And if his father have no brethren, then ye shall give his inheritance unto his kinsman that is next to him of his family, and he shall possess it: and it shall be unto the children of Israel a statute of judgment, as the LORD commanded Moses.
And if his father has no brothers, then you shall give his inheritance to the closest relative in his family, and that person shall possess it. This shall be a permanent law for the people of Israel, as the LORD commanded Moses.
God is establishing that if someone dies without direct heirs or uncles, their property should go to their nearest family relative as a permanent law for Israel.
📚 Historical Context
In the book of Numbers, the Israelites were wandering in the wilderness after their exodus from Egypt, and God was giving laws through Moses to organize their society and prepare them for life in the Promised Land. This verse specifically addresses a case raised by the daughters of Zelophehad, who had no brothers and sought inheritance rights for their father's land, leading God to establish rules for passing on property to the nearest relative if no direct male heirs existed. These instructions ensured that family lines and tribal lands were preserved, reflecting God's concern for justice and order among the people.
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