"God we have a problem. If our sisters marry, we may lose our land."

Numbers Chapter 36: Special Problem of Inheritance in Canaan

Intro to Numbers 36:1-13

Day 96. Just got word today from the Premier of our Province that our City can move to Stage 2 of Re-opening which means: indoor shopping malls can open; barbershops and salons can open; and restaurants can serve meals on their patios only. Social distancing, etc., is still to be maintained, people can only have parties up to 10 individuals at their house, and churches can have worship services at 30% seating capacity. And that’s exactly what we did yesterday at our church, and it went very well.  Thankful for such mercies.  We press on.

Today we have our last study in the book of Numbers. It’s been most interesting but there’s still a few problems to iron out.  Take a look. . .

The Passage

And the heads of the fathers’ households of the family of the sons of Gilead, the son of Machir, the son of Manasseh, of the families of the sons of Joseph, came near and spoke before Moses and before the leaders, the heads of the fathers’ households of the sons of Israel, ² and they said, “The Lord commanded my lord to give the land by lot to the sons of Israel as an inheritance, and my lord was commanded by the Lord to give the inheritance of Zelophehad our brother to his daughters. ³ But if they ^[a]marry one of the sons of the other tribes of the sons of Israel, their inheritance will be withdrawn from the inheritance of our fathers and will be added to the inheritance of the tribe to which they belong; thus it will be withdrawn from our allotted inheritance. ⁴ When the jubilee of the sons of Israel ^[b]comes, then their inheritance will be added to the inheritance of the tribe to which they belong; so their inheritance will be withdrawn from the inheritance of the tribe of our fathers.”

⁵ Then Moses commanded the sons of Israel according to the ^[c]word of the Lord, saying, “The tribe of the sons of Joseph are right in their statements. ⁶ This is ^[d]what the Lord has commanded concerning the daughters of Zelophehad, saying, ‘Let them marry ^[e]whom they wish; only they must marry within the family of the tribe of their father.’⁷ Thus no inheritance of the sons of Israel shall ^[f]be transferred from tribe to tribe, for the sons of Israel shall each ^[g]hold to the inheritance of the tribe of his fathers. ⁸ Every daughter who comes into possession of an inheritance of any tribe of the sons of Israel shall be wife to one of the family of the tribe of her father, so that the sons of Israel each may possess the inheritance of his fathers. ⁹ Thus no inheritance shall ^[h]be transferred from one tribe to another tribe, for the tribes of the sons of Israel shall each ^[i]hold to his own inheritance.”
¹⁰ Just as the Lord had commanded Moses, so the daughters of Zelophehad did:¹¹ Mahlah, Tirzah, Hoglah, Milcah and Noah, the daughters of Zelophehad married their uncles’ sons. ¹² They married those from the families of the sons of Manasseh the son of Joseph, and their inheritance ^[j]remained with the tribe of the family of their father.
¹³ These are the commandments and the ordinances which the Lord commanded to the sons of Israel through Moses in the plains of Moab by the Jordan opposite Jericho.

Footnotes

1. Numbers 36:3 Lit become wives to, in this ch
2. Numbers 36:4 Lit shall be
3. Numbers 36:5 Lit mouth
4. Numbers 36:6 Lit the thing which
5. Numbers 36:6 Lit to the good one in their eyes
6. Numbers 36:7 Lit turn about
7. Numbers 36:7 Lit cleave
8. Numbers 36:9 Lit turn about
9. Numbers 36:9 Lit cleave
10. Numbers 36:12 Lit was

Thoughts on the Passage

You will remember that Manasseh was to get land on both sides of the Jordan – in Moab (east of Jordan) and some in Canaan, the Promised Land itself. They approached Moses and all the leaders of each tribe with a unique problem.

It seems that the land that was to be Zelophehad (from the tribe of Manasseh, son of Joseph) went to his daughters as he had died and left no sons. (You will remember this story from Numbers 16.) So, the stated the obvious which was if one of these five daughters would marry a man from another tribe, their tribe would lose the inherited land and it would be added to the inheritance of the other tribe from whence the new husband came. And there is also reference to this possibly happening when the next ‘jubilee’ came around.

