Joshua 17:4
New International Version
They went to Eleazar the priest, Joshua son of Nun, and the leaders and said, “The LORD commanded Moses to give us an inheritance among our relatives.” So Joshua gave them an inheritance along with the brothers of their father, according to the LORD’s command.

New Living Translation
These women came to Eleazar the priest, Joshua son of Nun, and the Israelite leaders and said, “The LORD commanded Moses to give us a grant of land along with the men of our tribe.” So Joshua gave them a grant of land along with their uncles, as the LORD had commanded.

English Standard Version
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.

Berean Standard Bible
They approached Eleazar the priest, Joshua son of Nun, and the leaders, and said, “The LORD commanded Moses to give us an inheritance among our brothers.” So Joshua gave them an inheritance among their father’s brothers, in keeping with the command of the LORD.

King James Bible
And they came near before Eleazar the priest, and before Joshua the son of Nun, and before the princes, saying, The LORD commanded Moses to give us an inheritance among our brethren. Therefore according to the commandment of the LORD he gave them an inheritance among the brethren of their father.

New King James Version
And they came near before Eleazar the priest, before Joshua the son of Nun, and before the rulers, saying, “The LORD commanded Moses to give us an inheritance among our brothers.” Therefore, according to the commandment of the LORD, he gave them an inheritance among their father’s brothers.

New American Standard Bible
They approached Eleazar the priest, Joshua the son of Nun, and the leaders, saying, “The LORD commanded Moses to give us an inheritance among our brothers.” So in accordance with the command of the LORD he gave them an inheritance among their father’s brothers.

NASB 1995
They came near before Eleazar the priest and before Joshua the son of Nun and before the leaders, saying, “The LORD commanded Moses to give us an inheritance among our brothers.” So according to the command of the LORD he gave them an inheritance among their father’s brothers.

NASB 1977
And they came near before Eleazar the priest and before Joshua the son of Nun and before the leaders, saying, “The LORD commanded Moses to give us an inheritance among our brothers.” So according to the command of the LORD he gave them an inheritance among their father’s brothers.

Legacy Standard Bible
And they came near before Eleazar the priest and before Joshua the son of Nun and before the leaders, saying, “Yahweh commanded Moses to give us an inheritance among our brothers.” So according to the word of Yahweh he gave them an inheritance among their father’s brothers.

Amplified Bible
They came before Eleazar the priest and before Joshua the son of Nun and before the leaders and said, “The LORD commanded Moses to give us an inheritance among our brothers.” So according to the command of the LORD Joshua gave them an inheritance among their father’s brothers.

Christian Standard Bible
They came before the priest Eleazar, Joshua son of Nun, and the leaders, saying, “The LORD commanded Moses to give us an inheritance among our male relatives.” So they gave them an inheritance among their father’s brothers, in keeping with the LORD’s instruction.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
They came before Eleazar the priest, Joshua son of Nun, and the leaders, saying, “The LORD commanded Moses to give us an inheritance among our male relatives.” So they gave them an inheritance among their father’s brothers, in keeping with the LORD’s instruction.

American Standard Version
And they came near before Eleazar the priest, and before Joshua the son of Nun, and before the princes, saying, Jehovah commanded Moses to give us an inheritance among our brethren: therefore according to the commandment of Jehovah he gave them an inheritance among the brethren of their father.

English Revised Version
And they came near before Eleazar the priest, and before Joshua the son of Nun, and before the princes, saying, The LORD commanded Moses to give us an inheritance among our brethren: therefore according to the commandment of the LORD he gave them an inheritance among the brethren of their father.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
They came to the priest Eleazar, Joshua (son of Nun), and the leaders. They said, "The LORD commanded Moses to give us some land as an inheritance among our male relatives." So they gave them an inheritance among their father's relatives as the LORD had required.

Good News Translation
They went to Eleazar the priest and to Joshua son of Nun and to the leaders, and said, "The LORD commanded Moses to give us, as well as our male relatives, a part of the land to possess." So, as the LORD had commanded, they were given land along with their male relatives.

International Standard Version
They appeared before Eleazar the priest and Nun's son Joshua and declared, "The LORD commanded Moses to give us an inheritance among our relatives." So in keeping what the LORD had commanded, he gave them an inheritance among their ancestor's relatives.

