a charge in their sight.
give him
Deuteronomy 31:7, Luke 9:1-5, 10:2-11, Acts 20:28-31, Colossians 4:17, 1 Timothy 5:21, 1 Timothy 6:13-17, 2 Timothy 4:1-6
Verse 20

And thou shalt put some of thine honour upon him, that all the congregation of the children of Israel may be obedient.
put some
11:17,28,29, 1 Samuel 10:6,9, 2 Kings 2:9,10,15, 1 Chronicles 29:23,25
may be
Joshua 1:16-18
Verse 21

And he shall stand before Eleazar the priest, who shall ask counsel for him after the judgment of Urim before the LORD: at his word shall they go out, and at his word they shall come in, both he, and all the children of Israel with him, even all the congregation.
he shall
Joshua 9:14, Judges 1:1, 20:18,23,26-28, 1 Samuel 22:10, 23:9, 28:6, 30:7
Urim
Exodus 28:30, Leviticus 8:8, Deuteronomy 33:8, 1 Samuel 28:6, Ezra 2:63, Nehemiah 7:65
at his word
17, Joshua 9:14, 1 Samuel 22:10-15
Verse 23

And he laid his hands upon him, and gave him a charge, as the LORD commanded by the hand of Moses.
19, Deuteronomy 3:28, 31:7,8

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