INTRODUCTION TO NUMBERS 27 This chapter relates, that, upon a petition of the daughters of Zelophehad, the affair of inheritances was settled; and it is directed that, in case of want of male issue, inheritances should pass to females, and in failure of them to the next of kin, whether father's bre... [ Continue Reading ]
THEN CAME THE DAUGHTERS OF ZELOPHEHAD,.... Who are mentioned among the families of Manasseh, under that of the Hepherites, Numbers 26:33, their father being dead, and they having no brethren, when they heard the land was to be divided among those that were numbered, and who were only males of twent... [ Continue Reading ]
AND THEY STOOD BEFORE MOSES, AND BEFORE ELEAZAR THE PRIEST, AND BEFORE THE PRINCES, AND ALL THE CONGREGATION,.... Who were now sitting in court, to hear and try causes brought before them; here were Moses the chief magistrate, Eleazar the high priest, the princes of the several tribes, and the repre... [ Continue Reading ]
OUR FATHER DIED IN THE WILDERNESS,.... As all the generation of the children of Israel did, that came out of Egypt, who were twenty years old and upwards, excepting Joshua and Caleb: AND HE WAS NOT IN THE COMPANY OF THEM THAT GATHERED THEMSELVES TOGETHER AGAINST THE LORD IN THE COMPANY OF KORAH; wh... [ Continue Reading ]
WHY SHOULD THE NAME OF OUR FATHER BE DONE AWAY FROM AMONG HIS FAMILY, BECAUSE HE HATH NO SON.... Or be withdrawn, and his family lose their part and share on that account; this they thought was unreasonable: according to the Targum of Jonathan, to prevent the name of their father being lost, and his... [ Continue Reading ]
AND MOSES BROUGHT THEIR CAUSE BEFORE THE LORD. For it seems it was too difficult for this court to decide; and it devolving upon Moses, as the president of it, and who only could have recourse to God at all times, he carried it to him and consulted with him about it: this, as the Targums of Jonathan... [ Continue Reading ]
AND THE LORD SPAKE UNTO MOSES,.... From off the mercy seat, where he consulted him, and from whence he promised to commune with him about any difficult matter that came before him, Exodus 25:22, SAYING; as follows.... [ Continue Reading ]
THE DAUGHTERS OF ZELOPHEHAD SPEAK RIGHT,.... What is just and reasonable: THOU SHALT SURELY GIVE THEM A POSSESSION OF AN INHERITANCE AMONG THEIR FATHER'S BRETHREN; their uncles, or rather the children of them; for it is reasonable to suppose their father's brethren, or their uncles, were dead also:... [ Continue Reading ]
AND THOU SHALT SPEAK UNTO THE CHILDREN OF ISRAEL,.... The above affair occasioned a law to be made, in which all the people would have a concern, among whom such cases should happen, as after related: SAYING, IF A MAN DIE, AND HAVE NO SON, THEN YE SHALL CAUSE HIS INHERITANCE TO PASS UNTO HIS DAUGHT... [ Continue Reading ]
AND IF HE HAVE NO DAUGHTER,.... Dies without any issue: THEN YE SHALL GIVE HIS INHERITANCE UNTO HIS BRETHREN; and the children descending from them; that is, if his father was dead; otherwise, if he was living, he was to be preferred to them, according to the Jewish writers; though, according to ou... [ Continue Reading ]
AND IF HE HAVE NO BRETHREN,.... Nor any descendants from them: THEN YE SHALL GIVE HIS INHERITANCE UNTO HIS FATHER'S BRETHREN; that is, to his uncles, and to their children.... [ Continue Reading ]
AND IF HIS FATHER HAVE NO BRETHREN,.... Nor any descending from them: THEN YE SHALL GIVE HIS INHERITANCE UNTO HIS KINSMAN THAT IS NEXT TO HIM OF HIS FAMILY: that is nearest of kin to him, though ever so remote; that is, of his father's family, not his mother's, which was no family: AND HE SHALL PO... [ Continue Reading ]