Majority Standard Bible
They approached Eleazar the priest, Joshua son of Nun, and the leaders, and said, “The LORD commanded Moses to give us an inheritance among our brothers.” So Joshua gave them an inheritance among their father’s brothers, in keeping with the command of the LORD.

NET Bible
They went before Eleazar the priest, Joshua son of Nun, and the leaders and said, "The LORD told Moses to assign us land among our relatives." So Joshua assigned them land among their uncles, as the LORD had commanded.

New Heart English Bible
They came near before Eleazar the priest, and before Joshua the son of Nun, and before the leaders, saying, "The LORD commanded Moses to give us an inheritance among our brothers." Therefore according to the commandment of the LORD he gave them an inheritance among the brothers of their father.

Webster's Bible Translation
And they came near before Eleazar the priest, and before Joshua the son of Nun, and before the princes, saying, The LORD commanded Moses to give us an inheritance among our brethren: therefore according to the commandment of the LORD he gave them an inheritance among the brethren of their father.

World English Bible
They came to Eleazar the priest, and to Joshua the son of Nun, and to the princes, saying, “Yahweh commanded Moses to give us an inheritance among our brothers.” Therefore according to the commandment of Yahweh he gave them an inheritance among the brothers of their father.
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
and they draw near before Eleazar the priest, and before Joshua son of Nun, and before the princes, saying, “YHWH commanded Moses to give an inheritance to us in the midst of our brothers”; and he gives to them, at the command of YHWH, an inheritance in the midst of the brothers of their father.

Young's Literal Translation
and they draw near before Eleazar the priest, and before Joshua son of Nun, and before the princes, saying, 'Jehovah commanded Moses to give to us an inheritance in the midst of our brethren;' and he giveth to them, at the command of Jehovah, an inheritance in the midst of the brethren of their father.

Smith's Literal Translation
And they will come near before Eleazar the priest, and before Joshua son of Nun, and before the chiefs, saying, Jehovah commanded Moses to give to us an inheritance in the midst of our brethren. And he will give to them according to the mouth of Jehovah an inheritance in the midst of the brethren of their father.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
And they came in the presence of Eleazar the priest and of Josue the son of Nun, and of the princes, saying: The Lord commanded by the hand of Moses, that a possession should be given us in the midst of our brethren. And he gave them according to the commandment of the Lord a possession amongst the brethren of their father.

Catholic Public Domain Version
And they went before the sight of Eleazar, the priest, and Joshua, the son of Nun, and the leaders, saying: “The Lord instructed by the hand of Moses that a possession ought to be given to us, in the midst of our brothers.” And so, he gave to them, in accord with the order of the Lord, a possession in the midst of the brothers of their father.

New American Bible
These presented themselves to Eleazar the priest, to Joshua, son of Nun, and to the leaders, saying, “The LORD commanded Moses to give us a heritage among our relatives.” So in accordance with the command of the LORD a heritage was given them among their father’s relatives.

New Revised Standard Version
They came before the priest Eleazar and Joshua son of Nun and the leaders, and said, “The LORD commanded Moses to give us an inheritance along with our male kin.” So according to the commandment of the LORD he gave them an inheritance among the kinsmen of their father.
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
And they came near before Eleazar the priest, and before Joshua the son of Nun, and before the princes of Israel, saying, The LORD commanded Moses to give us an inheritance among our brethren; so he gave us according to the command of the LORD, among the brothers of our father. Now therefore give us an inheritance among the brethren of our father. So Joshua gave them an inheritance among the brethren of their father.

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
And they came before Eliazar, the Priest, and before Yeshua, son of Nun, and before the Princes of Israel, and they said: “LORD JEHOVAH commanded Moshe to give us an inheritance among our brothers, and he gave to us according to the word of the mouth of LORD JEHOVAH among the brothers of our father, and now give to us an inheritance among the brothers of our father.” And Yeshua gave them an inheritance and a division among the brothers of their father
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
And they came near before Eleazar the priest, and before Joshua the son of Nun, and before the princes, saying: 'The LORD commanded Moses to give us an inheritance among our brethren'; therefore according to the commandment of the LORD he gave them an inheritance among the brethren of their father.

Brenton Septuagint Translation
And they stood before Eleazar the priest, and before Joshua, and before the rulers, saying, God gave a charge by the hand of Moses, to give us an inheritance in the midst of our brethren: so there was given to them by the command of the Lord an inheritance among the brethren of their father.