First, it amazes me that, to be it in one way, the tribes were so tribal. Second, that land was the key commodity here between the tribes. This was their biggest concern. One can understand this to be the case as the story of the chosen people goes back to Abraham and there is great evidence of his involvement with land. And of course, from a human perspective, the most important part of the Covenant that God made with Israel was, to the people, the promised ‘land’ rather than that they would multiply to be more than the stars in the sky, or more important still that they would be God’s people and He would be their God. All three were blessings, but they focused on the least important of the three.

After inquiring of the Lord, as was his custom, Moses reported that those raising the concern were right. And thus, God had commanded that the daughters could marry “whom they wished” as long as it was from the tribe of Joseph. Thus, no land would be transferred to another tribe.

Once again, our Hero God comes to the rescue with a most desirable solution. Several things to note here.  First, the number of people in all of the sons of Israel at the time was large enough that what God suggested would not be a problem. Secondly, we note that the women could marry “whom they wished” (verse 6) as long as it was from the tribe of Joseph or the sub-families therein. And this made sense for these five women as they had no brothers and certainly no father to veto their choice. 

What is not clear for me from this passage was whether this “whom they wished” was subject to the agreement of the next of kin male – their uncles. And if so, we can see the complications here seen they would be selecting males to marry from the sons of these very uncles. And if they were to have the final say, then you could see the uncles vying for the most beautiful of the daughters for their son, etc., etc. Not a pretty scene.  So, God again knew what He was doing when He gave this decision to the sons (and daughters) of Israel.

Some commentators, using verse 13 of the chapter, feel that this solution here was also to be perpetual. Others are silent on that, perhaps thinking that the reference to “commandments and ordinances” in verse 13 really referred to all the other commands and ordinances given earlier in the entire book of Numbers.

One other thing that is not clear for me is whether or not this “whom they will” says anything with respect to our more modern marriages today, at least for the believer. I think at the very least, we may agree that the Bible from this point forward does not call for forced or arranged marriages. At the same time, there is enough precedence to state that the Bible strongly recommends that young people marrying should at least have the blessings of the parents and perhaps even the permission of the spouse’s parents. I know when I got married 49 years ago, I asked for my parents’ blessing and I asked my wife’s parents for my future wife’s hand. Fortunately, everyone was in agreement. I am glad I didn’t have to deal with a “negative” from either side. Not sure what I would have done in 1971.

And verse 10 tells us that in fact, each of the five daughters, married their uncles’ sons so that the land inheritance remained with the tribe of their father.

That means they married their “first cousins” and God allowed it.  But He did that for a purpose and in a particular situation at a particular time in the history of the young sons of Israel. We can note that the Bible forbids sexual relations with “close relatives” – but the children of uncles are not listed among that definition. For a good reference for that very issue, click What about marrying your first cousin?

Wrap-up

Not the greatest way to wrap up the book of Numbers in my opinion, but hey, whatever works for Moses and God.  Clearly, as they enter the Promised Land, we may take this challenge of chapter 36 as one that may well predict that the Israelites will have a lot of problems to deal with going forward. But with their leaders going to God for answers, and with God promising to always be with them, they’ll get the answer they’ll need. And obeying those answers, will bring blessings. The problems arise when one person or a whole nation ignores the instructions God gives to them.

Numbers took us from the Exodus to the doorstep of Canaan, the Promised Land. Almost four decades of experience. Now we need to keep in mind that the next book we will study, Deuteronomy, is not a book which tells us what happens next but rather is a series of farewell messages by Moses addressed primarily to the new generation that is about to enter the land. These occur during the forty years, not afterwards. Hang in there.

It would be great if you would share your thoughts or questions on this blog in the comments section below or on social media.

Today we can't even get agreement between two parties often; but God settled 12 of them.

Numbers Chapter 34: Canaan’s Borders are Specified by God; Officials Named to Apportion the Inheritance to the Sons of Israel

(Courtesy of ConformingtoJesus.com)

 

Intro to Numbers 34:1-29

Day 92. Nothing new to report on the Covid-19 front. Some are fearing a second wave on its way; others think it’s still the tail end of the first. Toronto remains in Phase 1 of Re-opening, but with a little gas in your car, you can drive just north of the City and get your hair cut. (Men only; women, I’m told, would rather wait than switch.) We press on with our study of Numbers. In this chapter (Numbers 34), God tells Moses the exact extend of the Promised Land and its southern, western, northern, and eastern borders. Pretty simple really, but no, everybody and their uncle since 1947 when Israel became a state again, somebody has tried to change the boundaries still. Let’s take a closer look.

