And when the jubile of the children of Israel shall be, then shall their inheritance be put unto the inheritance of the tribe whereunto they are received: so shall their inheritance be taken away from the inheritance of the tribe of our fathers.
NUMBERS 36:4KJVWhat does Numbers 36:4 mean?
Numbers 36:4 explains that when the Year of Jubilee comes, land inherited by women who married into another tribe will become part of their husbands' tribe, causing their original tribe to lose that portion of land. This verse addresses the concern that tribal inheritances could shift permanently if land passes through marriage.
The verse is part of a conversation between the leaders of the tribe of Manasseh and Moses. They are worried that if daughters inherit land and then marry men from other tribes, the land will transfer to those tribes during the Jubilee, when all property is supposed to return to its original family. The verse highlights the importance of keeping tribal inheritances within each tribe, as commanded in Israel’s laws.
The Hebrew behind Numbers 36:4
- יובל (yovel, "jubile"): This word refers to the special Year of Jubilee, a time every fifty years when land was to return to its original family owners. Its mention here shows the concern about permanent land loss across tribal lines.
- נחלה (nachalah, "inheritance"): Used several times, this word emphasizes the land portion assigned to each tribe or family. The repetition stresses how crucial it was to keep inheritances within the original tribe.
- מטה (matteh, "tribe"): This word means "tribe" or "staff," pointing to the distinct groups within Israel. The verse’s focus on tribal boundaries underlines the social and spiritual structure of ancient Israel.
- יסף (yasaf, "put"): Here, it means to "add" or "join." The inheritance would be "added" to another tribe if a woman married outside her own, showing the legal mechanism by which land could shift tribes.
Why Numbers 36:4 matters
- Numbers 36:4 clarifies why the daughters of Zelophehad were instructed to marry within their own tribe, to prevent land from permanently transferring between tribes.
- The verse reveals the deep concern for preserving tribal boundaries and inheritance, which was central to Israel’s identity and organization.
- This verse connects to the broader passage about inheritance laws and shows how practical issues were addressed to maintain fairness and stability among the tribes.