Numbers 36

This chapter, an interesting way to close the book of Numbers, gives us a practical application of the Golden Rule (Matt 7:12), the basis of justice. The passage is a follow up to Numbers 27:1-7ff which records the death of a father, Zelophehad, who had five daughters and no sons. To whom would he leave his land? God said through Moses that the land should be the daughter’s. Numbers 36 then questions, “To whom should the land go if the girls died?” The answer was that the girls should marry from within their own tribe to avoid confusion.

Empathy alone can give justice to one, but empathy with wisdom will extend it to all.