Numbers 36:2

King James Version:

(The Lord speaking is red text)

And they said, The LORD commanded my lord to give the land for an inheritance by lot to the children of Israel: and my lord was commanded by the LORD to give the inheritance of Zelophehad our brother unto his daughters.

Complete Jewish Bible:

They said, "ADONAI ordered my lord to give by lot the land to be inherited by the people of Isra'el, and my lord was ordered by ADONAI to give the inheritance of our kinsman Tz'lof'chad to his daughters.

Berean Standard Bible:

saying, “When the LORD commanded my lord to give the land as an inheritance to the Israelites by lot, He also commanded him to give the inheritance of our brother Zelophehad to his daughters.

American Standard Version:

and they said, Jehovah commanded my lord to give the land for inheritance by lot to the children of Israel: and my lord was commanded by Jehovah to give the inheritance of Zelophehad our brother unto his daughters.

KJV with Strong’s Numbers:

And they said^{H559}, The LORD^{H3068} commanded^{H6680} my lord^{H113} to give^{H5414} the land^{H776} for an inheritance^{H5159} by lot^{H1486} to the children^{H1121} of Israel^{H3478}: and my lord^{H113} was commanded^{H6680} by the LORD^{H3068} to give^{H5414} the inheritance^{H5159} of Zelophehad^{H6765} our brother^{H251} unto his daughters^{H1323}.

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Commentary for Numbers 36:2

**Numbers 36:2 Summary and Historical Context:**

**Themes:**
- **Inheritance Rights:** The verse addresses the issue of property rights within the Israelite community, particularly concerning the daughters of Zelophehad.
- **Divine Authority:** It emphasizes that the distribution of the Promised Land is not merely a human decision but a divine command from the Lord.
- **Gender Inclusivity:** The passage reflects on the progressive stance that daughters have rights to inheritance in the absence of male heirs, as previously established in Numbers 27.
- **Legal Precedent:** The case of Zelophehad's daughters sets a precedent for Israelite inheritance law, ensuring fairness and the preservation of family land within the tribe.

**Historical Context:**
- **Time Period:** The events occur towards the end of the 40-year wilderness wandering, just before the Israelites are to enter the Promised Land of Canaan.
- **Location:** The Israelites are encamped in the plains of Moab, east of the Jordan River, preparing to cross into Canaan.
- **Social Context:** The Israelite society is tribal, with land being a central aspect of identity, economy, and social structure. The allocation of land was crucial for the establishment and continuity of tribes and families in the new land.
- **Legal Background:** The case of Zelophehad's daughters had already been brought before Moses, resulting in a change of inheritance law to include daughters when no sons were present (Numbers 27:1-11). Numbers 36 addresses a concern raised by the family's clan about the potential implications of this new law on tribal land holdings.

In summary, Numbers 36:2 reflects the themes of divine mandate, inheritance rights, and legal precedent within the historical context of the Israelites' imminent settlement in Canaan, emphasizing equity and the preservation of tribal inheritances.

*This commentary is produced by Microsoft/WizardLM-2-8x22B AI model

Strong's Numbers and Definitions:

Note: H = Hebrew (OT), G = Greek (NT)

1. Strong's Number: H559
   There are 4434 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: אָמַר
   Transliteration: ʼâmar
   Pronunciation: aw-mar'
   Description: a primitive root; to say (used with great latitude); answer, appoint, avouch, bid, boast self, call, certify, challenge, charge, [phrase] (at the, give) command(-ment), commune, consider, declare, demand, [idiom] desire, determine, [idiom] expressly, [idiom] indeed, [idiom] intend, name, [idiom] plainly, promise, publish, report, require, say, speak (against, of), [idiom] still, [idiom] suppose, talk, tell, term, [idiom] that is, [idiom] think, use (speech), utter, [idiom] verily, [idiom] yet.
   
2. Strong's Number: H3068
   There are 5521 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: יְהֹוָה
   Transliteration: Yᵉhôvâh
   Pronunciation: yeh-ho-vaw'
   Description: from הָיָה; (the) self-Existent or Eternal; Jehovah, Jewish national name of God; Jehovah, the Lord. Compare יָהּ, יְהֹוִה.
   
3. Strong's Number: H6680
   There are 475 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: צָוָה
   Transliteration: tsâvâh
   Pronunciation: tsaw-vaw'
   Description: a primitive root; (intensively) to constitute, enjoin; appoint, (for-) bid, (give a) charge, (give a, give in, send with) command(-er, -ment), send a messenger, put, (set) in order.
   
4. Strong's Number: H113
   There are 337 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: אָדוֹן
   Transliteration: ʼâdôwn
   Pronunciation: aw-done'
   Description: or (shortened) אָדֹן; from an unused root (meaning to rule); sovereign, i.e. controller (human or divine); lord, master, owner. Compare also names beginning with 'Adoni-'.
   
