Numbers 36:13

KJV

These [are] the commandments and the judgments, which the LORD commanded by the hand of Moses unto the children of Israel in the plains of Moab by Jordan [near] Jericho.

KJV (with Strong's)

These are the commandments {H4687} and the judgments {H4941}, which the LORD {H3068} commanded {H6680} by the hand {H3027} of Moses {H4872} unto the children {H1121} of Israel {H3478} in the plains {H6160} of Moab {H4124} by Jordan {H3383} near Jericho {H3405}.

Complete Jewish Bible

These are the mitzvot and rulings which ADONAI gave through Moshe to the people of Isra'el in the plains of Mo'av by the Yarden, across from Yericho. 4 1-2

Berean Standard Bible

These are the commandments and ordinances that the LORD gave the Israelites through Moses on the plains of Moab by the Jordan across from Jericho.

American Standard Version

These are the commandments and the ordinances which Jehovah commanded by Moses unto the children of Israel in the plains of Moab by the Jordan at Jericho.

Commentary

### SUMMARY
Numbers 36:13 serves as the powerful concluding statement of the book of Numbers, encapsulating the divine origin and comprehensive nature of the laws and statutes delivered to the children of Israel through Moses. This verse solidifies the absolute authority behind the myriad instructions, ordinances, and regulations meticulously detailed throughout the preceding chapters, emphasizing that they are not human constructs but the direct commands and judgments of the LORD, given at a pivotal moment in Israel's journey on the plains of Moab, on the cusp of entering the Promised Land.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** Numbers 36:13 stands as the final verse of the book of Numbers, acting as a grand conclusion to the extensive legal and narrative material presented. The preceding chapters meticulously detail Israel's forty-year wilderness journey, including their organization, censuses, sacrificial laws, regulations for priests and Levites, and various civil statutes. Chapter 36 specifically addresses the resolution of the inheritance issue raised by the daughters of Zelophehad in [Numbers 27](/numbers/27 "Numbers 27 - Inheritance of Zelophehad's Daughters"), stipulating that women who inherit land must marry within their own tribe to prevent tribal land from being transferred. This final verse, therefore, not only concludes the book but also provides a theological summary of the entire collection of laws, asserting their divine authority and setting the stage for the book of Deuteronomy, which will reiterate and expound upon these very commandments as Israel prepares to enter Canaan.
* **Historical & Cultural Context:** The historical setting for Numbers 36:13 places the Israelites "in the plains of Moab by Jordan [near] Jericho." This geographical location is highly significant, as it signifies the culmination of their forty years of wilderness wanderings and their immediate proximity to the Promised Land. They are encamped on the eastern side of the Jordan River, directly opposite Jericho, poised to cross into Canaan. Culturally, the giving of such a comprehensive legal code was foundational for the formation of Israel as a distinct nation. Unlike the surrounding pagan nations, whose laws often reflected human caprice or polytheistic beliefs, Israel's laws were presented as direct divine revelation, intended to establish a holy, just, and ordered society under the direct sovereignty of Yahweh. These laws covered every aspect of life—religious, civil, and moral—preparing them not just for settlement, but for a covenantal relationship with God in the land He had promised.
* **Key Themes:** This concluding verse powerfully reinforces several key themes prevalent throughout the book of Numbers and the Pentateuch. The most prominent is **Divine Authority**, emphasizing that the "commandments and judgments" originate from "the LORD" Himself, underscoring their absolute and binding nature for the covenant community. Another theme is **Comprehensive Guidance**, as the phrase "commandments and judgments" collectively refers to the vast body of moral, civil, and ceremonial laws designed to govern every facet of Israelite society, ensuring justice, holiness, and proper worship as they prepared to establish their nation in Canaan. The verse also highlights **Moses' Mediation**, portraying him as the divinely appointed conduit, "by the hand of" whom God communicated His will to the children of Israel, a role crucial in delivering God's covenant ([Deuteronomy 5:5](/deuteronomy/5-5 "Deuteronomy 5:5 - Moses as Mediator")). Finally, the strategic location underscores the theme of **Preparation for the Promised Land**, indicating that these laws were essential for shaping Israel into a distinct and holy nation, ready to inhabit the land God had promised them, forming the bedrock of their social, religious, and political life in Canaan.

