Numbers 27:11

And if his father have no brethren, then ye shall give his inheritance unto his kinsman that is next to him of his family, and he shall possess it: and it shall be unto the children of Israel a statute of judgment, as the LORD commanded Moses.

And if his father {H1} have no brethren {H251}, then ye shall give {H5414} his inheritance {H5159} unto his kinsman {H7607} that is next {H7138} to him of his family {H4940}, and he shall possess {H3423} it: and it shall be unto the children {H1121} of Israel {H3478} a statute {H2708} of judgment {H4941}, as the LORD {H3068} commanded {H6680} Moses {H4872}.

If his father doesn't have brothers, give his inheritance to the closest relative in his family, and he will possess it. This will be the standard for judgment to be used by the people of Isra'el, as ADONAI ordered Moshe.'"

And if his father has no brothers, give his inheritance to the next of kin from his clan, that he may take possession of it. This is to be a statutory ordinance for the Israelites, as the LORD has commanded Moses.โ€™โ€

And if his father have no brethren, then ye shall give his inheritance unto his kinsman that is next to him of his family, and he shall possess it: and it shall be unto the children of Israel a statute and ordinance, as Jehovah commanded Moses.

Commentary

Context

Numbers 27:11 concludes a significant section of inheritance law within the Book of Numbers, specifically dealing with the distribution of land and property among the Israelite tribes. This particular verse addresses a very specific scenario: what happens to an inheritance when the deceased male has no sons, no daughters, no brothers, and no father's brothers (uncles)? It is the final rule in a sequence of laws established directly by God through Moses, prompted by the insightful petition of the daughters of Zelophehad in Numbers 27:1-7. Their case, where their father died without sons, led to the expansion and clarification of existing inheritance customs to ensure fairness and the preservation of family lineage within Israel.

Key Themes

  • Divine Justice and Equity: This verse, and the preceding rules, demonstrate God's meticulous concern for justice and fairness in property distribution. He ensures that no family line is unjustly deprived of its inheritance, even in complex family structures.
  • Preservation of Family and Tribal Identity: The detailed inheritance laws were crucial for maintaining the integrity of tribal lands and family inheritances within the promised land. It prevented land from arbitrarily leaving a family or tribe, ensuring stability and identity for future generations.
  • God's Law as Binding Statute: The phrase "it shall be unto the children of Israel a statute of judgment, as the LORD commanded Moses" underscores the divine authority and permanence of these laws. They were not mere suggestions but binding ordinances for the nation, highlighting God's role as the ultimate Lawgiver for His people (compare with Deuteronomy 6:1).
  • Adaptability and Specificity of Divine Guidance: The entire narrative of Zelophehad's daughters shows that God's law, while foundational, could be clarified and expanded upon to address specific, unforeseen circumstances, always with the goal of promoting righteousness and order.

Linguistic Insights

The KJV phrase "statute of judgment" translates the Hebrew chukkat mishpat (ื—ึปืงึทึผืช ืžึดืฉึฐืืคึธึผื˜). Chukkah refers to a prescribed rule or ordinance, often one that is unchangeable or fixed. Mishpat denotes a judgment, a legal decision, or an ordinance, emphasizing the legal and binding nature of the command. Together, they signify a divine decree that serves as a permanent legal precedent, reflecting the divine wisdom in establishing societal order.

Practical Application

This verse, though specific to ancient Israelite inheritance, offers enduring principles:

  • God's Attention to Detail: It reveals God's concern for order and justice in all aspects of life, even seemingly mundane matters like property ownership. He cares about the well-being of individuals and families.
  • Importance of Clear Laws: The need for clear, fair, and comprehensive legal frameworks in any society to prevent disputes and ensure equity.
  • Divine Precedent for Justice: Believers can take comfort that God is a God of justice, who hears petitions and establishes righteous ways for His people, ensuring that even the vulnerable are considered (as seen in the Lord's ruling for Zelophehad's daughters).
Note: If the commentary doesnโ€™t appear instantly, please allow 2โ€“5 seconds for it to load. It is generated by Gemini 2.5 Flash using a prompt focused on Biblical fidelity over bias. While the insights have been consistently reliable, we encourage prayerful discernment through the Holy Spirit.

Please note that only the commentary section is AI-generated โ€” the main Scripture and cross-references are stored on the site and are from trusted and verified sources.

Cross-References

  • Numbers 35:29 (5 votes)

    So these [things] shall be for a statute of judgment unto you throughout your generations in all your dwellings.

  • Jeremiah 32:8 (3 votes)

    So Hanameel mine uncle's son came to me in the court of the prison according to the word of the LORD, and said unto me, Buy my field, I pray thee, that [is] in Anathoth, which [is] in the country of Benjamin: for the right of inheritance [is] thine, and the redemption [is] thine; buy [it] for thyself. Then I knew that this [was] the word of the LORD.

  • Ruth 4:3 (3 votes)

    And he said unto the kinsman, Naomi, that is come again out of the country of Moab, selleth a parcel of land, which [was] our brother Elimelech's:

  • Ruth 4:6 (3 votes)

    And the kinsman said, I cannot redeem [it] for myself, lest I mar mine own inheritance: redeem thou my right to thyself; for I cannot redeem [it].

  • 1 Samuel 30:25 (2 votes)

    And it was [so] from that day forward, that he made it a statute and an ordinance for Israel unto this day.

  • Leviticus 25:25 (2 votes)

    If thy brother be waxen poor, and hath sold away [some] of his possession, and if any of his kin come to redeem it, then shall he redeem that which his brother sold.

  • Leviticus 25:49 (2 votes)

    Either his uncle, or his uncle's son, may redeem him, or [any] that is nigh of kin unto him of his family may redeem him; or if he be able, he may redeem himself.