Marriage Law for Heiresses
Numbers 36
The heads of Manasse's tribe raise concern before Moses that if the daughters of Salpaad marry into other tribes, their inherited land will pass out of their father's tribe. The Lord rules that such heiresses must marry within their own father's tribe, and the daughters of Salpaad marry their cousins accordingly so the inheritance remains within Manasse.
About these editions
The Septuagint (LXX) in Greek, with Charles Thomson’s 1808 and Sir Lancelot Brenton’s 1851 English translations, set beside the King James Version and the Jewish Masoretic text (JPS 1917) where they align, so you can compare the Greek and the Hebrew. All public domain; choose which to show with the controls above.
Thomson 1808Septuagint
Brenton 1851Septuagint
Greek · BrentonSeptuagint
KJV 1769Masoretic
JPS 1917Masoretic
1
ThomsonTHEN came the chiefs of the community of the children of Galaad, son of Machir, son of Manasses, of the tribe of the children of Joseph, and spoke before Moses, and before Eleazar the priest, and before the chiefs of the patriarchal houses of the Israelites,
BrentonAnd the heads of the tribe of the sons of Galaad the son of Machir the son of Manasse, of the tribe of the sons of Joseph, drew near, and spoke before Moses, and before Eleazar the priest, and before the heads of the houses of the families of the children of Israel:
GreekΚαὶ προσῆλθον οἱ ἄρχοντες φυλῆς υἱῶν Γαλαὰδ υἱοῦ Μαχὶρ υἱοῦ Μανασσῆ ἐκ τῆς φυλῆς υἱῶν Ἰωσὴφ, καὶ ἐλάλησαν ἔναντι Μωυσῆ, καὶ ἔναντι Ἐλεάζαρ τοῦ ἱερέως, καὶ ἔναντι τῶν ἀρχόντων οἴκων πατριῶν τῶν υἱῶν Ἰσραὴλ,
KJVAnd the chief fathers of the families of the children of Gilead, the son of Machir, the son of Manasseh, of the families of the sons of Joseph, came near, and spake before Moses, and before the princes, the chief fathers of the children of Israel:
JPSAnd the heads of the fathers’houses of the family of the children of Gilead, the son of Machir, the son of Manasseh, of the families of the sons of Joseph, came near, and spoke before Moses, and before the princes, the heads of the fathers’houses of the children of Israel;
2
Thomsonand said, The Lord hath commanded our lord to give the land of inheritance by lot to the children of Israel; and the Lord hath commanded our lord to give the inheritance of Salpaad, our brother, to his daughters.
Brentonand they said, The Lord commanded our lord to render the land of inheritance by lot to the children of Israel; and the Lord appointed our lord to give the inheritance of Salpaad our brother to his daughters.
Greekκαὶ εἶπαν, τῷ κυρῖῳ ἡμῶν ἐνετείλατο Κύριος ἀποδοῦναι τὴν γῆν τῆς κληρονομίας ἐν κλήρῳ τοῖς υἱοῖς Ἰσραήλ· καὶ τῷ κυρίῳ συνέταξε Κύριος δοῦναι τὴν κληρονομίαν Σαλπαὰδ τοῦ ἀδελφοῦ ἡμῶν ταῖς θυγατράσιν αὐτοῦ.
KJVAnd they said, 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.
JPSand they said: ‘The LORD commanded my lord to give the land for 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.
3
ThomsonNow they may become wives to one of the communities of the Israelites, and their lot may be taken from the possession of our fathers, and added to the inheritance of that tribe among which they may be married; so their inheritance may be taken from the lot of our inheritance;
BrentonAnd they will become wives in one of the tribes of the children of Israel; so their inheritance shall be taken away from the possession of our fathers, and shall be added to the inheritance of the tribe into which the women shall marry, and shall be taken away from the portion of our inheritance.
GreekΚαὶ ἔσονται ἑνὶ τῶν φυλῶν υἱῶν Ἰσραὴλ γυναῖκες· καὶ ἀφαιρεθήσεται ὁ κλῆρος αὐτῶν ἐκ τῆς κατασχέσεως τῶν πατέρεν ἡμῶν, καὶ προστεθήσεται εἰς κληρονομίαν τῆς φυλῆς, οἷς ἂν γένωνται γυναῖκες, καὶ ἐκ τοῦ κλήρου τῆς κληρονομίας ἡμῶν ἀφαιρεθήσεται.
KJVAnd 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 received: so shall it be taken from the lot of our inheritance.
JPSAnd if they be married to any of the sons of the other tribes of the children of Israel, then will their inheritance be taken away from the inheritance of our fathers, and will be added to the inheritance of the tribe whereunto they shall belong; so will it be taken away from the lot of our inheritance.