The Passage

Verses 1-5 describe the southern border.
Verse 6 describes the western border.

Verses 7-9, the northern border.
Verses 10-12, the eastern border.

In verses 13-15, Moses says this land was to be the inheritance for 9.5 tribes as the tribes of Reuben and Gad, and the half-tribe of Manasseh got their inheritance on the other side of the Jordan earlier.

Verses 16-29 tell that in charge of this division of property would be Eleazar the high priest and Joshua. They would have ten men (one from each of the 9.5 tribes) helping them out.

Thoughts on the Passage

The first thing I notice here is that we had 12 tribes (but 13 groups since the tribe of Joseph was two half-tribes). Two and a half tribes (or 3 groups) got their land east of the Jordan. The tribe of Levi gets no land as they are the priesthood. That would leave 9.5 groups to get the land west of the Jordan, which agrees with verse 13 of this chapter.

However, one of those groups that got their land earlier, east of the Jordan was that of Manasseh.  Yet that group has a leader appointed (see verse 23) to assist in this division of property.

Robert Jamieson says that the appointee was from the “western segment of the half-tribe of Manasseh – applying that some of Manasseh’s tribe did decide to reside in the Promised Land. And when we check the majority of the maps describing that period of time, we find that Manasseh’s tribe did indeed reside on both sides of the Jordan – some stayed in the old land of the Moabites and some went into the Promised Land.

Also, we would note that as Jamieson writes, “The names are mentioned in the exact order in which the tribes obtained possession of the land, and according to brotherly connection.”

Also, take a look at verse 5 – the reference there is to “the brook of Egypt”. David Guzik says: “There is some debate about the identity of the Brook of Egypt; is it the Nile river, or a smaller stream towards the south? This would determine whether or not God gave the greater Sinai region to Israel as part of the Promised Land.”  Most maps show the “brook or the river of Egypt” to cut through modern-day Egypt – but clearly the Israelites didn’t claim that in 1947.

Wrap-up

At first, I had to do some real mathematical gymnastics to make the events and numbers of chapter 32 balance with those of this chapter. The ‘snag’ for me was that Manasseh’s half-tribe had one might say a split-personality.

God, the Hero of every chapter of the Bible, indeed kept His Word and gave land, in accordance to their size, and I would imagine, what was already there, to each of the tribes that wanted to cross over Jordan and enter the Promised Land.

He was even generous enough to allows some tribes (Reuben, Gad, and half of the half-tribe of Manasseh) to not end up in the Promised Land, and going even further, He allowed Manasseh’s half-tribe to be split into two again, so that some crossed over Jordan and some didn’t. This is the accommodating character of God to give His children what He possibly could, while at the same time, ensuring that His divine plan for us is being fulfilled.

We serve an amazing God.

It would be great if you would share your thoughts or questions on this blog in the comments section below or on social media.

Women Seek Justice Due to their Gender and God Agrees.

Numbers 27:1-11 God Provides The Land Inheritance for Daughters Where There Are No Sons

Day 82. But not for New Zealand – all restrictions have been removed there.  Good for them. We’re still waiting our turn while our politicians seem to be experimenting with socialism and control. Meanwhile all over the U.S., people are demanding that their police departments either be defunded or totally eliminated. And they say after that, they’ll figure out how to keep their cities safe. People have lost all sense of right and wrong. The Black Lives Movement is causing quite a stir but more and more blacks themselves are speaking out against it with some very convincing evidence. Finally, as I watch social media each day now, I’m sensing a growing feeling of despair among many with comments like, “What’s the use?” or “It’s too late now.” Well, the Truth is that it is not too late at all. We can have a purpose, we can have hope, we can have peace, and we can love. And we do it all with God and by understanding His Word which gives us His Plan for the world. And so, we keep on trucking studying our Bible and even look for its gems in what most consider to be an otherwise uninteresting book – the book of Numbers. We discovered that it isn’t.  Read on.