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS
#### Key Word Analysis
* **Commandments (Hebrew, _mitzvah'_):** This term (מִצְוָה, _mitzvah_) generally refers to specific divine precepts, instructions, or ordinances. It often carries the nuance of a direct command from God, emphasizing the imperative nature of His will. These are the specific directives given for Israel's conduct, worship, and moral life, reflecting God's holy character and His expectations for His covenant people. They are not merely suggestions but binding obligations.
* **Judgments (Hebrew, _mishpatim'_):** This term (מִשְׁפָּטִים, _mishpatim_) typically denotes legal decisions, statutes, or ordinances, particularly those related to civil justice, social order, and the administration of law. While _mitzvah_ might lean more towards moral or ritual injunctions, _mishpatim_ focuses on the application of justice and equity within the community. Together, "commandments and judgments" form a comprehensive legal framework, covering both individual ethical behavior and the communal legal system, ensuring a just and righteous society under God's rule.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"These [are] the commandments and the judgments":** This opening phrase serves as a definitive summary, referring back to the entire body of laws, statutes, and ordinances detailed throughout the book of Numbers, and by extension, the preceding books of the Pentateuch. It emphasizes the comprehensive nature of God's revealed will, encompassing both specific moral injunctions ("commandments") and legal precedents or civil laws ("judgments").
* **"which the LORD commanded by the hand of Moses":** This clause unequivocally establishes the divine origin and authority of the laws. They are not human inventions or traditions, but direct pronouncements from Yahweh, the covenant God of Israel. Moses is explicitly identified as the divinely appointed mediator, the human instrument through whom God communicated His will to His people, underscoring the authenticity and infallibility of the received law.
* **"unto the children of Israel in the plains of Moab by Jordan [near] Jericho":** This precise geographical and historical anchoring grounds the divine revelation in a specific time and place. "The plains of Moab" signifies the final encampment of Israel before crossing into the Promised Land. The proximity to "Jordan [near] Jericho" highlights their position on the very threshold of their inheritance, emphasizing that these laws were given at a critical juncture, intended to govern their life as a nation once they entered and settled the land.

#### Literary Devices
Numbers 36:13 functions primarily as a **Summary Statement** and **Concluding Formula**. Its placement at the very end of the book provides a definitive theological and narrative closure, bringing the extensive legal and historical accounts of Numbers to a climactic summary. The verse employs **Divine Pronouncement**, explicitly attributing the origin of all laws to "the LORD," thereby asserting their absolute authority and immutability. This is reinforced by the mention of **Moses' Mediation**, highlighting the chosen human agent through whom this divine will was transmitted. Furthermore, the precise **Geographical Anchoring** ("in the plains of Moab by Jordan [near] Jericho") serves to ground the divine revelation in a specific historical context, emphasizing the imminence of Israel's entry into the Promised Land and the practical necessity of these laws for their future national life. The use of "commandments and judgments" also demonstrates **Merism**, where two distinct but related terms are used to encompass the entirety of God's comprehensive legal and moral instruction.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
Numbers 36:13 powerfully underscores the unwavering truth that God is a God of order, justice, and righteousness, who provides clear and comprehensive guidance for His people. It reiterates the fundamental principle of Old Testament theology: that the covenant relationship between God and Israel was predicated upon obedience to His revealed will. The laws were not burdensome restrictions but divine provisions designed to cultivate holiness, ensure communal flourishing, and distinguish Israel as God's peculiar treasure among the nations. They served as a moral compass, a legal framework, and a liturgical guide, all intended to facilitate a right relationship with God and with one another. This concluding verse reminds us that divine instruction is foundational for a well-ordered life, both individually and communally, reflecting the character of the God who gives the law.

* [Deuteronomy 4:1-2](/deuteronomy/4-1 "Deuteronomy 4:1-2 - Do Not Add or Subtract from the Law")
* [Psalm 19:7-11](/psalms/19-7 "Psalm 19:7-11 - The Perfection of God's Law")
* [Romans 7:12](/romans/7-12 "Romans 7:12 - The Law is Holy, Righteous, and Good")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
Numbers 36:13, though concluding an ancient legal text, offers profound insights for contemporary believers. It reminds us that God is a God who speaks, who reveals His will, and who desires His people to live in accordance with His character. For ancient Israel, these commandments and judgments were their very life, shaping their identity and ensuring their distinctiveness as a holy nation. For us, while we live under the New Covenant in Christ, the underlying principles of God's character—His justice, holiness, love, and desire for order—remain eternally relevant. This verse challenges us to consider the authority by which we live our lives. Do we seek God's revealed will as our ultimate guide, or do we rely on human wisdom, cultural norms, or personal preferences? It calls us to a posture of humility and obedience, recognizing that true flourishing comes from aligning our lives with the divine commands. Just as Israel was prepared for the Promised Land by God's law, so too are we prepared for our spiritual journey and heavenly inheritance through the Word of God, which continues to instruct, correct, and train us in righteousness.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **How does recognizing the divine origin of God's commands impact your willingness to obey them?**
* **In what areas of your life do you most need God's "commandments and judgments" to bring order and righteousness?**
* **How does the comprehensive nature of God's law (covering all aspects of life) challenge you to live a more integrated faith?**
* **What significance does Moses' role as mediator have for understanding how God communicates His will?**

