Numbers 27:2

And they stood before Moses, and before Eleazar the priest, and before the princes and all the congregation, [by] the door of the tabernacle of the congregation, saying,

And they stood {H5975} before {H6440} Moses {H4872}, and before {H6440} Eleazar {H499} the priest {H3548}, and before {H6440} the princes {H5387} and all the congregation {H5712}, by the door {H6607} of the tabernacle {H168} of the congregation {H4150}, saying {H559},

They stood in front of Moshe, El'azar the cohen, the leaders and the whole community at the entrance to the tent of meeting and said,

the entrance to the Tent of Meeting, stood before Moses, Eleazar the priest, the leaders, and the whole congregation, and said,

And they stood before Moses, and before Eleazar the priest, and before the princes and all the congregation, at the door of the tent of meeting, saying,

Numbers 27:2 sets the scene for a pivotal legal case in ancient Israel, introducing the formal and public setting where the daughters of Zelophehad presented their unique petition.

Context

This verse immediately follows the introduction of the five daughters of Zelophehad in Numbers 27:1, who faced a significant challenge regarding their family's inheritance. Their father had died in the wilderness without any sons, which, under typical patriarchal inheritance customs, would mean their family line would lose its portion of the Promised Land. Their courageous action of standing "before Moses, and before Eleazar the priest, and before the princes and all the congregation" at the central place of worship and governance—"the door of the tabernacle of the congregation"—underscores the gravity and public nature of their plea. The tabernacle served as the physical manifestation of God's presence among His people and the primary location for divine consultation and judicial matters.

Key Themes

  • Justice and Inheritance Rights: The central issue revolves around the equitable distribution of land in Canaan and whether female heirs could inherit property to maintain their family's legacy. This case challenged and ultimately expanded existing legal precedents.
  • Access to Leadership and Advocacy: The scene demonstrates that individuals, even those without traditional societal power, could approach the highest authorities—Moses (the civil leader), Eleazar (the spiritual leader), and the tribal princes—to seek justice. It highlights the importance of proper channels for addressing grievances.
  • Divine Guidance in Law: The presence at the tabernacle signifies that this was not merely a secular legal dispute but a matter requiring divine wisdom and the Lord's direct intervention, as seen in Moses bringing their cause before the Lord.

Linguistic Insights

The phrase "tabernacle of the congregation" translates the Hebrew ohel mo'ed, commonly rendered as "tent of meeting." This term emphasizes its function as the designated place where God would "meet" with Moses and where the community would gather for worship, instruction, and the resolution of significant national and legal issues. Its location at the "door" (or entrance) suggests a public forum where the people could witness and participate in the proceedings.

Practical Application

The account of the daughters of Zelophehad in Numbers 27, beginning with this verse, offers several enduring lessons:

  • Standing for Fairness: It encourages believers to advocate for justice and fairness, especially on behalf of those who might be overlooked or marginalized. Their bold yet respectful petition serves as a model for seeking righteous outcomes.
  • Seeking Righteous Counsel: The daughters' approach to Moses and Eleazar, and Moses' subsequent consultation with God, exemplifies the importance of bringing difficult matters before wise, godly leadership and ultimately seeking divine guidance.
  • God's Attentiveness to Individual Needs: This narrative powerfully illustrates God's attentiveness to specific human needs and His willingness to adjust or clarify laws to ensure justice for all, as further detailed in the divine ruling found in Numbers 27:6-7 and the subsequent provisions in Numbers 36:1-12.
Note: Commentary was generated by an advanced AI, utilizing a prompt that emphasized Biblical fidelity over bias. We've found these insights to be consistently reliable, yet we always encourage prayerful discernment through the Holy Spirit. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

  • Deuteronomy 17:8

    ¶ If there arise a matter too hard for thee in judgment, between blood and blood, between plea and plea, and between stroke and stroke, [being] matters of controversy within thy gates: then shalt thou arise, and get thee up into the place which the LORD thy God shall choose;

  • Deuteronomy 17:10

    And thou shalt do according to the sentence, which they of that place which the LORD shall choose shall shew thee; and thou shalt observe to do according to all that they inform thee:

  • Exodus 18:19

    Hearken now unto my voice, I will give thee counsel, and God shall be with thee: Be thou for the people to God-ward, that thou mayest bring the causes unto God:

  • Exodus 18:26

    And they judged the people at all seasons: the hard causes they brought unto Moses, but every small matter they judged themselves.

  • Exodus 18:13

    ¶ And it came to pass on the morrow, that Moses sat to judge the people: and the people stood by Moses from the morning unto the evening.

  • Exodus 18:14

    And when Moses' father in law saw all that he did to the people, he said, What [is] this thing that thou doest to the people? why sittest thou thyself alone, and all the people stand by thee from morning unto even?

  • Numbers 15:33

    And they that found him gathering sticks brought him unto Moses and Aaron, and unto all the congregation.
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