And if they be married to any of the sons of the other tribes of the children of Israel, then shall their inheritance be taken from the inheritance of our fathers, and shall be put to the inheritance of the tribe whereunto they are married: so shall it be taken from the lot of our inheritance — the Manassites' concern is clearly stated: if Zelophehad's daughters marry men from other tribes, the inheritance laws (whereby property transfers to a woman's husband's tribe upon marriage) would move their father's property out of Manasseh. This would reduce Manasseh's territorial inheritance and enrich other tribes. The Jubilee principle (where property returns to original owners) would not correct this, because the daughters' inheritance is permanent.

COMMUNITY REFLECTIONS

Publish a note on this verse