Numbers 36:2 meaning

In this passage of Numbers, the leaders of the tribe of Manasseh approach Moses regarding a potential issue with the inheritance of the daughters of Zelophehad. Having been granted the right to inherit their father's land, these women faced a situation where marrying outside their tribe could transfer a significant part of their inheritance to another family, thereby undermining the tribal structure and allotments established by God. This concern reflects a deep understanding of the importance of maintaining tribal integrity and preventing inter-tribal disputes over land ownership, a concept highlighted throughout the Old Testament.

Moses, responding to these valid concerns, relays God’s command that the daughters can marry freely but must do so within their tribe. This provision ensures that inheritances remain intact and within the rightful families, affirming God's commitment to order and justice in His covenant community. Thus, through this instruction, God offers both protection for the daughters' inheritances and safeguards against future conflicts between tribes. The verse encapsulates themes of divine justice, community stability, and gender issues within the context of inheritance. The Lord commanded my lord to give the land for an inheritance by lot to the children of Israel: and my lord was commanded by the Lord to give the inheritance of Zelophehad our brother unto his daughters. (Numbers 36:2).