AND THE LORD SAID UNTO MOSES,.... After the covenant made with Israel in the plains of Moab, and the song delivered to them, Deuteronomy 29:1 GET THEE UP TO THIS MOUNT ABARIM; which was a range of mountains, so called from the passages by them over Jordan into the land of Canaan; one part of which... [ Continue Reading ]
AND WHEN THOU HAST SEEN IT,.... Which was all he was admitted to; for to go into it and see it was not allowed him, though he importuned it, Deuteronomy 3:25, THOU SHALT BE GATHERED UNTO THY PEOPLE, as Aaron thy brother was gathered; die as he did, in the same sudden, easy, quiet, and cheerful mann... [ Continue Reading ]
FOR YE REBELLED AGAINST MY COMMANDMENT THE DESERT OF ZIN,.... Both Moses and Aaron, which was the reason why they were not suffered to go into the land of Canaan, but died a little before the children of Israel came into it: what their sin was, called here a rebelling against the commandment of the... [ Continue Reading ]
AND MOSES SPAKE UNTO THE LORD,.... Having requested to go into the land and see it, which was denied him; and perceiving he must quickly die, and being a man of a public spirit, and concerned for the welfare of the people of Israel, prays that a successor might be nominated and appointed: SAYING; a... [ Continue Reading ]
LET THE LORD, THE GOD OF THE SPIRITS OF ALL FLESH,.... The Maker of the souls of men, called the spirits of all flesh, or of corporeal beings, to distinguish them from the angels, who, though spirits, are incorporeal; and who knows the different qualities of the souls of men, their powers, and capac... [ Continue Reading ]
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,.... Which may lead them out, and go before them in war, and command them in battle and bring them in peace, having conquered their enemies; or these phrases only mean the administ... [ Continue Reading ]
AND THE LORD SAID UNTO MOSES,.... In answer to his request: TAKE THOU JOSHUA THE SON OF NUN, who had been a servant of his near forty years, and of whose humility, diligence, faithfulness and integrity he had sufficient proof, as well as of his skill and courage in military affairs, particularly at... [ Continue Reading ]
AND SET HIM BEFORE ELEAZAR THE PRIEST, AND BEFORE ALL THE CONGREGATION,.... Declaring before them all that he was his successor, and that they might be witnesses of what was said and done unto him, and receive and acknowledge him as such, and as having power and authority over them, which it became... [ Continue Reading ]
AND THOU SHALT PUT SOME OF THINE HONOUR UPON HIM,.... Meaning not the Spirit that was on Moses, and the gifts of the Spirit; for to do this was the work of the Lord, and not Moses, see Numbers 11:17, but of the honour of civil government; suggesting that he should give him a share in it, and use him... [ Continue Reading ]
AND HE SHALL STAND BEFORE ELEAZAR THE PRIEST,.... This was for the honour of God, whose priest Eleazar was, and whose oracle was consulted by him; for it is said z, the high priest did not come into the presence of the king but when he pleased; and he did not stand before him, but the king stood bef... [ Continue Reading ]
AND MOSES DID AS THE LORD COMMANDED HIM,.... Being faithful and obedient to him in all things, though ever so contrary to his own private interest and to that of his family: AND HE TOOK JOSHUA AND SET HIM BEFORE ELEAZAR THE PRIEST, AND BEFORE ALL THE CONGREGATION; as his successor, whom God had nam... [ Continue Reading ]
AND HE LAID HIS HANDS UPON HIM,.... Jarchi observes, that he did this cheerfully, and did more than he was commanded; for the Lord said to him, "lay thine hand", but he laid both his hands: AND GAVE HIM A CHARGE, AS THE LORD COMMANDED MOSES; Numbers 27:19, this is a clear proof that Moses was no im... [ Continue Reading ]