Numbers 36:9 - So shall no inheritance move from one tribe to another tribe; for the tribes of the children of Israel shall each keep his own inheritance.’”
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What does "Numbers 36:9" mean?
Numbers 36:9 is a rule designed to keep land ownership within the original tribal divisions of Israel. Let's break down what it means:
"So shall no inheritance move from one tribe to another tribe...": This is the core principle. The land initially allotted to a specific tribe (e.g., Judah, Benjamin, etc.) should not be transferred permanently to a different tribe.
"...for the tribes of the children of Israel shall each keep his own inheritance.": This explains the rationale behind the rule. God assigned specific territories to each tribe as their "inheritance." Maintaining this tribal integrity was seen as important for the social, economic, and even spiritual well-being of Israel.
Context and Reasoning
This verse comes at the end of a chapter dealing with a specific problem raised by the daughters of Zelophehad. These women had inherited their father's land (since he had no sons), and there was concern that if they married men from other tribes, their land would permanently transfer to those other tribes.
God's solution, as relayed by Moses, was that the daughters of Zelophehad should marry within their own tribe (Manasseh, in this case). This ensured that the land would stay within the boundaries of Manasseh. Verse 9 is the general principle established to prevent similar situations from happening in the future.
Significance
The rule in Numbers 36:9 reflected a number of key concepts:
Tribal Identity: Maintaining tribal identity was important for social cohesion, military organization, and historical memory.
Land as a Gift from God: The land was not just real estate; it was a divine gift allocated to each tribe. Transferring it to another tribe might be seen as disrupting God's original plan.
Economic Stability: Land was the primary source of wealth in ancient Israel. Keeping land within a tribe helped ensure the economic stability and self-sufficiency of that tribe.
In summary, Numbers 36:9 is a rule intended to prevent the permanent transfer of land from one Israelite tribe to another, thereby preserving the integrity of the original tribal land allotments and maintaining the social and economic structure of Israel.
Numbers 36:9 - So shall no inheritance move from one tribe to another tribe; for the tribes of the children of Israel shall each keep his own inheritance.’”
What does "Numbers 36:9" mean?
Numbers 36:9 is a rule designed to keep land ownership within the original tribal divisions of Israel. Let's break down what it means:
"So shall no inheritance move from one tribe to another tribe...": This is the core principle. The land initially allotted to a specific tribe (e.g., Judah, Benjamin, etc.) should not be transferred permanently to a different tribe.
"...for the tribes of the children of Israel shall each keep his own inheritance.": This explains the rationale behind the rule. God assigned specific territories to each tribe as their "inheritance." Maintaining this tribal integrity was seen as important for the social, economic, and even spiritual well-being of Israel.
Context and Reasoning
This verse comes at the end of a chapter dealing with a specific problem raised by the daughters of Zelophehad. These women had inherited their father's land (since he had no sons), and there was concern that if they married men from other tribes, their land would permanently transfer to those other tribes.
God's solution, as relayed by Moses, was that the daughters of Zelophehad should marry within their own tribe (Manasseh, in this case). This ensured that the land would stay within the boundaries of Manasseh. Verse 9 is the general principle established to prevent similar situations from happening in the future.
Significance
The rule in Numbers 36:9 reflected a number of key concepts:
Tribal Identity: Maintaining tribal identity was important for social cohesion, military organization, and historical memory.
Land as a Gift from God: The land was not just real estate; it was a divine gift allocated to each tribe. Transferring it to another tribe might be seen as disrupting God's original plan.
Economic Stability: Land was the primary source of wealth in ancient Israel. Keeping land within a tribe helped ensure the economic stability and self-sufficiency of that tribe.
In summary, Numbers 36:9 is a rule intended to prevent the permanent transfer of land from one Israelite tribe to another, thereby preserving the integrity of the original tribal land allotments and maintaining the social and economic structure of Israel.