Numbers 36:1 - Meaning and Application

Here we have the humble request the leaders of the tribe of Manasseh made to Moses and the princes, after the recent law about Zelophehad’s daughters. This family belonged to the half of Manasseh that was still waiting for its share of land east of Jordan, not the half that had already settled. Even so, they spoke of “the land of our possession” and “the inheritance of our fathers” with confidence, because they trusted God’s promise.

In their request, they first repeat the earlier law fairly and do not ask to cancel it. “The Lord commanded that Zelophehad’s inheritance be given to his daughters” (Numbers 36:2), and they are content with that. They know this could one day help their own families too, if they had daughters in the same situation. So they do not complain about God’s rule, they accept it.

They then point out a possible problem if Zelophehad’s daughters married men from other tribes (Numbers 36:3). This was likely more than a guess. Some young men from other tribes may already have been courting them because they were heiresses, hoping to gain land through marriage. That kind of thing often happens, where marriage is shaped more by property than by personal fit. “Wisdom is good with an inheritance,” but wealth without wisdom is no real blessing.

Yet these daughters may also have been respected for their character, not just for their inheritance. Still, the leaders saw the danger and brought the matter to Moses so he could seek God’s guidance. God could have guarded against the problem earlier, but he allowed the issue to come up so they would use both prudence and faith. In our own affairs, we should trust God’s providence and also act wisely.

Although these men were the chief fathers of their families, and could have pressed their own view on the daughters, they chose to take the matter to Moses instead. That was wise. We should not like to be judges in our own case, because it is hard to be fair to ourselves. In many situations, it is easier to accept good advice than to give it, and there is peace in being directed.

They had two main concerns. First, they wanted to protect God’s rule about inheritances. The land had been given by lot to the tribes, and they feared that if these daughters married outside Manasseh, a large part of Manasseh’s share would pass to another tribe. The children would belong to the father’s tribe, not the mother’s. This would not take away anything from the daughters themselves, but it would weaken the tribe as a whole. They felt bound to guard the honor of their tribe, especially since half of Manasseh had already settled on the other side of Jordan.

Second, they wanted to prevent future disputes and family quarrels. If land passed into another tribe through marriage, it could later become a source of confusion and conflict. People might challenge the title, and small problems could grow into serious trouble. Those who own property should handle it wisely so that no strife rises among their descendants.