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Numbers 27

John Gill - Exposition - John Gill

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 brethren or any near kinsman, Numbers 27:1, also an...

Numbers 27:1

John Gill - Exposition - John Gill

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 twenty years old and upwards, were concerned, lest they...

Numbers 27

Matthew Henry - Complete Commentary - Matthew Henry

Here is, I. The case of Zelophehad's daughters determined, ver. 1-11. II. Notice given to Moses of his death approaching, ver. 12-14. III. Provision made of a successor in the government, 1. By the prayer of Moses, ver. 15-17. 2. By the appointment of God, ver. 18, &c. The Daughters of Zelophehad. (b. c. 1452.) 1 Then came the daughters of...

Numbers 27:2

John Gill - Exposition - John Gill

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 representatives of the whole congregation, or it may...

Numbers 27:3

John Gill - Exposition - John Gill

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; which is observed, not so much to obtain the favour...

Numbers 27:4

John Gill - Exposition - John Gill

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 Or be withdrawn, and his family lose their part and share on that account; this they thought was unreasonable: according to the Targum of Jonathan, to prevent the name of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 part in the land, their motion was, that their...

Numbers 27:5

John Gill - Exposition - John Gill

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 and Jerusalem say, was one of the four causes...

Numbers 27:6

John Gill - Exposition - John Gill

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.

Numbers 27:7

John Gill - Exposition - John Gill

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: or "in giving thou shall give" (u); which,...

Numbers 27:8

John Gill - Exposition - John Gill

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 daughter; as in the above case of the daughters of...

Numbers 27:9

John Gill - Exposition - John Gill

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 our law, no estate in fee simple ascends lineally,...

Numbers 27:11

John Gill - Exposition - John Gill

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...

Numbers 27:12

John Gill - Exposition - John Gill

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 was Nebo, and the top of that Pisgah, from whence...

Numbers 27:13

John Gill - Exposition - John Gill

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 manner; see Numbers 20:26.

Numbers 27:14

John Gill - Exposition - John Gill

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 Lord; [See comments on Numbers 20:12], and is...

Numbers 27:15

John Gill - Exposition - John Gill

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; as follows.

Numbers 27:16

John Gill - Exposition - John Gill

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 capacities, and fitness for service, what gifts and...

Numbers 27:17

John Gill - Exposition - John Gill

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 administration of civil government among them, and...

Numbers 27:18

John Gill - Exposition - John Gill

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 the battle with Amalek, Exodus 17:9: a man in...