Treasury of Scriptural Knowledge, by R.A. Torrey, [ca. 1880], at sacred-texts.com
Overview
Num 27:1, The daughters of Zelophehad sue for an inheritance; Num 27:6, The law of inheritances; Num 27:12, Moses, being told of his death, sues for a successor; Num 27:18, Joshua is appointed to succeed him.
the daughters: In the orders for the division of the land, just given, no provision had been made for females, in case of failure of male issue. The five daughters of Zelophehad, therefore, considered themselves as destitute, having neither father nor brother, and being themselves entirely overlooked; and they agreed to refer the case to Moses and the rulers, whether it were not equitable that they should inherit their father's portion. This led to the enactment of an additional law to the civil code of Israel, which satisfactorily ascertained and amply secured the right of succession in cases of inheritance. This law, which is as reasonable as it is just, stands thus -
1. On the demise of the father, the estate descends to the sons.
2. If there be no son, the daughters succeed.
3. If there be no daughter, the brothers of the deceased inherit.
4. If there be no brethren, or paternal uncles, the estate goes to the grand uncles, or brothers of his father.
5. If there be no grand uncles, then the nearest of kin succeeds to the inheritance.
Beyond this fifth degree the law does not extend, because there must always have been some among the Israelites who could be called kinsmen.
Zelophehad: Num 26:33, Num 36:1-12; Jos 17:3-6; Ch1 7:15; Gal 3:28
Num 15:33, Num 15:34; Exo 18:13, Exo 18:14, Exo 18:19-26; Deu 17:8-10
Rosenmuller translates this verse as follows: "Our father died in the wilderness, leaving no sons; nor was he among those who rebelled against the Lord with Korah, who died on account of his own sin." Professor Dathe, however, understands by "his own sin," that sin which was common to all the Israelites, who died on account of their unbelief.
died in the: Num 14:35, Num 26:64, Num 26:65
in the company: Num 16:1-3, Num 16:19, Num 16:32-35, Num 16:49, Num 26:9, Num 26:10
died in his: Eze 18:4; Joh 8:21, Joh 8:24; Rom 5:12, Rom 5:21, Rom 6:23
Why: Exo 32:11; Psa 109:13; Pro 13:9
done away: Heb. diminished
Give: Jos 17:4
Num 15:34; Exo 18:15-19, Exo 25:22; Lev 24:12, Lev 24:13; Job 23:4; Pro 3:5, Pro 3:6
Num 36:1, Num 36:2; Psa 68:5; Jer 49:11; Gal 3:28
kinsman: Lev 25:25, Lev 25:49; Rut 4:3-6; Jer 32:8
a statute: Num 35:29; Sa1 30:25
mount: Num 33:47, Num 33:48; Deu 3:27, Deu 32:49, Deu 34:1-4
thou also: Num 31:2; Gen 25:8, Gen 25:17
as Aaron: Num 20:24-28, Num 33:38; Deu 10:6, Deu 32:50
ye rebelled: Num 20:8-13; Deu 1:37, Deu 32:51, Deu 32:52; Psa 106:32, Psa 106:33
Meribah: Num 20:1, Num 20:13, Num 20:24; Exo 17:7
the Lord: Yehowah elohey haroochoth lechol basar, "Jehovah, the God of the spirits of all flesh." This address sufficiently proves, that this holy man believed man to be compounded of flesh and spirit, and that these principles are perfectly distinct. Either the materiality of the soul is a human fable, or, if it be a true doctrine, Moses did not pray under the influence of the Divine Spirit. There is a similar form of expression in Num 16:22: "O God, the God of the spirits of all flesh;" and in Job 12:10, "In whose hand is the soul (nephesh) of all living; and the spirit (rooach) of all flesh of man." These seem decisive proofs, among many others, that the Old Testament teaches that there is an immortal spirit in man; for though rooach sometimes denotes breath or wind, yet it certainly has not that signification here, nor in the other passages cited.
set a man: Deu 31:14; Sa1 12:13; Kg1 5:5; Jer 3:15, Jer 23:4, Jer 23:5; Eze 34:11-16, Eze 34:23; Eze 37:24; Mat 9:38; Joh 10:11; Act 20:28; Pe1 5:2-4
go out: Deu 31:2; Sa1 8:20, Sa1 18:13; Sa2 5:2; Kg1 3:7; Ch2 1:10; Joh 10:3, Joh 10:4, Joh 10:9
as sheep: Kg1 22:17; Ch2 18:16; Eze 34:5; Zac 10:2, Zac 13:7; Mat 9:36, Mat 10:6; Mat 15:24; Mar 6:34; Pe1 2:25
Take thee: Num 11:28, Num 13:8, Num 13:16; Exo 17:9; Deu 3:28, Deu 31:7, Deu 31:8, Deu 31:23, Deu 34:9
a man: Num 11:17; Gen 41:38; Jdg 3:10, Jdg 11:29; Sa1 16:13, Sa1 16:14, Sa1 16:18; Dan 5:14; Joh 3:34; Act 6:3; Co1 12:4-11
lay: Num 27:23; Deu 34:9; Act 6:6, Act 8:15-19, Act 13:3, Act 19:6; Ti1 4:14, Ti1 5:22; Heb 6:2
give him: Deu 31:7; Luk 9:1-5, Luk 10:2-11; Act 20:28-31; Col 4:17; Ti1 5:21; Ti1 6:13-17; Ti2 4:1-6
put some: Num 11:17, Num 11:28, Num 11:29; Sa1 10:6, Sa1 10:9; Kg2 2:9, Kg2 2:10, Kg2 2:15; Ch1 29:23, Ch1 29:25
may be: Jos 1:16-18
he shall: Jos 9:14; Jdg 1:1, Jdg 20:18, Jdg 20:23, Jdg 20:26-28; Sa1 22:10, Sa1 23:9, Sa1 28:6, Sa1 30:7
Urim: Exo 28:30; Lev 8:8; Deu 33:8; Sa1 28:6; Ezr 2:63; Neh 7:65
at his word: Num 27:17; Jos 9:14; Sa1 22:10-15