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
Manasseh's Inheritance
3But Zelophehad son of Hepher (the son of Gilead, the son of Machir, the son of Manasseh) had no sons but only daughters. These are the names of his daughters: Mahlah, Noah, Hoglah, Milcah, and Tirzah. 4They approached Eleazar the priest, Joshua son of Nun, and the leaders, and said, “The LORD commanded Moses to give us an inheritance among our brothers.” So Joshua gave them an inheritance among their father’s brothers, in keeping with the command of the LORD. 5Thus ten shares fell to Manasseh, in addition to the land of Gilead and Bashan beyond the Jordan,…

Cross References
Numbers 27:1-11
Now the daughters of Zelophehad son of Hepher, the son of Gilead, the son of Machir, the son of Manasseh, belonged to the clans of Manasseh son of Joseph. These were the names of his daughters: Mahlah, Noah, Hoglah, Milcah, and Tirzah. They approached / the entrance to the Tent of Meeting, stood before Moses, Eleazar the priest, the leaders, and the whole congregation, and said, / “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. ...

Numbers 36:1-12
Now the family heads of the clan of Gilead son of Machir son of Manasseh, one of the clans of Joseph, approached Moses and the leaders who were the heads of the Israelite families and addressed them, / saying, “When the LORD commanded my lord to give the land as an inheritance to the Israelites by lot, He also commanded him to give the inheritance of our brother Zelophehad to his daughters. / But if they marry any of the men from the other tribes of Israel, their inheritance will be withdrawn from the portion of our fathers and added to the tribe into which they marry. So our allotted inheritance would be taken away. ...

Deuteronomy 21:15-17
If a man has two wives, one beloved and the other unloved, and both bear him sons, but the unloved wife has the firstborn son, / when that man assigns his inheritance to his sons he must not appoint the son of the beloved wife as the firstborn over the son of the unloved wife. / Instead, he must acknowledge the firstborn, the son of his unloved wife, by giving him a double portion of all that he has. For that son is the firstfruits of his father’s strength; the right of the firstborn belongs to him.

Genesis 25:5-6
Abraham left everything he owned to Isaac. / But while he was still alive, Abraham gave gifts to the sons of his concubines and sent them away from his son Isaac to the land of the east.

Genesis 48:5-6
And now your two sons born to you in Egypt before I came to you here shall be reckoned as mine; Ephraim and Manasseh shall be mine, just as Reuben and Simeon are mine. / Any children born to you after them shall be yours, and they shall be called by the names of their brothers in the territory they inherit.

Exodus 6:23-25
And Aaron married Elisheba, the daughter of Amminadab and sister of Nahshon, and she bore him Nadab and Abihu, Eleazar and Ithamar. / The sons of Korah were Assir, Elkanah, and Abiasaph. These were the clans of the Korahites. / Aaron’s son Eleazar married one of the daughters of Putiel, and she bore him Phinehas. These were the heads of the Levite families by their clans.

1 Chronicles 7:14-19
The descendants of Manasseh: Asriel through his Aramean concubine. She also gave birth to Machir the father of Gilead. / Machir took a wife from among the Huppites and Shuppites. The name of his sister was Maacah. Another descendant was named Zelophehad, who had only daughters. / Machir’s wife Maacah gave birth to a son, and she named him Peresh. His brother was named Sheresh, and his sons were Ulam and Rekem. ...

1 Chronicles 23:14-17
As for Moses the man of God, his sons were named among the tribe of Levi. / The sons of Moses: Gershom and Eliezer. / The descendants of Gershom: Shebuel was the first. ...

1 Chronicles 26:23-28
From the Amramites, the Izharites, the Hebronites, and the Uzzielites: / Shebuel, a descendant of Gershom son of Moses, was the officer in charge of the treasuries. / His relatives through Eliezer included Rehabiah his son, Jeshaiah his son, Joram his son, Zichri his son, and Shelomith his son. ...

2 Chronicles 31:19
As for the priests, the descendants of Aaron, who lived on the farmlands around each of their cities or in any other city, men were designated by name to distribute a portion to every male among the priests and to every Levite listed by the genealogies.

Nehemiah 7:63-65
And from among the priests: the descendants of Hobaiah, the descendants of Hakkoz, and the descendants of Barzillai (who had married a daughter of Barzillai the Gileadite and was called by their name). / These men searched for their family records, but they could not find them and so were excluded from the priesthood as unclean. / The governor ordered them not to eat the most holy things until there was a priest to consult the Urim and Thummim.

