Numbers 27:3

Translations

Modern

“Our father died in the wilderness, but he was not among the followers of Korah who gathered together against the LORD. Instead, he died because of his own sin, and he had no sons.

Traditional

Our father died in the wilderness, and he was not in the company of them that gathered themselves together against the Lord in the company of Korah; but died in his own sin, and had no sons.

Literal

“Our father died in the wilderness, and he was not in the midst of the congregation of those who gathered together against YHWH in company with Korah; but he died in his own sin. And he had no sons.

Latin

Pater noster mortuus est in deserto, nec fuit in seditione, quæ concitata est contra Dominum sub Core, sed in peccato suo mortuus est: hic non habuit mares filios. Cur tollitur nomen illius de familia sua, quia non habuit filium? date nobis possessionem inter cognatos patris nostri.

Original

Hebrew

English

“Our father died in the wilderness, but he was not among the followers of Korah who gathered together against the LORD. Instead, he died because of his own sin, and he had no sons.

Notes

Numbers 27:3–4

Zelophehad had not joined Korah’s rebellion (16:1–50).If he had taken part in that rebellion, he may have lost his property rights because of his sin (see 15:30; compare 1 Kings 21:7–16).

Israelite society was patriarchal and patrilineal. This means that family ancestry and property were passed down through the male line. Normally, sons inherited their father’s land.

Zelophehad had no sons. His daughters wanted their father’s land to remain in their family. They asked for property rights equal to those given to sons. Their request was reasonable and based on a desire to preserve their family’s inheritance.

Numbers 27:1–11

Zelophehad did not have any sons, which allowed for changes to the inheritance laws. They would later refine these laws more (compare 36:1–13).

Theme notes and profiles

Moses

Related verses

Numbers 26:64–65
Among all these, however, there was not one who had been numbered by Moses and Aaron the priest when they counted the Israelites in the Wilderness of Sinai.
Ezekiel 18:4
Behold, every soul belongs to Me; both father and son are Mine. The soul who sins is the one who will die.
Numbers 14:35
I, the LORD, have spoken, and I will surely do these things to this entire wicked congregation, which has conspired against Me. They will meet their end in the wilderness, and there they will die.”
Numbers 26:9–10
…and the sons of Eliab were Nemuel, Dathan, and Abiram. It was Dathan and Abiram, chosen by the congregation, who rebelled against Moses and Aaron with the followers of Korah who rebelled against the LORD.
Romans 5:12
Therefore, just as sin entered the world through one man, and death through sin, so also death was passed on to all men, because all sinned.
Numbers 16:19
When Korah had gathered his whole assembly against them at the entrance to the Tent of Meeting, the glory of the LORD appeared to the whole congregation.
Numbers 16:1–3
Now Korah son of Izhar, the son of Kohath son of Levi, along with some Reubenites—Dathan and Abiram, sons of Eliab, and On son of Peleth—conducted
Romans 6:23
For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.
John 8:21
Again He said to them, “I am going away, and you will look for Me, but you will die in your sin. Where I am going, you cannot come.”
John 8:24
That is why I told you that you would die in your sins. For unless you believe that I am He, you will die in your sins.”
Romans 5:21
…so that, just as sin reigned in death, so also grace might reign through righteousness to bring eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Numbers 16:49
But those who died from the plague numbered 14,700, in addition to those who had died on account of Korah.

Parallels

Numbers 36:1–13

People

Korah: Levite rebel leader; his descendants became temple servants

Glossary

Courts and Trials Deuteronomy, Book of Eleazar Genealogy Genealogy of Jesus Christ Inheritance Joshua, Book of Milcah Noah Numbers, Book of

Topics

Children: Female: Inherited Property in Default of Sons Daughter: Property Rights of Fatherless: Daughters of Zelophehad Israel: The Daughters of Zelophehad Sue for an Inheritance Journey of Israel Through The Desert: Return to the Plains of Moab: The Law of Female Inheritance Settled Land: Unmarried Woman's Rights In Legislation: Inheritance Mahlah: Special Legislation in Regard to the Inheritance of Milcah: Daughter of Zelophehad: Special Legislation in Regard to the Inheritance of Noah: A Daughter of Zelophehad, Special Legislation in Regard to the Inheritance of Orphan: Daughters of Zelophehad Petition: Israel Property in Real Estate: Entail of the Tribe of Manasseh: Remarkable Persons of Daughters of Zelophehad Tirzah: A Daughter of Zelophehad: Special Legislation in Regard to the Inheritance of Women: Property Rights of in Inheritance Zelophehad: His Daughters Petition for his Inheritance

Numbers 27:3

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