What is the meaning of Numbers 36:4? And when the Jubilee for the Israelites comes The Jubilee (Leviticus 25:8-12) was God’s built-in reset for Israel, arriving every fiftieth year. • Land that had been sold returned to its original family (Leviticus 25:13). • Slaves were released (Leviticus 25:39-41). Here, Moses reminds everyone that the Jubilee will still arrive on schedule. God’s calendar never slips, so His promises about land redistribution remain certain (Joshua 21:43-45). The verse assumes the literal reality of that future year—an event the entire nation would anticipate together. their inheritance will be added to the tribe into which they marry The daughters of Zelophehad (Numbers 27:1-7) were free to marry, yet their marriages would merge their inherited land into their husbands’ tribal territory. • Marriage merged not only people but property (Ruth 4:9-10). • Tribal boundaries mattered because God Himself had drawn them (Numbers 34:1-2). So if one of these women married a man from, say, Judah, her family’s land in Manasseh would shift to Judah at the Jubilee. This clause underscores the permanence of tribal allotments and the practical ripple effects of personal decisions (Proverbs 19:14). and taken away from the tribe of our fathers Manasseh’s leaders feared erosion of their allotted share (Joshua 17:3-6). • Losing acreage meant fewer resources, reduced influence, and potential dispute among clans (Deuteronomy 19:14). • Protecting inheritance lines preserved each tribe’s God-given identity (1 Kings 21:3). Moses honored that concern by instructing these daughters to marry within their own tribe (Numbers 36:6-7). God’s law balanced personal freedom with covenant responsibility, safeguarding both family and tribal integrity. summary Numbers 36:4 clarifies why Israel’s leaders sought limits on inter-tribal marriage: the Jubilee’s automatic land restoration would otherwise transfer property from one tribe to another. God’s commandments ensured that every tribe retained the inheritance He assigned, illustrating His faithfulness to keep promises, His wisdom in structuring society, and the importance of honoring His boundaries in even the most personal choices. |
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