Matthew 19:29
And everyone who has left houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or wife or children or fields for the sake of My name will receive a hundredfold and will inherit eternal life.

Mark 10:29-30
“Truly I tell you,” Jesus replied, “no one who has left home or brothers or sisters or mother or father or children or fields for My sake and for the gospel / will fail to receive a hundredfold in the present age—houses and brothers and sisters and mothers and children and fields, along with persecutions—and in the age to come, eternal life.

Luke 18:29-30
“Truly I tell you,” Jesus replied, “no one who has left home or wife or brothers or parents or children for the sake of the kingdom of God / will fail to receive many times more in this age—and in the age to come, eternal life.”

Acts 2:17-18
‘In the last days, God says, I will pour out My Spirit on all people. Your sons and daughters will prophesy, your young men will see visions, your old men will dream dreams. / Even on My menservants and maidservants I will pour out My Spirit in those days, and they will prophesy.


Treasury of Scripture

And they came near before Eleazar the priest, and before Joshua the son of Nun, and before the princes, saying, The LORD commanded Moses to give us an inheritance among our brothers. Therefore according to the commandment of the LORD he gave them an inheritance among the brothers of their father.

Eleazar

Joshua 14:1
And these are the countries which the children of Israel inherited in the land of Canaan, which Eleazar the priest, and Joshua the son of Nun, and the heads of the fathers of the tribes of the children of Israel, distributed for inheritance to them.

Numbers 34:17-29
These are the names of the men which shall divide the land unto you: Eleazar the priest, and Joshua the son of Nun…

The Lord commanded

Numbers 27:6,7
And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying, …

Galatians 3:28
There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female: for ye are all one in Christ Jesus.

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Commanded Commandment Eleazar Inheritance Joshua Moses Nun Priest Princes
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Commanded Commandment Eleazar Inheritance Joshua Moses Nun Priest Princes
Joshua 17
1. The lot of Manasseh
7. His coast
12. The Canaanites not driven out
14. The children of Joseph obtain another lot














They approached Eleazar the priest
This phrase highlights the importance of spiritual leadership in ancient Israel. Eleazar, the son of Aaron, served as the high priest, a role that signified a mediator between God and the people. The Hebrew root for "approached" (נָגַשׁ, nagash) implies a respectful and purposeful coming forward, indicating the reverence and seriousness with which the daughters of Zelophehad presented their case. This action underscores the established order and respect for God-ordained authority in decision-making processes.

Joshua son of Nun
Joshua, the successor of Moses, is a central figure in the conquest and settlement of Canaan. His name, derived from the Hebrew "Yehoshua" (יְהוֹשֻׁעַ), means "The LORD is salvation," reflecting his role as a deliverer and leader. Joshua's presence in this narrative emphasizes the continuity of leadership and the fulfillment of God's promises through faithful servants. His inclusion in this decision-making process highlights the collaborative leadership model in Israel, involving both spiritual and military leaders.

and the leaders
The mention of "the leaders" (נְשִׂיאִים, nesi'im) indicates the involvement of tribal heads or elders in the governance of Israel. This collective leadership approach ensured that decisions were made with wisdom and consensus, reflecting the communal nature of Israelite society. It also illustrates the importance of accountability and shared responsibility in leadership, principles that are valued in conservative Christian thought as reflective of biblical governance.

and said, 'The LORD commanded Moses
This phrase underscores the authority of divine command in the allocation of the land. The daughters of Zelophehad reference a specific directive from God to Moses, which is recorded in Numbers 27:6-7. The Hebrew word for "commanded" (צִוָּה, tzivah) conveys a sense of authoritative instruction, emphasizing that their request is not based on personal desire but on divine mandate. This appeal to God's command highlights the importance of adhering to God's word as the ultimate authority in all matters.

to give us an inheritance among our brothers
The request for an inheritance "among our brothers" reflects the cultural and legal context of inheritance rights in ancient Israel. The Hebrew term for "inheritance" (נַחֲלָה, nachalah) signifies a portion or possession, often associated with land. The daughters of Zelophehad's appeal was groundbreaking, as it challenged traditional inheritance laws that favored male heirs. Their successful petition, based on God's command, underscores the justice and equity inherent in God's law, which transcends cultural norms.

