Números 36

1 Mujeres que heredan propiedad
Luego los jefes de los clanes de Galaad —descendientes de Maquir, hijo de Manasés, hijo de José— se presentaron ante Moisés y los líderes de las familias de Israel con una petición.

2 Dijeron a Moisés:
—El Señor
te dijo que repartieras la tierra entre el pueblo de Israel por sorteo sagrado. El Señor
te dijo que la porción de tierra que pertenece a nuestro hermano Zelofehad se la dieras a sus hijas.

3 Sin embargo, si ellas se casan con hombres de otra tribu, llevarán consigo sus porciones de tierra a la tribu de los hombres con quienes se casen. De esa manera, el área total de la tierra de nuestra tribu se reducirá.

4 Entonces cuando llegue el año de jubileo, esa porción de tierra se agregará a esa nueva tribu, y provocará que nuestra tribu patriarcal la pierda para siempre.

5 Así que Moisés les dio a los israelitas, de parte del Señor
, el siguiente mandato:
—El reclamo de los hombres de la tribu de José es legítimo.

6 Esto es lo que el Señor
ordena acerca de las hijas de Zelofehad: permítanles casarse con quienes deseen, siempre y cuando sea alguien de su propia tribu patriarcal.

7 No se permite que ninguna tierra se transfiera de una tribu a otra, ya que toda la tierra asignada a cada tribu debe permanecer dentro de la tribu a la que inicialmente fue concedida.

8 Las hijas de todas las tribus de Israel que estén en línea para heredar la propiedad, deben casarse dentro de su propia tribu, de esta manera todos los israelitas conservarán sus propiedades patriarcales.

9 Ninguna porción de tierra puede pasar de una tribu a otra; cada tribu de Israel debe conservar la porción de tierra que le fue asignada.

10 Entonces las hijas de Zelofehad hicieron lo que el Señor
le ordenó a Moisés.

11 Maala, Tirsa, Hogla, Milca y Noa, todas se casaron con sus primos por parte de su padre

12 dentro de los clanes de Manasés, hijo de José. De este modo, su herencia de tierra permaneció dentro de su tribu patriarcal.

13 Estos son los mandatos y las ordenanzas que el Señor
le dio al pueblo de Israel por medio de Moisés mientras acampaban en las llanuras de Moab junto al río Jordán, frente a Jericó.

Números 36 Commentary

Chapter 36

The inheritance of the daughters of Zelophehad. (1-4) The daughters of Zelophehad are to marry in their own tribe. (5-12) Conclusion. (13)

Verses 1-4 The heads of the tribe of Manasseh represent the evil which might follow, if the daughters of Zelophehad should marry into any other tribes. They sought to preserve the Divine appointment of inheritances, and that contests and quarrels should not rise among those who should come afterwards. It is the wisdom and duty of those who have estates in the world, to settle them, and to dispose of them, so that no strife and contention may arise.

Verses 5-12 Those who consult the oracles of God, concerning the making of their heavenly inheritance sure, shall not only be directed what to do, but their inquiries shall 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 such as are united to the Lord? All our intentions and inclinations ought to be subjected to the will of God, when that 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 cares not what may be the end; but in defiance of authority, determines upon 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.

Verse 13 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 the duties of it, 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.

Chapter Summary

INTRODUCTION TO NUMBERS 36

This chapter gives an account of an application made by the heads of the tribe of Manasseh, concerning the inheritances of the daughters of Zelophehad, which, should they marry into other tribes, would be removed thither, and so be a loss to theirs, Nu 36:1-4, which case was judged worthy of regard; and to remedy this inconvenience, they were ordered to marry into the family of their father's tribe, and this was to be a law to all heiresses for the future in other tribes, Nu 36:5-9 and accordingly the daughters of Zelophehad married their father's brothers' sons, Nu 36:10-13.