Chapter commentary
Numbers Chapter 27
1
Numbers 27:1
繁體中文
English original
Women in Israel had not, up to the present time, enjoyed any distinct right of inheritance. Yet a father, whether sons had been born to him or not, had the power, either before or at his death, to cause part of his estate to pass to a daughter; in which case her husband married into her family rather than she into his, and the children were regarded as of the family from which the estate had come. Thus, Machir, ancestor of Zelophehad, although he had a son Gilead, left also, as is probable, an inheritance to his daughter, the wife of Hezron of the tribe of Judah, by reason of which their descendants, among whom was Jair, were reckoned as belonging to the tribe of Manasseh (Numbers 32:41; 1 Chronicles 2:21 ff).
2
Numbers 27:2
繁體中文
「會幕門口」——眾長老嚴肅集會之處。西羅非哈的女兒們向正在摩西與以利亞撒監督下進行人口統計的眾首領,即各支派與各宗族的首領,提出她們的請求。
English original
By the door of the tabernacle of the congregation - The place of solemn assembly of the elders. The daughters of Zelophehad made their suit to the princes, the heads of tribes and of families, who were making the census under the superintendence of Moses and Eleazar.
3
Numbers 27:3
繁體中文
「在自己罪中死了」——意即在臨到整個上一代、不准進入應許之地的一般性判決之下滅亡；但這判決僅限於那一代。西羅非哈的女兒們根據 Numbers 14:31 的宣告，主張她們父親的罪不應追討到她們身上。
English original
But died in his own sin - i. e., perished under the general sentence of exclusion from the land of promise passed on all the older generation, but limited to that generation alone. By virtue of the declaration in Numbers 14:31 the daughters of Zelophehad claim that their father's sin should not be visited upon them.
4
Numbers 27:4
繁體中文
「求你們分給我們」——這是以我們作父親的代表說話；好叫他藉著我們這些代表，得以與他的眾弟兄同享一樣的產業。
English original
Give unto us - As representing our father; that so he, through us his representatives, may enjoy a like inheritance with his brethren.
12
Numbers 27:12
繁體中文
「亞巴琳山」——見 Numbers 21:20 的註釋。
English original
Mount Abarim - See Numbers 21:20 note.
16
Numbers 27:16
繁體中文
「萬人之靈的神」——這話承認：人不過是血肉之軀（參 Genesis 6:3），靠自己乃是無助的，並且是在神裏面「生活、動作、存留」（Acts 17:28）。這些話用在此處十分合宜，用以引出一項懇求——求神不要使會眾沒有引導者和領袖；而在 Numbers 16:22，同樣的話則用作代求的開場——求全體百姓不致因少數人的罪而受苦。
English original
The God of the spirits of all flesh - An acknowledgment that man, who is but flesh (compare Genesis 6:3), is of himself helpless; and "lives and moves and has his being" in God Acts 17:28. The words are suitably employed here to introduce an entreaty that God would not leave the congregation without a guide and leader, and in Numbers 16:22 as a preface to an intercession that the whole people should not suffer for the sin of a, few.
18
Numbers 27:18
繁體中文
「在他裡面有聖靈的」——比較 Genesis 41:38。約書亞蒙神賦予擔任這職分所需的屬靈資格。然而摩西仍要按手在他身上，既是為了授予正式且公開的任命，也是為了印證並堅固已經賜下的屬靈恩賜（比較 Deuteronomy 34:9）。先前已領受內在的恩典，並不免除領受外在記號的必要；可比較哥尼流的例子（Acts 10:44-48），以及保羅在奇蹟式歸信之後受洗的例子（Acts 9:18）。
English original
In whom is the spirit Compare Genesis 41:38. Joshua was endowed by God with the requisite spiritual qualifications for the office. Moses howerer, was to lay his hands upon him, both in order to confer formal and public appointment, and also (compare Deuteronomy 34:9) to confirm and strengthen the spiritual gifts already bestowed. The previous reception of the inner grace did not dispense with that of the outward sign; compare the case of Cornelius Acts 10:44-48; and Paul's baptism after his miraculous conversion Acts 9:18.
20
Numbers 27:20
繁體中文
「你的尊榮」——即你的尊嚴與權柄的一部分（比較 Numbers 11:17、Numbers 11:28）。約書亞被立為摩西之下的副領袖，作為他日後在摩西死後成為首領的引介。
English original
Of thine honor - i. e., of thy dignity and authority (compare Numbers 11:17, Numbers 11:28). Joshua was constituted immediately vice-leader under Moses, by way of introduction to his becoming chief after Moses' death.
21
Numbers 27:21
繁體中文
「他要站在祭司以利亞撒面前……」——這樣，約書亞的地位就低於摩西從前所有的了。因為摩西享有與神直接、無限制交通的特權；而約書亞，如同以色列日後的一切執政者一樣，必須透過大祭司、以及大祭司所受託求問神的憑藉，間接地求問指示。約書亞與基遍人締結倉促之約時（Joshua 9:3 以下），似乎就忽略了尋求這樣的指示。
「烏陵的判斷」——見 Exodus 28:30 註釋。
English original
And he shall stand before Eleazar the priest ... - Joshua was thus to be inferior to what Moses had been. For Moses had enjoyed the privilege of unrestricted direct contact with God: Joshua, like all future rulers of Israel, was to ask counsel mediately, through the High Priest and those means of inquiring of God wherewith the high priest was entrusted. Such counsel Joshua seems to have omitted to seek when he concluded his hasty treaty with the Gibeonites (Joshua 9:3 ff).
Judgment of Urim - See Exodus 28:30 note.
在以色列,婦女直到當時尚未享有任何明確的繼承權。然而,父親無論有無兒子,都有權在生前或臨終之時,使自己部分產業歸給女兒;在這種情形下,是她的丈夫入贅她的家族,而非她嫁入夫家,所生的子女也被視為屬於產業所出的那一家族。因此,西羅非哈的先祖瑪吉雖有一子基列,大概也把一份產業留給了他的女兒,即猶大支派希斯崙的妻子;正因如此,他們的後裔——其中包括睚珥——被算為屬於瑪拿西支派(Numbers 32:41;1 Chronicles 2:21 及以下)。