5. Strong's Number: H5414
   There are 1816 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: נָתַן
   Transliteration: nâthan
   Pronunciation: naw-than'
   Description: a primitive root; to give, used with greatest latitude of application (put, make, etc.); add, apply, appoint, ascribe, assign, [idiom] avenge, [idiom] be (healed), bestow, bring (forth, hither), cast, cause, charge, come, commit, consider, count, [phrase] cry, deliver (up), direct, distribute, do, [idiom] doubtless, [idiom] without fail, fasten, frame, [idiom] get, give (forth, over, up), grant, hang (up), [idiom] have, [idiom] indeed, lay (unto charge, up), (give) leave, lend, let (out), [phrase] lie, lift up, make, [phrase] O that, occupy, offer, ordain, pay, perform, place, pour, print, [idiom] pull, put (forth), recompense, render, requite, restore, send (out), set (forth), shew, shoot forth (up), [phrase] sing, [phrase] slander, strike, (sub-) mit, suffer, [idiom] surely, [idiom] take, thrust, trade, turn, utter, [phrase] weep, [phrase] willingly, [phrase] withdraw, [phrase] would (to) God, yield.
   
6. Strong's Number: H776
   There are 2739 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: אֶרֶץ
   Transliteration: ʼerets
   Pronunciation: eh'-rets
   Description: from an unused root probably meaning to be firm; the earth (at large, or partitively a land); [idiom] common, country, earth, field, ground, land, [idiom] natins, way, [phrase] wilderness, world.
   
7. Strong's Number: H5159
   There are 191 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: נַחֲלָה
   Transliteration: nachălâh
   Pronunciation: nakh-al-aw'
   Description: from נָחַל (in its usual sense); properly, something inherited, i.e. (abstractly) occupancy, or (concretely) an heirloom; generally an estate, patrimony or portion; heritage, to inherit, inheritance, possession. Compare נַחַל.
   
8. Strong's Number: H1486
   There are 67 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: גּוֹרָל
   Transliteration: gôwrâl
   Pronunciation: go-rawl'
   Description: or (shortened) גֹּרָל; from an unused root meaning to be rough (as stone); properly, a pebble, i.e. a lot (small stones being used for that purpose); figuratively, a portion or destiny (as if determined by lot); lot.
   
9. Strong's Number: H1121
   There are 3654 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: בֵּן
   Transliteration: bên
   Pronunciation: bane
   Description: from בָּנָה; a son (as a builder of the family name), in the widest sense (of literal and figurative relationship, including grandson, subject, nation, quality or condition, etc., (like father or brother), etc.); [phrase] afflicted, age, (Ahoh-) (Ammon-) (Hachmon-) (Lev-) ite, (anoint-) ed one, appointed to, ([phrase]) arrow, (Assyr-) (Babylon-) (Egypt-) (Grec-) ian, one born, bough, branch, breed, [phrase] (young) bullock, [phrase] (young) calf, [idiom] came up in, child, colt, [idiom] common, [idiom] corn, daughter, [idiom] of first, [phrase] firstborn, foal, [phrase] very fruitful, [phrase] postage, [idiom] in, [phrase] kid, [phrase] lamb, ([phrase]) man, meet, [phrase] mighty, [phrase] nephew, old, ([phrase]) people, [phrase] rebel, [phrase] robber, [idiom] servant born, [idiom] soldier, son, [phrase] spark, [phrase] steward, [phrase] stranger, [idiom] surely, them of, [phrase] tumultuous one, [phrase] valiant(-est), whelp, worthy, young (one), youth.
   
10. Strong's Number: H3478
    There are 2229 instances of this translation in the Bible
    Lemma: יִשְׂרָאֵל
    Transliteration: Yisrâʼêl
    Pronunciation: yis-raw-ale'
    Description: from שָׂרָה and אֵל; he will rule as God; Jisrael, a symbolical name of Jacob; also (typically) of his posterity; Israel.
    
11. Strong's Number: H6765
    There are 9 instances of this translation in the Bible
    Lemma: צְלׇפְחָד
    Transliteration: Tsᵉlophchâd
    Pronunciation: tsel-of-chawd'
    Description: from the same as צָלָף and אֶחָד; Tselophchad, an Israelite; Zelophehad.
    
12. Strong's Number: H251
    There are 636 instances of this translation in the Bible
    Lemma: אָח
    Transliteration: ʼâch
    Pronunciation: awkh
    Description: a primitive word; a brother (used in the widest sense of literal relationship and metaphorical affinity or resemblance (like father)); another, brother(-ly); kindred, like, other. Compare also the proper names beginning with 'Ah-' or 'Ahi-'.
    
13. Strong's Number: H1323
    There are 499 instances of this translation in the Bible
    Lemma: בַּת
    Transliteration: bath
    Pronunciation: bath
    Description: from בָּנָה (as feminine of בֵּן); a daughter (used in the same wide sense as other terms of relationship, literally and figuratively); apple (of the eye), branch, company, daughter, [idiom] first, [idiom] old, [phrase] owl, town, village.