Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on the Whole Bible
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Numbers
Book: Numbers
Chapter: 36
Overview:
The inheritance of the daughters of Zelophehad.
(1-4) The
daughters of Zelophehad are to marry in their own
Tribe.
(5-12)
Conclusion.
(13)
1-4 The heads of the
Tribe of
Manasseh represent the evil which
might follow, if the daughters of Zelophehad should marry into
any other tribes. They sought to preserve the Divine appointment
of inheritances, and that contests and quarrels should not rise
among those who should come afterwards. It is the
Wisdom and
duty of those who have estates in the world, to settle them, and
to dispose of them,
So that
No strife and contention may arise.
5-12 Those who consult the oracles of
God, concerning the
making of their heavenly inheritance sure, shall not only be
directed what to do, but their inquiries shall be graciously
accepted.
God would not have one
Tribe enriched at the expense
of another. Each
Tribe was to keep to its own inheritance. The
daughters of Zelophehad submitted to this appointment. How could
they fail to marry
Well, when
God himself directed them? Let the
people of
God learn how suitable and proper it is, like the
daughters of
Israel, to be united only to their own people.
Ought not every true believer in
Jesus, to be very
attentive in the near and tender relations of
Life, to be united
only to such as are united to the
Lord? All our intentions and
inclinations ought to be subjected to the will of
God, when that
is made known to us, and especially in contracting
Marriage.
Although the
Word of God allows
Affection and preference in this
important relation, it does not sanction that foolish,
ungovernable, and idolatrous
Passion, which cares not what may
be the
End; but in defiance of authority, determines upon
self-gratification. All such conduct, however disguised, is
against common sense, the interests of society, the happiness of
the
Marriage relation, and, what is still more evil, against the
religion of
Christ.
13 These are the judgments the
Lord commanded in the plains of
Moab. Most of them related to the settlement in
Canaan, into
which the Israelites were now entering. Whatever new condition
God,
By his
Providence, brings us into, we must
Beg him to teach
us the duties of it, and to enable us to do them, that we may do
the work of the
Day in its
Day, the duty of a place in its
place.