4
Thomsonand though there may be a jubilee of the children of Israel, still their inheritance will be added to the inheritance of the tribe among whom they may have been married, and their inheritance will be taken from the inheritance of our patriarchal tribe.
BrentonAnd if there shall be a release of the children of Israel, then shall their inheritance be added to the inheritance of the tribe into which the women marry, and their inheritance shall be taken away from the inheritance of our family's tribe.
GreekἘὰν δὲ γένηται ἡ ἄφεσις τῶν υἱῶν Ἰσραὴλ, καὶ προστεθήσεται ἡ κληρονομία αὐτῶν ἐπὶ τὴν κληρονομίαν τῆς φυλῆς, οἷς ἂν γένωνται γυναῖκες, καὶ ἀπὸ τῆς κληρονομίας φυλῆς πατριᾶς ἡμῶν ἀφαιρεθήσεται ἡ κληρονομία αὐτῶν.
KJVAnd when the jubile of the children of Israel shall be, then shall their inheritance be put unto the inheritance of the tribe whereunto they are received: so shall their inheritance be taken away from the inheritance of the tribe of our fathers.
JPSAnd when the jubilee of the children of Israel shall be, then will their inheritance be added unto the inheritance of the tribe whereunto they shall belong; so will their inheritance be taken away from the inheritance of the tribe of our fathers.’
5
ThomsonWhereupon Moses gave a charge to the children of Israel, by the command of the Lord, saying, In regard to what the tribe of the children of Joseph say,
BrentonAnd Moses charged the children of Israel by the commandment of the Lord, saying, Thus says the tribe of the children of Joseph.
GreekΚαὶ ἐνετείλατο Μωυσῆς τοῖς υἱοῖς Ἰσραὴλ διὰ προστάγματος Κυρίου, λέγων, οὕτως φυλὴ υἱῶν Ἰωσὴφ λέγουσι.
KJVAnd Moses commanded the children of Israel according to the word of the LORD, saying, The tribe of the sons of Joseph hath said well.
JPSAnd Moses commanded the children of Israel according to the word of the LORD, saying: ‘The tribe of the sons of Joseph speaketh right.
6
ThomsonThis is the thing which the Lord hath commanded the daughters of Salpaad, saying, Let them marry whom they please, but they must marry men of the community of their father,
BrentonThis is the thing which the Lord has appointed the daughters of Salpaad, saying, Let them marry where they please, only let them marry men of their father's tribe.
GreekΤοῦτο τὸ ῥῆμα ὃ συνέταξε Κύριος ταῖς θυγατράσι Σαλπαὰδ, λέγων, οὗ ἀρέσκῃ ἐναντίον αὐτῶν, ἔστωσαν γυναῖκες, πλὴν ἐκ τοῦ δήμου τοῦ πατρὸς αὐτῶν ἔστωσαν γυναῖκες.
KJVThis is the thing which the LORD doth command concerning the daughters of Zelophehad, saying, Let them marry to whom they think best; only to the family of the tribe of their father shall they marry.
JPSThis is the thing which the LORD hath commanded concerning the daughters of Zelophehad, saying: Let them be married to whom they think best; only into the family of the tribe of their father shall they be married.
7
Thomsonso there shall be no transferring of inheritance among the children of Israel, from one tribe to another. Because the children of Israel must be kept together, every one in the inheritance of the patriarchal family of his tribe,
BrentonSo shall not the inheritance of the children of Israel go about from tribe to tribe, for the children of Israel shall steadfastly continue each in the inheritance of his family's tribe.
GreekΚαὶ οὐχὶ περιστραφήσεται κληρονομία τοῖς υἱοῖς Ἰσραὴλ ἀπὸ φυλῆς ἐπὶ φύλην, ὅτι ἕκαστος ἐν τῇ κληρονομίᾳ τῆς φυλῆς τῆς πατριᾶς αὐτοῦ προσκολληθήσονται οἱ υἱοὶ Ἰσραήλ.
KJVSo shall not the inheritance of the children of Israel remove from tribe to tribe: for every one of the children of Israel shall keep himself to the inheritance of the tribe of his fathers.
JPSSo shall no inheritance of the children of Israel remove from tribe to tribe; for the children of Israel shall cleave every one to the inheritance of the tribe of his fathers.
8
Thomsontherefore every daughter, who by being next of kin, inheriteth a possession among the tribes of Israel, must marry one of the community of her father, that the children of Israel may inherit by nearness of kin, every one the inheritance of his father’s family:
BrentonAnd whatever daughter is heiress to a property of the tribes of the children of Israel, such women shall be married each to one of her father's tribe, that the sons of Israel may each inherit the property of his father's tribe.
