Numbers 27

Nu 27:1-11.

THE

DAUGHTERS OF

ZELOPHEHAD

ASK FOR AN

INHERITANCE.

3. Our father died in the wilderness, and he was not . . . in the

company of . . . Korah--This declaration might be necessary because

his death might have occurred about the time of that rebellion; and

especially because, as the children of these conspirators were involved

along with their fathers in the awful punishment, their plea appeared

the more proper and forcible that their father did not die for any cause

that doomed his family to lose their lives or their inheritance.

died in his own sin--that is, by the common law of mortality to which

men, through sin, are subject.

4. Give unto us a possession among the brethren of our father--Those

young women perceived that the males only in families had been

registered in the census. Because there were none in their household,

their family was omitted. So they made known their grievance to Moses,

and the authorities conjoined with him in administering justice. The

case was important; and as the peculiarity of daughters being the sole

members of a family would be no infrequent or uncommon occurrence, the

law of inheritance, under divine authority, was extended not only to

meet all similar cases, but other cases also--such as when there were

no children left by the proprietor, and no brothers to succeed him. A

distribution of the promised land was about to be made; and it is

interesting to know the legal provision made in these comparatively

rare cases for preserving a patrimony from being alienated to another

tribe. (See on

Nu 36:5).

Nu 27:12-17.

MOSES

BEING

TOLD OF

HIS

APPROACHING

DEATH,

ASKS FOR A

SUCCESSOR.

12. The Lord said unto Moses, Get thee up into this mount Abarim, and

see the land--Although the Israelites were now on the confines of the

promised land, Moses was not privileged to cross the Jordan, but died

on one of the Moabitic range of mountains, to which the general name of

Abarim was given

(Nu 33:47).

The privation of this great honor was owing to the unhappy conduct he

had manifested in the striking of the rock at Meribah

[Nu 20:12];

and while the pious leader submitted with meek acquiescence to the

divine decree, he evinced the spirit of genuine patriotism in his

fervent prayers for the appointment of a worthy and competent successor

[Nu 27:15-17].

16. God of the spirits of all flesh, set a man over the

congregation--The request was most suitably made to God in this

character, as the Author of all the intellectual gifts and moral graces

with which men are endowed, and who can raise up qualified persons for

the most arduous duties and the most difficult situations.

Nu 27:18-23.

JOSHUA

APPOINTED TO

SUCCEED

HIM.

18. Take thee Joshua . . . a man in whom is the spirit, and lay thine

hand upon him--A strong testimony is here borne to the personality of

the divine Spirit--the imposition of hands was an ancient ceremony. (See

Ge 48:14;

Le 1:4;

1Ti 4:14).

20, 21. Thou shalt put some of thine honour upon him--In the whole

history of Israel there arose no prophet or ruler in all respects like

unto Moses till the Messiah appeared, whose glory eclipsed all. But

Joshua was honored and qualified in an eminent degree, through the

special service of the high priest, who asked counsel for him after the

judgment of Urim before the Lord.