The Passage

27 Then the daughters of Zelophehad, the son of Hepher, the son of Gilead, the son of Machir, the son of Manasseh, of the families of Manasseh the son of Joseph, came near; and these are the names of his daughters: Mahlah, Noah and Hoglah and Milcah and Tirzah. ² They stood before Moses and before Eleazar the priest and before the leaders and all the congregation, at the doorway of the tent of meeting, saying, ³ “Our father died in the wilderness, yet he was not among the company of those who gathered themselves together against the Lord in the company of Korah; but he died in his own sin, and he had no sons. ⁴ Why should the name of our father be withdrawn from among his family because he had no son? Give us a possession among our father’s brothers.”⁵ So Moses brought their case before the Lord.

⁶ Then the Lord spoke to Moses, saying, ⁷ “The daughters of Zelophehad are right in their statements. You shall surely give them a hereditary possession among their father’s brothers, and you shall transfer the inheritance of their father to them. ⁸ Further, you shall speak to the sons of Israel, saying, ‘If a man dies and has no son, then you shall transfer his inheritance to his daughter. ⁹ If he has no daughter, then you shall give his inheritance to his brothers. ¹⁰ If he has no brothers, then you shall give his inheritance to his father’s brothers. ¹¹ If his father has no brothers, then you shall give his inheritance to his nearest relative in his own family, and he shall possess it; and it shall be a statutory ordinance to the sons of Israel, just as the Lord commanded Moses.’”

Thoughts on the Passage

Here in this passage we have the female descendants of Joseph (you’ll remember his brothers sold him to some traders who in turn sold him in Egypt as a slave), some six generations later, coming to Moses with a complaint that involves fairness. We also note this appears, at least by this passage, that this the last dispute or concern that Moses has to deal with before dying.

These daughters stood before Moses and Eleazar pointing out the unfairness of their families not being given any land inheritance as they weren’t ‘sons’. Their father had no sons. As part of their case, they present the fact that while their father may have had his own sin, and thus rightfully died in the wilderness, he at least was not part of the company of Korah who rose up against the Lord. So, they were asking “Why then should we be punished?” And they simply asked for their “possession among their father’s brothers who had sons.” It does not sound like a ‘rocket-science’ issue for us today. These ‘daughters’ were right.

But clearly in those days, it was a patriarchal world and women only had the rights afforded to them by man. By now we should also know what Moses does when he is presented with a problem or an issue. He goes to God; and that is exactly what he did this time as well. And God responds.

Now we know that many accuse God and Christ and us Christians of not promoting the equality of women. I have always maintained that nothing could be furthest from the truth. I believe that women are honored by God, by Christ, and by true followers of our Lord’s. Many years ago I read a book that very eloquently and convincingly was able to put that argument in print. For those interested, the book is called: 

Slaves, Women & Homosexuals: Exploring the Hermeneutics of Culture Analysis

By Wm. J. Webb

Published by Intervarsity, 2001

 It is well worth looking into.  It shows the progression of how God started from the cultures that developed from the beginning of humanity, and move them along, pushing the envelope in the first two of these areas, right through to the New Testament church, but holding the line on the third.

With that in mind, the Lord doesn’t beat about the bush. He starts off His response to Moses by saying, “Look, these daughters are right in what they say. So, give them a hereditary possession among their father’s brothers, and transfer the inheritance of their father to them.”

God cares for what is right. He cares about these women who have no brothers to take them and their families in. Normally, brothers are responsible for their sisters. But where that is not possible, God steps in and does the job one way or another.

And God uses this opportunity to establish some other rules about how inheritance is supposed to work. He establishes the following rules:

1.     A man dies without having sons, inheritance goes to his daughter(s).

2.     If he has no daughter, to his brothers.

3.     If he has no brothers, to his nearest relative in his own family.

And the above was to be a statutory ordinance.

In my opinion, God has always been for justice and righteousness and for taking care of those in need. No woman’s lib organization or movement was needed. In an ideal patriarchal society, women were honored by being taken care of throughout their lives. In Christ’s time, He often spoke of women and with women and for women – all with high regard and esteem; and always with love and compassion. And today, the true Christian man honors his wife and loves her like Christ loves His church. The true Christian male today honors and loves his daughters. He protects them and thanks God for them. God was not a male chauvinist, neither was Christ. And neither is the true Christian male today.