GreekΚαὶ πᾶσα θυγάτηρ ἀγχιατεύουσα κληρονομίαν ἐκ τῶν φυλῶν υἱῶν Ἰσραὴλ, ἑνὶ τῶν ἐκ τοῦ δήμου τοῦ πατρὸς αὐτῆς ἔσονται γυναῖκες, ἵνα ἀγχιστεύσωσιν οἱ υἱοὶ Ἰσραὴλ ἕκαστος τὴν κληρονομίαν τὴν πατρικὴν αὐτοῦ.
KJVAnd every daughter, that possesseth an inheritance in any tribe of the children of Israel, shall be wife unto one of the family of the tribe of her father, that the children of Israel may enjoy every man the inheritance of his fathers.
JPSAnd every daughter, that possesseth an inheritance in any tribe of the children of Israel, shall be wife unto one of the family of the tribe of her father, that the children of Israel may possess every man the inheritance of his fathers.
9
Thomsonby which means the allotment will not be transferred from one tribe to another; but the Israelites will be kept together, every one in his inheritance.
BrentonAnd the inheritance shall not go about from one tribe to another, but the children of Israel shall steadfastly continue each in his own inheritance.
GreekΚαὶ οὐ περιστραφήσεται ὁ κλῆρος ἐκ φυλῆς ἐπὶ φυλὴν ἑτέραν, ἀλλʼ ἕκαστος ἐν τῇ κληρονομίᾳ αὐτοῦ προσκολληθήσονται οἱ υἱοὶ Ἰσραήλ.
KJVNeither shall the inheritance remove from one tribe to another tribe; but every one of the tribes of the children of Israel shall keep himself to his own inheritance.
JPSSo shall no inheritance remove from one tribe to another tribe; for the tribes of the children of Israel shall cleave each one to its own inheritance.’
10
ThomsonAccordingly they did for the daughters of Salpaad, in the manner the Lord commanded Moses;
BrentonAs the Lord commanded Moses, so did they to the daughters of Salpaad.
GreekὋν τρόπον συνέταξε Κύριος Μωυσῇ, οὕτως ἐποίησαν θυγατράσι Σαλπαάδ.
KJVEven as the LORD commanded Moses, so did the daughters of Zelophehad:
JPSEven as the LORD commanded Moses, so did the daughters of Zelophehad.
11
Thomsonand Thersa, and Egla, and Melcha, and Nua, and Maala, the daughters of Salpaad, were married to their cousins.
BrentonSo Thersa, and Egla, and Melcha, and Nua, and Malaa, the daughters of Salpaad, married their cousins;
GreekΚαὶ ἐγένοντο Θερσὰ καὶ Ἐγλὰ καὶ Μελχὰ καὶ Νούα καὶ Μαλαὰ θυγατέρες Σαλπαὰδ, τοῖς ἀνεψιοῖς αὐτῶν,
KJV—
JPS—
12
ThomsonThey were married to men of the tribe of Manasses, one of the sons of Joseph, and their inheritance was kept in the tribe to which the community of their father belonged.
Brentonthey were married to men of the tribe of Manasse of the sons of Joseph; and their inheritance was attached to the tribe of their father's family.
Greekἐκ τοῦ δήμου τοῦ Μανασσῆ υἱῶν Ἰωσὴφ ἐγενήθησαν γυναῖκες· καὶ ἐγενήθη ἡ κληρονομία αὐτῶν ἐπὶ τὴν φυλὴν δήμου τοῦ πατρὸς αὐτῶν.
KJVAnd they were married into the families of the sons of Manasseh the son of Joseph, and their inheritance remained in the tribe of the family of their father.
JPSThey were married into the families of the sons of Manasseh the son of Joseph, and their inheritance remained in the tribe of the family of their father.
13
ThomsonThese are the commands, and the statutes, and the judgments which the Lord gave in charge, by the ministry of Moses, on the west of Moab, on the Jordan, over against Jericho.
BrentonThese are the commandments, and the ordinances, and the judgments, which the Lord commanded by the hand of Moses, at the west of Moab, at Jordan by Jericho.
GreekΑὗται αἱ ἐντολαὶ καὶ τὰ δικαιώματα καὶ τὰ κρίματα, ἃ ἐνετείλατο Κύριος ἐν χειρὶ Μωυσῆ ἐπὶ δυσμῶν Μωὰβ ἐπὶ τοῦ Ἰορδάνου κατὰ Ἰεριχώ.
KJVThese are the commandments and the judgments, which the LORD commanded by the hand of Moses unto the children of Israel in the plains of Moab by Jordan near Jericho.
JPSThese are the commandments and the ordinances, which the LORD commanded by the hand of Moses unto the children of Israel in the plains of Moab by the Jordan at Jericho.