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Numbers 36:9 - Tribal land remains forever.

Numbers 36:9 - במדבר 36:9

Hebrew Text

וְלֹא־תִסֹּב נַחֲלָה מִמַּטֶּה לְמַטֶּה אַחֵר כִּי־אִישׁ בְּנַחֲלָתוֹ יִדְבְּקוּ מַטּוֹת בְּנֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל׃

English Translation

Neither shall the inheritance remove from one tribe to another tribe; but every one of the tribes of the children of Yisra᾽el shall keep himself to his own inheritance.

Transliteration

Ve-lo tisov nachala mi-mate le-mate acher ki-ish be-nachlato yidbeku mateot bnei yisrael.

Hebrew Leining Text

וְלֹֽא־תִסֹּ֧ב נַחֲלָ֛ה מִמַּטֶּ֖ה לְמַטֶּ֣ה אַחֵ֑ר כִּי־אִישׁ֙ בְּנַ֣חֲלָת֔וֹ יִדְבְּק֕וּ מַטּ֖וֹת בְּנֵ֥י יִשְׂרָאֵֽל׃
וְלֹֽא־תִסֹּ֧ב נַחֲלָ֛ה מִמַּטֶּ֖ה לְמַטֶּ֣ה אַחֵ֑ר כִּי־אִישׁ֙ בְּנַ֣חֲלָת֔וֹ יִדְבְּק֕וּ מַטּ֖וֹת בְּנֵ֥י יִשְׂרָאֵֽל׃

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Parasha Commentary

Prohibition of Transferring Tribal Inheritance

The verse (Bamidbar 36:9) establishes a fundamental principle in the division of Eretz Yisrael: inheritances must remain within the tribe to which they were originally allotted. This law ensures the preservation of tribal identities and boundaries as divinely ordained during the conquest and settlement of the land.

Rashi's Explanation

Rashi clarifies that this prohibition applies specifically to permanent transfers of land between tribes. Temporary transactions (like sales or leases) were permitted, but the land would revert to its original tribal owners during the Yovel (Jubilee) year (Vayikra 25:10). Rashi emphasizes that this law was given to prevent the tribe of Menashe from losing territory due to the daughters of Tzelofchad marrying into other tribes.

Rambam's Legal Perspective

In Hilchot Nachalot (Laws of Inheritance 1:1-2), Rambam codifies this principle as binding halacha. He explains that tribal territories were considered an eternal division, reflecting the divine wisdom in maintaining the unique characteristics and roles of each shevet (tribe) within Klal Yisrael.

Midrashic Insights

  • The Sifrei notes that this law teaches the importance of maintaining proper boundaries - both physical and spiritual - within the Jewish people.
  • Midrash Tanchuma connects this to the concept that each tribe had its unique path in serving Hashem, symbolized by their distinct portions in Eretz Yisrael.

Practical Implications

The Talmud (Bava Batra 120a) discusses how this law affected marriage arrangements, particularly the case of the daughters of Tzelofchad who were required to marry within their tribe to preserve the tribal inheritance. This demonstrates how seriously the Torah views maintaining the integrity of tribal boundaries.

Spiritual Dimension

The Kli Yakar explains that the phrase "יִדְבְּקוּ מַטּוֹת בְּנֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל" ("the tribes of Israel shall cleave to their inheritance") suggests more than legal ownership - it implies a deep spiritual connection between each tribe and its portion of the land, reflecting their unique relationship with the Divine.

📚 Talmud Citations

This verse is quoted in the Talmud.

📖 Bava Batra 120a
The verse is cited in a discussion about the laws of inheritance and the prohibition against transferring land from one tribe to another.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: What does Numbers 36:9 mean about inheritance?
A: Numbers 36:9 teaches that land inheritance in Israel must stay within the tribe it was originally allotted to. This prevents land from permanently transferring between tribes, ensuring each tribe maintains its ancestral portion as commanded by Hashem (Rashi on Numbers 36:9).
Q: Why was it important to keep land within each tribe?
A: Keeping land within each tribe preserved tribal identities and fulfilled Hashem's promise to give each tribe its specific portion in Eretz Yisrael. The Talmud (Bava Batra 120a) explains this maintained the integrity of tribal borders established during Joshua's conquest.
Q: Does this law about inheritance still apply today?
A: While the agricultural laws of inheritance don't practically apply today without the tribal land allocations, the principle teaches us the importance of preserving Jewish heritage and maintaining family continuity (Rambam, Hilchot Nachalot 1:1-2).
Q: What's the connection between this verse and the daughters of Tzelofchad?
A: This verse concludes the story of Tzelofchad's daughters (Numbers 27, 36) who were permitted to inherit land but required to marry within their tribe to prevent land transfer between tribes, establishing this eternal inheritance law (Sifrei on Numbers 36:9).
Q: What lesson can we learn from this inheritance law?
A: This teaches the importance of maintaining family and national traditions. Just as tribes guarded their physical inheritance, we must safeguard our spiritual inheritance - Torah values and mitzvot - and transmit them faithfully to future generations (Midrash Tanchuma, Pinchas 8).