Numbers 27:1-11 Then came the daughters of Zelophehad, the son of Hepher, the son of Gilead, the son of Machir, the son of Manasseh… I. THE REQUEST OF THE DAUGHTERS OF ZELOPHEHAD. 1. Was presented in an orderly and becoming manner. "They stood before Moses and before Eleazar the priest," &c. (ver. 2). The made their request a regular manner, and to the proper authorities! 2. Was eminently fair and reasonable While their father, by reason of sin, was, in common with the generation to which he belonged, excluded from the promised land, yet he had not done anything for which his children should be deprived of an inheritance therein. 3. Indicated becoming respect for their father. They vindicate him from the guilt of sharing in any of the rebellions except the general one; and they evince an earnest desire for the perpetuation of his name and family. 4. Implied faith in the promise of God to give Canaan to the Israelites. 5. Implied an earnest desire for a portion in the promised land. II. THE DIVINE ANSWER TO THEIR REQUEST. 1. Was given by Jehovah to Moses in response to his inquiries. Notice here — (1) The humility of Moses. He does not presume to decide the case himself, &c. (2) The direction which God grants to the humble. "The meek will He guide in judgment," &c. 2. Commended the cause of the daughters of Zelophehad. "The daughters of Zelophehad speak right." 3. Granted the request of the daughters of Zelophehad. "Thou shalt surely give them a possession," &c. (ver. 7). 4. Included a general law of inheritance. "And thou shalt speak unto the children of Israel," &c. (vers. 8-11). Thus a great benefit accrued to the nation from the request of the daughters of Zelophehad. (W. Jones.) Parallel Verses KJV: Then came the daughters of Zelophehad, the son of Hepher, the son of Gilead, the son of Machir, the son of Manasseh, of the families of Manasseh the son of Joseph: and these are the names of his daughters; Mahlah, Noah, and Hoglah, and Milcah, and Tirzah. |
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