Numbers 27:11

11 soothly if he have no brethren of his father, the heritage shall be given to them that be next to him. And this shall be holy by everlasting law to the sons of Israel, as the Lord commanded to Moses. (and if his father hath no brothers, the inheritance shall be given to them who be next to him. And this shall be holy by an everlasting law to the Israelites, as the Lord commanded to Moses.)

Numbers 27:11 Meaning and Commentary

Numbers 27:11

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 possess it:
here the Jews have a saying, that an Israelite is never without heirs ^F25:

and it shall be unto the children of Israel a statute of judgment;
a judicial law, that should ever remain firm, and sure, and unalterable:

as the Lord commanded Moses;
and therefore no man could dispose of his estate or inheritance by will, otherwise than is set forth by this command.

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FOOTNOTES:

F25 Maimon. Hilchot Nechalot, c. 1. sect. 3.

Numbers 27:11 In-Context

9 if he hath no daughter, he shall have (as) his heirs his brethren; (if he hath no daughter, his brothers shall be his heirs;)

10 that and if brethren be not, ye shall give the heritage to the brethren of his father; (and if he hath no brothers, ye shall give the inheritance to his father's brothers;)

11 soothly if he have no brethren of his father, the heritage shall be given to them that be next to him. And this shall be holy by everlasting law to the sons of Israel, as the Lord commanded to Moses. (and if his father hath no brothers, the inheritance shall be given to them who be next to him. And this shall be holy by an everlasting law to the Israelites, as the Lord commanded to Moses.)

12 Also the Lord said to Moses, Go (thou) up into this hill of Abarim, and behold thou from thence the land, which I shall give to the sons of Israel. (And then the Lord said to Moses, Go thou up onto this Mount Abarim, and from there behold thou the land, which I have given to the Israelites.)

13 And when thou hast seen it, also thou shalt go to thy people, as thy brother Aaron went; (And when thou hast seen it, then thou also shalt go to thy people, that is, thou shalt die, like thy brother Aaron did;)