### FAQ
**Why is this verse placed at the very end of the book of Numbers, and what is its significance?**

Answer: Numbers 36:13 is strategically placed as the concluding verse of the book to serve as a powerful theological and narrative summary. Its significance lies in several aspects: First, it provides a definitive **summary statement** for the entire book, affirming that all the diverse laws, regulations, and narratives contained within Numbers are divinely sourced. Second, it emphatically reiterates the **divine authority** of the Mosaic Law, emphasizing that these are not human inventions but direct commands from "the LORD." This reinforces their binding nature for Israel. Third, it highlights the **mediatorial role of Moses**, confirming him as God's chosen instrument for delivering His will to the people. Finally, its placement at the threshold of the Promised Land, "in the plains of Moab by Jordan [near] Jericho," underscores that these laws were given specifically to prepare Israel for their life as a holy nation in Canaan, providing the foundational principles for their social, religious, and political existence in the land God promised them. It acts as a bridge, setting the stage for the book of [Deuteronomy](/deuteronomy/1 "Deuteronomy 1 - Moses' First Speech"), which will largely consist of Moses' reiteration and exposition of these very laws before the new generation enters the land.

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
While Numbers 36:13 concludes a book detailing the Mosaic Law, its ultimate fulfillment is found in Jesus Christ. The "commandments and judgments" given through Moses were a shadow, pointing to the perfect righteousness and ultimate revelation found in God's Son. Jesus did not come to abolish the Law but to fulfill it ([Matthew 5:17](/matthew/5-17 "Matthew 5:17 - Jesus Fulfills the Law")), embodying its demands perfectly and fulfilling its sacrificial requirements through His atoning death on the cross. The Old Covenant laws, including those in Numbers, revealed God's holy character and humanity's inability to perfectly keep them, thus serving as a "guardian" to lead us to Christ ([Galatians 3:24](/galatians/3-24 "Galatians 3:24 - The Law as a Guardian")). In Christ, the comprehensive guidance of God's will is no longer written on stone tablets but inscribed on the hearts of believers by the Holy Spirit ([Jeremiah 31:33](/jeremiah/31-33 "Jeremiah 31:33 - The New Covenant") and [Hebrews 8:10](/hebrews/8-10 "Hebrews 8:10 - God's Law Written on Hearts")). Through faith in Him, we are not only declared righteous but also empowered by the Spirit to walk in the spirit of God's law, fulfilling its righteous requirements not by external compulsion but by internal transformation ([Romans 8:3-4](/romans/8-3 "Romans 8:3-4 - The Law and the Spirit")). Thus, the divine authority and comprehensive nature of God's will, so clearly stated in Numbers 36:13, find their ultimate and gracious expression in the person and work of Jesus Christ, the one who perfectly embodied God's law and inaugurated a superior covenant built on better promises ([Hebrews 8:6](/hebrews/8-6 "Hebrews 8:6 - A Superior Covenant")).

Note: Commentary is generated by AI with a directive for Biblical fidelity. Always rely on the Holy Spirit for discernment. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

Cross-References

Leviticus 27:34

These [are] the commandments, which the LORD commanded Moses for the children of Israel in mount Sinai.

Numbers 22:1

¶ And the children of Israel set forward, and pitched in the plains of Moab on this side Jordan [by] Jericho.

Leviticus 11:46

This [is] the law of the beasts, and of the fowl, and of every living creature that moveth in the waters, and of every creature that creepeth upon the earth:

Leviticus 14:54

¶ This [is] the law for all manner of plague of leprosy, and scall,

Leviticus 14:57

To teach when [it is] unclean, and when [it is] clean: this [is] the law of leprosy.

Numbers 26:3

And Moses and Eleazar the priest spake with them in the plains of Moab by Jordan [near] Jericho, saying,

Leviticus 7:37

This [is] the law of the burnt offering, of the meat offering, and of the sin offering, and of the trespass offering, and of the consecrations, and of the sacrifice of the peace offerings;