Numbers 36:1-13

The Old Testament Book of Numbers

In the Desert

Numbers

Marion Adams

Chapter 36

The laws about married women and land – Numbers 36:1-13

v1 The leaders of the families in Gilead’s *clan went to Moses and the other leaders of the *Israelites. Gilead’s *clan was part of Manasseh’s *tribe. (Gilead was Machir’s son. Machir was Manasseh’s son. And Manasseh was Joseph’s son.)

v2 They said, ‘Sir, the *LORD ordered you to divide the land between the *Israelites. He told you to use *lots when you do this. Our relative, Zelophehad, would have received some land. The *LORD ordered you to give this land to Zelophehad’s daughters. v3 But they might marry men from other *tribes of *Israel. Then, the land that they receive will belong to their husbands’ *tribes. And so our *tribe will lose part of the land that God gave to us. v4 During the Year of Jubilee (see note below), the original owners receive back the land that they have sold. But this will not happen to the land that Zelophehad’s daughters will receive. Their land will belong always to their husbands’ *tribes. And so our *tribe will lose that land.’

v5 So Moses gave instructions to the *Israelites about this matter. The *LORD told Moses to say, ‘These leaders from Manasseh’s *tribe are right. v6 These are the *LORD’s instructions to Zelophehad’s daughters. They may marry any man who belongs to their father’s *tribe. v7 You must not give land that belongs to one *tribe to another *tribe. Every *Israelite must keep the land that he has *inherited from his *ancestors in his *tribe. v8 Every woman who *inherits land must marry a man from her own *tribe. So every *Israelite will own land that belonged to his *ancestors. v9 You must not give land that a *tribe has *inherited to another *tribe. Each *tribe must keep the land that it *inherits.’

v10-11 Zelophehad’s daughters were called Mahlah, Tirzah, Hoglah, Milcah and Noah. They obeyed the instructions that the *LORD gave to Moses. So they married their cousins. v12 Therefore, they remained part of Manasseh’s *tribe. And their land remained in the *tribe of their father’s family.

v13 These are the laws and judgements that the *LORD gave by Moses to the *Israelites. This happened while they were camping on the plains of Moab. Their camp was by the Jordan river, opposite the city called Jericho.

Verses 1-4 This last chapter describes God’s new laws about married women and the land that they *inherited. Previously, God had changed the law about the rights of women. Zelophehad’s daughters had come to Moses with a request. Their father had no sons. So they had asked if they could *inherit their father’s land instead. Then, their father’s land could remain the property of their father’s *clan. And God had granted their request. Also, he made this law for all women whose father had no sons (Numbers chapter 27).

However, this new law caused a problem. When a woman married, her land became her husband’s property. So, if her husband belonged to a different *tribe, her *tribe would lose that land. So, the leaders of Gilead’s *clan in Manasseh’s *tribe came to Moses and the other leaders. Zelophehad’s daughters, from Manasseh’s *tribe, had *inherited their father’s land. But this land would not belong to Manasseh’s *tribe if Zelophehad’s daughters married men from other *tribes.

The leaders from Gilead’s *clan referred to the Year of Jubilee (Leviticus chapter 25). This was a special year that happened every 50^th year. During this special year, when people had sold land, they received the right to own that land again. The purpose of this rule was to make sure that families and *tribes would always keep their own land. But this rule would not operate correctly if women *inherited property. For example, if Zelophehad’s daughters married, their land would belong to their husbands’ *tribes. Women could not own land legally after they had married. The effect would be that the husbands’ *tribes could claim this land during the Year of Jubilee.

Verses 5-12 Moses gave God’s answer to the leaders of Gilead’s *clan. Probably, Moses had talked with God in *God’s Tent first, although the text does not record this. God gave the rule that Zelophehad’s daughters had to marry men from their own *clan. This solved the problem. Their land would remain the property of their own *tribe. And Zelophehad’s daughters obeyed God.

Verse 13 The Book of Numbers ends with these laws about the land that the *Israelites were preparing to enter. They had lived in the *desert for 40 years. But God had guided and protected them. He had brought them to the land that he had promised to give to them.

When the *Israelites left the country called Egypt, they owned no land. And at the end of their journey, still they lived in a camp in the country called Moab. They did not live in their own land yet. But if they obeyed God, they would possess their own land in the country called Canaan. This was their *Promised Land. Always God does what he promises.

God guided the *Israelites during all their years in the desert. And God wants to guide us through our whole lives, too. He offers to teach us and to help us. When we learn more about him, also we learn more about ourselves. When we obey God, he can make his plans happen for us. He will guide us if we follow his instructions. He will protect us. He will provide all that we need. We must put our trust in him completely. He promises to be with us always (Joshua 1:5; also Matthew 28:20). And always, God does what he promises.

Israel ~ the Israelites and their nation.
LORD ~ a special name for God that his people use. In Hebrew, it is Yahweh. This name means something like ‘I am’ or ‘always alive’.

Lord ~ one who rules. God is the Lord who rules everyone.

Hebrew ~ the language of the *Jews.
lots ~ pieces of wood or stones that people used to divide territory or to make a decision. The lots seemed to make the decision by chance. But people believed that, in fact, God had made the decision.
inherit ~ to receive land or property when a relative dies.
ancestor ~ a previous member of a family, especially someone who was important during a past century.
desert ~ a dry region, or a region where there is just a little water. A few wild plants are able to grow in some deserts. So people who are travelling can live in these deserts in their tents. And they can lead animals through the desert. The Israelites lived in a desert for nearly 40 years.

Israel ~ the Israelites and their nation.

'Promised Land ~ the country that God promised to give to Abraham and his *descendants.