Chapter 27

1
the daughters In the orders for the division of the land, just given, no provision had been made for females, in case of failure of male issue. The five daughters of Zelophehad, therefore, considered themselves as destitute, having neither father nor brother, and being themselves entirely overlooked; and they agreed to refer the case to Moses and the rulers, whether it were not equitable that they should inherit their father's portion. This led to the enactment of an additional law to the civil code of Israel, which satisfactorily ascertained and amply secured the right of succession in cases of inheritance. This law, which is as reasonable as it is just, stands thus -

1. On the demise of the father, the estate descends to the sons.

2. If there be no son, the daughters succeed.

3. If there be no daughter, the brothers of the deceased inherit.

4. If there be no brethren, or paternal uncles, the estate goes to the grand uncles, or brothers of his father.

5. If there be no grand uncles, then the nearest of kin succeeds to the inheritance.

Beyond this fifth degree the law does not extend, because there must always have been some among the Israelites who could be called kinsmen.

Zelophehad Num 26:33, Num 36:1-12; Josh 17:3-6; 1Chr 7:15; Gal 3:28


2
Num 15:33-34; Exod 18:13-14, Exod 18:19-26; Deut 17:8-10


3
Rosenmuller translates this verse as follows: "Our father died in the wilderness, leaving no sons; nor was he among those who rebelled against the Lord with Korah, who died on account of his own sin." Professor Dathe, however, understands by "his own sin," that sin which was common to all the Israelites, who died on account of their unbelief.

died in the Num 14:35, Num 26:64-65

in the company Num 16:1-3, Num 16:19, Num 16:32-35, Num 16:49, Num 26:9-10

died in his Ezek 18:4; John 8:21, John 8:24; Rom 5:12, Rom 5:21, Rom 6:23


4
Why Exod 32:11; Ps 109:13; Prov 13:9

done away Heb. diminished

Give Josh 17:4


5
Num 15:34; Exod 18:15-19, Exod 25:22; Lev 24:12-13; Job 23:4; Prov 3:5-6


6
Ps 68:5-6; Gal 3:28


7
Num 36:1-2; Ps 68:5; Jer 49:11; Gal 3:28


11
kinsman Lev 25:25, Lev 25:49; Ruth 4:3-6; Jer 32:8

a statute Num 35:29; 1Sam 30:25


12
mount Num 33:47-48; Deut 3:27, Deut 32:49, Deut 34:1-4


13
thou also Num 31:2; Gen 25:8, Gen 25:17

as Aaron Num 20:24-28, Num 33:38; Deut 10:6, Deut 32:50


14
ye rebelled Num 20:8-13; Deut 1:37, Deut 32:51-52; Ps 106:32-33

Meribah Num 20:1, Num 20:13, Num 20:24; Exod 17:7


16
the Lord Yehowah elohey haroochoth lechol basar, "Jehovah, the God of the spirits of all flesh." This address sufficiently proves, that this holy man believed man to be compounded of flesh and spirit, and that these principles are perfectly distinct. Either the materiality of the soul is a human fable, or, if it be a true doctrine, Moses did not pray under the influence of the Divine Spirit. There is a similar form of expression in Num 16:22 : "O God, the God of the spirits of all flesh;" and in Job 12:10, "In whose hand is the soul (nephesh) of all living; and the spirit (rooach) of all flesh of man." These seem decisive proofs, among many others, that the Old Testament teaches that there is an immortal spirit in man; for though rooach sometimes denotes breath or wind, yet it certainly has not that signification here, nor in the other passages cited.

the God Num 16:22; Heb 12:9

set a man Deut 31:14; 1Sam 12:13; 1Kgs 5:5; Jer 3:15, Jer 23:4-5; Ezek 34:11-16, Ezek 34:23; Ezek 37:24; Matt 9:38; John 10:11; Acts 20:28; 1Pet 5:2-4


17
go out Deut 31:2; 1Sam 8:20, 1Sam 18:13; 2Sam 5:2; 1Kgs 3:7; 2Chr 1:10; John 10:3-4, John 10:9

as sheep 1Kgs 22:17; 2Chr 18:16; Ezek 34:5; Zech 10:2, Zech 13:7; Matt 9:36, Matt 10:6; Matt 15:24; Mark 6:34; 1Pet 2:25


18
Take thee Num 11:28, Num 13:8, Num 13:16; Exod 17:9; Deut 3:28, Deut 31:7-8, Deut 31:23, Deut 34:9

a man Num 11:17; Gen 41:38; Judg 3:10, Judg 11:29; 1Sam 16:13-14, 1Sam 16:18; Dan 5:14; John 3:34; Acts 6:3; 1Cor 12:4-11

lay Num 27:23; Deut 34:9; Acts 6:6, Acts 8:15-19, Acts 13:3, Acts 19:6; 1Tim 4:14, 1Tim 5:22; Heb 6:2


19
give him Deut 31:7; Luke 9:1-5, Luke 10:2-11; Acts 20:28-31; Col 4:17; 1Tim 5:21; 1Tim 6:13-17; 2Tim 4:1-6


20
put some Num 11:17, Num 11:28-29; 1Sam 10:6, 1Sam 10:9; 2Kgs 2:9-10, 2Kgs 2:15; 1Chr 29:23, 1Chr 29:25

may be Josh 1:16-18


21
he shall Josh 9:14; Judg 1:1, Judg 20:18, Judg 20:23, Judg 20:26-28; 1Sam 22:10, 1Sam 23:9, 1Sam 28:6, 1Sam 30:7

Urim Exod 28:30; Lev 8:8; Deut 33:8; 1Sam 28:6; Ezra 2:63; Neh 7:65

at his word Num 27:17; Josh 9:14; 1Sam 22:10-15


23
Num 27:19; Deut 3:28, Deut 31:7-8


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