So Joshua gave them an inheritance among their father’s brothers
This action by Joshua demonstrates obedience to God's command and a commitment to justice. The phrase "gave them an inheritance" signifies the fulfillment of God's promise and the equitable distribution of land. It reflects the biblical principle that God's promises are inclusive and that His justice extends to all, regardless of gender. This act of granting inheritance to the daughters of Zelophehad serves as a testament to God's faithfulness and the integrity of Joshua's leadership.

according to the LORD’s command
The repetition of "the LORD’s command" reinforces the divine authority behind the decision. It serves as a reminder that the ultimate source of justice and order is God Himself. This phrase underscores the importance of aligning human actions with divine will, a key tenet in conservative Christian theology. It highlights the belief that true justice and righteousness are achieved when individuals and leaders submit to God's commands and seek to implement His will in all aspects of life.

Verse 4. - And they came near. In order to demand the fulfilment of the decree of Moses just referred to, to which they appeal in support of their claim (see also Numbers 27:1-7).

Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
They approached
וַתִּקְרַ֡בְנָה (wat·tiq·raḇ·nāh)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person feminine plural
Strong's 7126: To come near, approach

Eleazar
אֶלְעָזָ֨ר (’el·‘ā·zār)
Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 499: Eleazar -- 'God has helped', six Israelites

the priest,
הַכֹּהֵ֜ן (hak·kō·hên)
Article | Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 3548: Priest

Joshua
יְהוֹשֻׁ֣עַ (yə·hō·wō·šu·a‘)
Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 3091: Joshua -- 'the LORD is salvation', Moses' successor, also the name of a number of Israelites

son
בִּן־ (bin-)
Noun - masculine singular construct
Strong's 1121: A son

of Nun,
נ֗וּן (nūn)
Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 5126: Nun -- father of Joshua

and the leaders,
הַנְּשִׂיאִים֙ (han·nə·śî·’îm)
Article | Noun - masculine plural
Strong's 5387: An exalted one, a king, sheik, a rising mist

and said,
לֵאמֹ֔ר (lê·mōr)
Preposition-l | Verb - Qal - Infinitive construct
Strong's 559: To utter, say

“The LORD
יְהוָה֙ (Yah·weh)
Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 3069: YHWH

commanded
צִוָּ֣ה (ṣiw·wāh)
Verb - Piel - Perfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 6680: To lay charge (upon), give charge (to), command, order

Moses
מֹשֶׁ֔ה (mō·šeh)
Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 4872: Moses -- a great Israelite leader, prophet and lawgiver

to give
לָֽתֶת־ (lā·ṯeṯ-)
Preposition-l | Verb - Qal - Infinitive construct
Strong's 5414: To give, put, set

us an inheritance
נַחֲלָ֖ה (na·ḥă·lāh)
Noun - feminine singular
Strong's 5159: Something inherited, occupancy, an heirloom, an estate, patrimony, portion

among
בְּת֣וֹךְ (bə·ṯō·wḵ)
Preposition-b | Noun - masculine singular construct
Strong's 8432: A bisection, the centre

our brothers.”
אַחֵ֑ינוּ (’a·ḥê·nū)
Noun - masculine plural construct | first person common plural
Strong's 251: A brother, )

So [Joshua] gave
וַיִּתֵּ֨ן (way·yit·tên)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 5414: To give, put, set

them
לָהֶ֜ם (lā·hem)
Preposition | third person masculine plural
Strong's Hebrew

an inheritance
נַֽחֲלָ֔ה (na·ḥă·lāh)
Noun - feminine singular
Strong's 5159: Something inherited, occupancy, an heirloom, an estate, patrimony, portion

among
בְּת֖וֹךְ (bə·ṯō·wḵ)
Preposition-b | Noun - masculine singular construct
Strong's 8432: A bisection, the centre

their father's
אֲבִיהֶֽן׃ (’ă·ḇî·hen)
Noun - masculine singular construct | third person feminine plural
Strong's 1: Father

brothers,
אֲחֵ֥י (’ă·ḥê)
Noun - masculine plural construct
Strong's 251: A brother, )

in keeping with
אֶל־ (’el-)
Preposition
Strong's 413: Near, with, among, to

the command of
פִּ֤י (pî)
Noun - masculine singular construct
Strong's 6310: The mouth, edge, portion, side, according to

the LORD.
יְהוָה֙ (Yah·weh)
Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 3069: YHWH


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OT History: Joshua 17:4 They came near before Eleazar the priest (Josh. Jos)
Joshua 17:3
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