 Then allotment was made to the people of Manasseh, for he was the firstborn of Joseph. To Machir the firstborn of Manasseh, the father of Gilead, were allotted Gilead and Bashan, because he was a man of war. 2 And allotments were made to the rest of the people of Manasseh by their clans, Abiezer, Helek, Asriel, Shechem, Hepher, and Shemida. These were the male descendants of Manasseh the son of Joseph, by their clans.
3 Now Zelophehad the son of Hepher, son of Gilead, son of Machir, son of Manasseh, had no sons, but only daughters, and these are the names of his daughters: Mahlah, Noah, Hoglah, Milcah, and Tirzah. 4 They approached Eleazar the priest and Joshua the son of Nun and the leaders and said, “The Lord commanded Moses to give us an inheritance along with our brothers.” So according to the mouth of the Lord he gave them an inheritance among the brothers of their father. 5 Thus there fell to Manasseh ten portions, besides the land of Gilead and Bashan, which is on the other side of the Jordan, 6 because the daughters of Manasseh received an inheritance along with his sons. The land of Gilead was allotted to the rest of the people of Manasseh. 7 The territory of Manasseh reached from Asher to Michmethath, which is east of Shechem. Then the boundary goes along southward to the inhabitants of En-tappuah.8 The land of Tappuah belonged to Manasseh, but the town of Tappuah on the boundary of Manasseh belonged to the people of Ephraim.9 Then the boundary went down to the brook Kanah. These cities, to the south of the brook, among the cities of Manasseh, belong to Ephraim. Then the boundary of Manasseh goes on the north side of the brook and ends at the sea, 10 the land to the south being Ephraim's and that to the north being Manasseh's, with the sea forming its boundary. On the north Asher is reached, and on the east Issachar. 11 Also in Issachar and in Asher Manasseh had Beth-shean and its villages, and Ibleam and its villages, and the inhabitants of Dor and its villages, and the inhabitants of En-dor and its villages, and the inhabitants of Taanach and its villages, and the inhabitants of Megiddo and its villages; the third is Naphath. 12 Yet the people of Manasseh could not take possession of those cities, but the Canaanites persisted in dwelling in that land. 13 Now when the people of Israel grew strong, they put the Canaanites to forced labor, but did not utterly drive them out. 14 Then the people of Joseph spoke to Joshua, saying, “Why have you given me but one lot and one portion as an inheritance, although I am a numerous people, since all along the Lord has blessed me?” 15 And Joshua said to them, “If you are a numerous people, go up by yourselves to the forest, and there clear ground for yourselves in the land of the Perizzites and the Rephaim, since the hill country of Ephraim is too narrow for you.”16 The people of Joseph said, “The hill country is not enough for us. Yet all the Canaanites who dwell in the plain have chariots of iron, both those in Beth-shean and its villages and those in the Valley of Jezreel.” 17 Then Joshua said to the house of Joseph, to Ephraim and Manasseh, “You are a numerous people and have great power. You shall not have one allotment only, 18 but the hill country shall be yours, for though it is a forest, you shall clear it and possess it to its farthest borders. For you shall drive out the Canaanites, though they have chariots of iron, and though they are strong.” Meditation Scripture is one continuous story written by our Sovereign God. Our anticipation will lead to satisfaction, longing will lead to fulfillment. Now we see in a reflection dimly. One day Christians will fully know the culmination of God’s redemptive narrative even as we are fully known by His love today. The Lord’s promised inheritance will be made a reality. The inclusion of Zelophehad’s four daughters (3-6) in the continued account of the allotment of land emphasizes God’s faithfulness to His promises and His sovereign plan. History is a story going somewhere! We first met the daughters in Numbers 27 but did not focus on them until Numbers 36:1-12 where their case deepens anticipation for moving from wilderness to promised land. The women trusted God’s word and are held out as a paradigm for others to trust God’s word, too. Their humble request was for access to God’s inheritance even though their father died. Today’s passage reveals their hope fulfilled. God’s promised inheritance will eventually come. Christians today have the same option as Zelophehad’s daughters and can expect the same fulfillment. Christians can trust God’s promises of inheritance through His word, a new heaven and a new earth where all sad things become untrue. Disorder, death, disease will be gone. Through Jesus, the glory of God will cover the earth as the waters cover the sea. These promises (and many more) are true for all who believe- There will be an eternal inheritance for Christians tomorrow! Because God’s story of salvation has a culmination. We must trust God’s word today. Richly Dwelling -Why is it significant to see the promised inheritance for the daughters brought to fulfillment in the settlement of the promised land? -When are you tempted to lose hope, to not trust God’s promises of eternal inheritance? How does losing hope in God’s sovereignty promote anxiety? -The resurrection of Jesus is the first fruit of God’s promised fulfillment. Christians will have an eternal inheritance in the promised new heavens and new earth! By faith, we are already citizens of heaven! How does this truth give strength for today and hope for tomorrow? Key Verse 4 They approached Eleazar the priest and Joshua the son of Nun and the leaders and said, “The Lord commanded Moses to give us an inheritance along with our brothers.” So according to the mouth of the Lord he gave them an inheritance among the brothers of their father. Comments are closed.
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