It would be great if you would share your thoughts or questions on this blog in the comments section below or on social media.

Almost Four Decades of Numerical and Spiritual Stagnation -- Would the Israelites Ever Learn?

Numbers Chapter 26: The 2^nd Census; Dividing the Land; and No Inheritance for the Levites and the Old Generation

Numbers 26:1-65

Day 81 of “please stay home; please wear a mask; please keep six feet apart; and no you can’t go out to eat; no, you can’t get your hair cut; no, you can’t have church services in person; but feel free to get an abortion; go to a casino; and now, feel free to protest (even riot and loot) in large groups – we won’t touch you, and if we do, you’ll be out of jail in a few hours.”  Okay, you get my point. But heck, those 81 days are twice the number of years the children of Israel spent in the desert. So, I guess I can’t really complain. My wife is still with and My God isn’t leaving. I have a calmness in my heart as I learn more about God and His children, studying the book of Numbers.  Thanks for joining me.

The Passage

Verses 1-51 give us an account of the second census that took place after the plague we recently talked about. Again, this was for those 20 years old and up males by their fathers’ households (not equivalent to tribes please note). (That’s verse 2). However, the instructions that Moses and Eleazar passed on in verse 4 refers to “people” not just “sons” or males.

In verses 9-10, there is reference to those sons of Eliab (Dathan and Abiram) that had died, along with Korah, in chapter 16 after they had rebelled against Moses. But the sons of Korah were still alive. So, they were counted.

And in verse 51, we learn that the total number of the sons of Israel remaining at that time were 601,730. [Don’t worry, I counted the twelve figures given for the twelve households (again not tribes) and that total is correct.] The Levites were excluded from that number.

Verses 52-56 describe God’s way of dividing the land they were to possess by tribe, as an inheritance. The bigger the tribe, the bigger the inheritance and vice-versa.  The actual land to be selected would be done so by drawing of lots.

Verses 57-62 tell us that the Levites would not have any land as an inheritance. They were 23,000 in number, but they were numbered from a month old and up (verse 62). There are some other interesting things going on in those verses, but the main point is that they weren’t included in the second census as they weren’t getting any land. And this census seemed to be about that.

In verses 63-65, we also learn that no one who had left Egypt with Moses and counted in the first census were still around to be counted except for Caleb and Joshua.  They weren’t getting any land inheritance or any inheritance for that matter, since they had all died.

Thoughts on the Passage

I am amazed by the exactness of this chapter’s numbers. I also find it interesting that the Levites were not counted in either the first or this second census because they were not to get any land but more importantly, because they were not to go to war. They were counted separately at another time.

The author also talks about there not being any of the “old generation” who left Egypt with Moses and Aaron. Of course, Aaron, is dead at this point, and it is his son, Eleazar that works with Moses in this census. On the other hand, this census too was a military one as we see from the end of verse 2.

You can compare the gains and losses of each tribe’s men from the fiest census (38 years earlier) to the second census. For example, Reuben lost 6%, while Simeon lost 63%. Gad lost 11%; Judah on the other hand gained 3%. Issachar gained 18%, Zebulun 5%, and Manasseh had a remarkable gain of 64%. Ephraim lost 20% while Benjamin gained 29%, although Dan only gained 3%. Asher gained 29% and Naphtali lost 15%.

Overall, however, the numbers stained relatively the same, with mere loss of 1,820 men or 0.3%. Remember, Israel was supposed to grow and multiply. But during their 40 years they remained basically stagnant much like their spiritual condition.

It is the first and the second censuses that give the book of Numbers its name.

Matthew Henry would have us note that Moses did not count the people unless or until God told him to. This contrasts with David we did it on his own initiative and paid dearly for it. God was Israel’s King, not Moses and a census is an act of authority that would only be exercised at the command of the King.

With this census near the end of their journeys in the wilderness, God was saying these are those that are ‘registered’ to inherit the Promised Land and thus its land, according to their numbers. And remember, while this instruction was given to Moses, as he was not to get to the promised land, it was meant for him to pass on to Joshua. How hard that must have been for Moses.

