Mínshùjì 36

1 Yūesè de hòuyì , Mǎnáxī de sūnzi , Machir de érzi Jīliè , tā zǐsūn zhōng de zhū zúzhǎng lái dào Móxī hé zuò shǒulǐng de yǐ sè liè rén zúzhǎng miànqián ,

2 Shuō , Yēhéhuá céng fēnfu wǒ zhǔ niānjiū fēn dì gĕi Yǐsèliè rén wéi yè , wǒ zhǔ yĕ shòu le Yēhéhuá de fēnfu jiàng wǒmen xiōngdi xī luo fēi hā de chǎnyè fèn gĕi tāde zhòng nǚér .

3 Tāmen ruò jià Yǐsèliè bié zhīpaì de rén , jiù bì jiàng wǒmen zǔzong suǒ wèi liú de chǎnyè jiā zaì tāmen zhàngfu zhīpaì de chǎnyè zhōng . zhèyàng , wǒmen niānjiū suǒ de de chǎnyè jiù yào jiǎnshǎo le .

4 Dào le Yǐsèliè rén de xǐ nián , zhè nǚér de chǎnyè jiù Bìjiā zaì tāmen zhàngfu zhīpaì de chǎnyè shàng . zhèyàng , wǒmen zǔzong zhīpaì de chǎnyè jiù jiǎnshǎo le .

5 Móxī zhào Yēhéhuá de huà fēnfu Yǐsèliè rén shuō , Yūesè zhīpaì de rén shuō de yǒu lǐ .

6 Lún dào xī luo fēi hā de zhòng nǚér , Yēhéhuá zhèyàng fēnfu shuō , tāmen kĕyǐ suíyì jià rén , zhǐshì yào jià tóng zōng zhīpaì de rén .

7 Zhèyàng , Yǐsèliè rén de chǎnyè jiù bú cóng zhè zhīpaì guī dào nà zhīpaì , yīnwei Yǐsèliè rén yào gè shǒu gè zǔzong zhīpaì de chǎnyè .

8 Fán zaì Yǐsèliè zhīpaì zhōng de le chǎnyè de nǚzi bì zuò tóng zōng zhīpaì rén de qì , hǎo jiào Yǐsèliè rén gèzì chéngshòu tā zǔzong de chǎnyè .

9 Zhèyàng , tāmende chǎnyè jiù bú cóng zhè zhīpaì guī dào nà zhīpaì , yīnwei Yǐsèliè zhīpaì de rén yào gè shǒu gè de chǎnyè .

10 Yēhéhuá zĕnyàng fēnfu Móxī , xī luo fēi hā de zhòng nǚér jiù zĕnyàng xíng .

11 Xī luō fēi hā de nǚér Mǎlā , Desǎ , hé lā , Mìjiā , nuó a dōu jià le tāmen bǎi shū de érzi .

12 Tāmen jià rù Yūesè érzi , Mǎnáxī zǐsūn de zú zhōng . tāmen de chǎnyè réng liú zaì tóng zōng zhīpaì zhōng .

13 Zhè shì Yēhéhuá zaì Móyē píngyuán Yuēdànhé bian , Yēlìgē duìmiàn jiè zhe Móxī suǒ fēnfu Yǐsèliè rén de mìnglìng diǎnzhāng .

Mínshùjì 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.