AM Bible Study Group; November 17, 2010
Numbers 36:1-13
Theme: In this chapter, we’re told of how God designed that the inheritance of each tribe remain the property of each tribe perpetually.
The closing chapter of the book of Numbers presents us with a situation that is consistent with the theme of the book. The book is about the people of Israel being brought to the promised land so that they can take possession of the inheritance that God has given them; and this closing chapter deals with a provision from God by which—once they take possession of the land—each tribe would be able to keep the full inheritance that was given to it.
I. THE PROBLEM RAISED (vv. 1-4).
A. Immediately after the inheritance of the land was established with respect to the twelve tribes (see chapters 34-35), an issue was brought to the attention of Moses. The chiefs of the tribes of Manasseh came to Moses with a concern about the daughters of Zelophehad. In 27:1-11, we’re told how these five daughters—whose father had died— was to be given a share in the inheritance that belonged to their father, lest the name of their father die out among Israel. But the concern of the leaders from this tribe was that if those daughters married someone from another tribe, their inheritance would pass on to the tribe of their husband at the Jubilee (see Leviticus 25:8-17), and would then be lost to the tribe of their father.
B. Note in this that great respect was given to these five women. Their right to the inheritance was in no way being contested, but rather affirmed. And what’s more, the right of their deceased father was being respected as well. There was in this no hostile acquisition of land. Truly, this is unusual in history!
II. THE ANSWER FROM THE LORD (vv. 5-9).
A. We’re not told how he did so, but Moses went to the Lord on this matter. As always, the perplexing problems of life are solved when we go to the Lord. And in raising this issue, the Lord through Moses affirms that what "the sons of Joseph speak is right" (v. 5; see also 27:7).
B. In answer to this problem, the Lord prescribed that in this case—and in all such cases— the women are to be free to marry whomever they wish; but only from among the men of their own tribe; "So the inheritance of the children of Israel shall not change hands from tribe to tribe, for every one of the children of Israel shall keep the inheritance of the tribe of his fathers" (v. 7). The value of the inheritance was given a greater priority than the temporal passions of love. And with this arrangement—which is stated in such a way as to apply to all tribes—the inheritance of each tribe was protected.
III. THE ANSWER PUT INTO PRACTICE (vv. 10-12).
Just as Moses commanded, so the women did. They married within their own tribe. (We’re not told this; but we can imagine that God guided them to husbands from their own tribe who made for a perfect match!)
IV. THE CLOSING OF THE BOOK (v. 13).
We’re told that these commandments and judgments (from chapter 27 on to the end) brought the children up to the very edge of the promised land. Deuteronomy tells of the last words of Moses to the people before he died; and the Book of Joshua goes on to tell us the story of the people’s conquest of the land that God gave them.
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We too need to be careful to walk in a way that retains what God has given us in Christ. As it says in 2 John 8; "Look to yourselves, that we do not lose those things we worked for, but that we may receive a full reward."