Joshua 17:4 - They came to Eleazar the priest, and to Joshua the son of Nun, and to the princes, saying, “Yahweh commanded Moses to give us an inheritance among our brothers.” Therefore according to the commandment of Yahweh he gave them an inheritance among the brothers of their father.
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What does "Joshua 17:4" mean?
This verse from Joshua 17:4 refers to a specific request made by the daughters of Zelophehad. Let's break down the meaning:
"They came to Eleazar the priest, and to Joshua the son of Nun, and to the princes...": This identifies the people the women were addressing. These were the leaders of Israel after Moses' death:
Eleazar the priest: The high priest, in charge of religious matters.
Joshua the son of Nun: The leader of the Israelites, succeeding Moses.
The princes: The tribal leaders, representing the different families within Israel.
"...saying, 'Yahweh commanded Moses to give us an inheritance among our brothers.'": This is the core of their plea. They are stating that God (Yahweh) had previously instructed Moses to grant them (the daughters of Zelophehad) land inheritance, even though they were women. Their argument is based on a prior divine decree, established in Numbers 27:1-11 and Numbers 36:1-12. Zelophehad had no sons, so his daughters (Mahlah, Noah, Hoglah, Milcah, and Tirzah) petitioned for his inheritance to prevent his name from being blotted out. God honored their request, establishing a precedent for daughters inheriting property when there were no sons.
"Therefore according to the commandment of Yahweh he gave them an inheritance among the brothers of their father.": This describes the outcome. Joshua, following the divine mandate (the commandment of Yahweh), grants them land within the territory assigned to their father's clan (Manasseh). They received their inheritance alongside their male relatives.
In essence, the verse highlights:
The importance of divine commandments: Joshua and Eleazar recognized and acted upon the previous command from God given to Moses.
The rights of women (in this specific context): The daughters of Zelophehad successfully argued for their right to inherit land, based on God's previous decision.
The establishment of legal precedent: This case set a precedent for how to handle inheritance when a man died without sons.
The fulfillment of God's word: Joshua, as the new leader, ensures that God's word is carried out in the division of the land.
The verse is significant because it showcases a situation where societal norms were challenged by divine justice, leading to a more equitable outcome, or at least a situation were the family name and lineage could continue.
Joshua 17:4 - They came to Eleazar the priest, and to Joshua the son of Nun, and to the princes, saying, “Yahweh commanded Moses to give us an inheritance among our brothers.” Therefore according to the commandment of Yahweh he gave them an inheritance among the brothers of their father.
What does "Joshua 17:4" mean?
This verse from Joshua 17:4 refers to a specific request made by the daughters of Zelophehad. Let's break down the meaning:
"They came to Eleazar the priest, and to Joshua the son of Nun, and to the princes...": This identifies the people the women were addressing. These were the leaders of Israel after Moses' death:
Eleazar the priest: The high priest, in charge of religious matters.
Joshua the son of Nun: The leader of the Israelites, succeeding Moses.
The princes: The tribal leaders, representing the different families within Israel.
"...saying, 'Yahweh commanded Moses to give us an inheritance among our brothers.'": This is the core of their plea. They are stating that God (Yahweh) had previously instructed Moses to grant them (the daughters of Zelophehad) land inheritance, even though they were women. Their argument is based on a prior divine decree, established in Numbers 27:1-11 and Numbers 36:1-12. Zelophehad had no sons, so his daughters (Mahlah, Noah, Hoglah, Milcah, and Tirzah) petitioned for his inheritance to prevent his name from being blotted out. God honored their request, establishing a precedent for daughters inheriting property when there were no sons.
"Therefore according to the commandment of Yahweh he gave them an inheritance among the brothers of their father.": This describes the outcome. Joshua, following the divine mandate (the commandment of Yahweh), grants them land within the territory assigned to their father's clan (Manasseh). They received their inheritance alongside their male relatives.
In essence, the verse highlights:
The importance of divine commandments: Joshua and Eleazar recognized and acted upon the previous command from God given to Moses.
The rights of women (in this specific context): The daughters of Zelophehad successfully argued for their right to inherit land, based on God's previous decision.
The establishment of legal precedent: This case set a precedent for how to handle inheritance when a man died without sons.
The fulfillment of God's word: Joshua, as the new leader, ensures that God's word is carried out in the division of the land.
The verse is significant because it showcases a situation where societal norms were challenged by divine justice, leading to a more equitable outcome, or at least a situation were the family name and lineage could continue.