Numbers 36:5 - Moses commanded the children of Israel according to Yahweh’s word, saying, “The tribe of the sons of Joseph speaks right.

Generated Verse: Numbers 36:5

What does "Numbers 36:5" mean?


Numbers 36:5 is part of a specific legal issue concerning inheritance rights, particularly for daughters. To understand the meaning, we need a bit of context from the surrounding verses in Numbers 36:

The Problem: The leaders of the tribe of Joseph (specifically, the clan of Machir) raise a concern. They are worried that if daughters who inherit property marry outside of their own tribe, the inherited land will be transferred to another tribe. This would eventually diminish the land allotted to the tribe of Joseph.

Yahweh's Solution: God addresses this concern. He commands that daughters who inherit property are allowed to marry whomever they choose, but only within their own tribe. This keeps the land within the original tribal allotment.

Numbers 36:5 (the verse in question): "Moses commanded the children of Israel according to Yahweh’s word, saying, “The tribe of the sons of Joseph speaks right."

Meaning of the Verse

The verse affirms the validity of the Josephites' concerns about the integrity of their tribal land inheritance. When Moses declares "The tribe of the sons of Joseph speaks right," he's essentially saying:

Their point is valid: The issue raised by the Josephites is legitimate and deserves attention.
They are justified in their concern: Their fear of losing tribal land through inheritance and marriage outside the tribe is understandable.
God agrees with their assessment: Yahweh has taken their concerns into account when providing a solution.

In essence, verse 5 serves as a bridge between the problem raised by the Josephites and the solution provided by God. It validates their concerns before laying out the specific rules to address them. It acknowledges the potential problem before it implements a safeguard against it.

Why this is important:
This passage shows God's concern for fairness and order in the distribution of land and resources. It also highlights the importance of tribal identity and the preservation of ancestral holdings within the Israelite community.