In the last two verses of the chapter we see that the righteousness of God is fully present as none of the complainers and murmurers were left to go into the Promised Land. We also see that the Goodness of God to His people is fully evident in that God raised up another generation, as numerous, and through it, Israel’s name would not vanish. The inheritance of the Promise would still be given to their children.

Finally, Henry reminds that herein is also shown the Truth of God, in performing His promise made to Caleb and Joshua. They were to be “preserved from falling in this common ruin.” We must remember that in all of things God allows, God has perfect control of who is impacted by death and who lives. We need to be fully aware of that.

What are our takeaways here? Simply these:

1. God is our King.

2. He keeps His word and His promises.

3. He loves us more than we deserve.

4. He warns us more than we deserve.

5. The rest is indeed up to us.

It would be great if you would share your thoughts or questions on this blog in the comments section below or on social media.

A Life Policy That Takes Us to Where No Policy Is Needed -- Exodus 15:17-18

“Thou wilt bring them and plant them in the mountain of Thine inheritance, The place, O Lord, which Thou hast made for Thy dwelling, The sanctuary, O Lord, which Thy hands have established.  The Lord shall reign forever and ever.”
 
First, I must clear up any misconception some may have that I consider a personal acceptance of Jesus Christ simply as an insurance policy.  It is much, much, more and it requires a very active involvement on our part.  While the salvation aspect is indeed totally one-sided (His) save and except our willingness to accept it, the desire of the Underwriter is that we live a life that fully honors and glorifies Him, as well as a life that is fully reliant on Him.  Our contribution to the contract is not in the guarantee of salvation, for that is a totally free gift of God’s to man.  Rather, our contribution begins after we accept that gift and is measured in terms of our service to Him through both our acts towards others and our adoration for Him.

But let us look at this policy a little closer.  Its terms just keep getting better.  God “will bring (us)” to the place of His inheritance.  In the text this is a reference to the land of Canaan.  But in the parallel of the story, for us, it is our “promised land”, an eternal life that begins the moment we accept the gift of salvation and acquire the policy.  Not only does He personally “bring us” there but the text says, He will “plant (us)” there.  There will be no more displacement.  No need to be repotted elsewhere.  No need to look for another insurer or policy.  Our roots there will be firm and eventually lead us to heaven for eternity.

Secondly, the “mountain of His inheritance” is His dwelling place as well.  As I pick up my paper each morning from the front porch, I watch loving parents drop their children off at a neighbor’s place for daycare.  They have brought them there and helped them get established, but ultimately they have to go to work and leave them in the hands of others until someone comes back to pick to them up.  God, on the other hand, takes us to our destination, establishes us, and stays with us.  For the Israelites, Canaan (the mountain) was the border of God’s sanctuary (they had to go through Canaan in this life) before they could end up in God’s sanctuary.  Similarly, life for us is our Canaan.  We have to go through this often dangerous and difficult life journey, this mountain, before we can enter into Heaven, the sanctuary of God.

And why would anyone want to go to Heaven?  I do not know about you but as I read the story of Genesis and the garden of Eden, I so very much desired to have had the pleasure of being there, seeing what God designed and created with His own hands, and totally unmarred by human hands and minds.  But alas, I cannot go to the garden of Eden, only to where people think it was and so much has changed.  But I can go to the sanctuary of God.  I can go to Heaven.  I so much want to see God’s creation of this incredible mansion for us all.  A mansion that none of us can fully comprehend from where we are today.  A mansion untainted by any sinful thought or action of man.  It is perfect.  And it is eternal for God will rule eternally and no one, or nothing, will ever be allowed to interrupt that reign again.  I want to be there.  I want to be part of it.

This week my wife and I are making final arrangements for our funerals.  As funny as it seems, these arrangements are really not for us.  When we are gone, we will not need any arrangements.  No one needs anything after they die.  Their purpose is to make life a little simpler for our children.  But as I thought about our upcoming meeting to finalize our plans (really a pre-bought funeral type of insurance), I thought of where another insurance, our policy with Jesus Christ, will ultimately take us.  I, for one, want to have this insurance that ultimately takes me to place where I no longer need it.

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It would be great if you would share your thoughts or questions on this blog in the comments section below or on social media.