Numbers 36:1-13 And the chief fathers of the families of the children of Gilead, the son of Machir, the son of Manasseh… I. THE CASE STATED (vers. 1-4). These proceedings of the heads of this family were orderly, respectful, reasonable, and commendable. II. THE CASE ADJUDICATED (vers. 5-9). 1. The righteousness of the case was acknowledged. 2. The difficulty of the case was removed. 3. The decision in this case was made the law for all similar cases. 4. The decision of this case was of Divine authority. III. THE ADJUDICATION ACTED UPON (vers. 10-12). "They married their father's brothers' sons. By this it, appears," says Matthew Henry — 1. That the marriage of cousin-germans is not in itself unlawful, nor within the degrees prohibited, for then God would not haw countenanced these marriages. But — 2. That ordinarily it is not advisable; for, if there had not been a particular reason for it (which cannot hold in any case now, inheritances being not disposed of as then by the special designation of Heaven), they would not have married such near relations. The world is wide, and he that walks uprightly will endeavour to walk surely. (W. Jones.) Parallel Verses KJV: And 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: |
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