Chapter 36

Translation and Transliteration of

Listen to this chapter in Hebrew:

1The family heads in the clan of the descendants of Gilad son of Machir son of Menashe, one of the Yosefite clans, came forward and appealed to Moshe and the chieftains, family heads of the Israelites.

vai-yik-RE-vu ra-SHE ha-a-VOT l'-mish-PA-khat b'-NAY gil-AD ben-ma-KHEER ben-m'-NA-sheh mi-mi-sh'-PO-khot b'-NAY yo-SAYF vai-da-B'-RU l'-f'-NAY mo-SHEH v'-l'-f'-NAY ha-ne-si-EEM ra-SHE a-VOT l'-v'-NAY yis-ra-AYL

אוַֽיִּקְרְב֞וּ רָאשֵׁ֣י הָֽאָב֗וֹת לְמִשְׁפַּ֤חַת בְּנֵֽי־גִלְעָד֙ בֶּן־מָכִ֣יר בֶּן־מְנַשֶּׁ֔ה מִֽמִּשְׁפְּחֹ֖ת בְּנֵ֣י יוֹסֵ֑ף וַֽיְדַבְּר֞וּ לִפְנֵ֤י מֹשֶׁה֙ וְלִפְנֵ֣י הַנְּשִׂאִ֔ים רָאשֵׁ֥י אָב֖וֹת לִבְנֵ֥י יִשְׂרָאֵֽל׃

2They said, “Hashem commanded my lord to assign the land to the Israelites as shares by lot, and my lord was further commanded by Hashem to assign the share of our kinsman Tzelofchad to his daughters.

vai-YO-mer-U et a-do-NEE, tzi-VAH a-do-NAI la-TAYT et ha-A-retz b'-na-kha-LAH b'-go-RAL li-v'-NAY yis-ra-AYL, va-a-do-NEE tzi-VAH ba-do-NAI la-TAYT et-na-kha-LAT tze-lof-KHAD a-KHEE-nu li-v'-no-TAV

בוַיֹּאמְר֗וּ אֶת־אֲדֹנִי֙ צִוָּ֣ה יְהֹוָ֔ה לָתֵ֨ת אֶת־הָאָ֧רֶץ בְּנַחֲלָ֛ה בְּגוֹרָ֖ל לִבְנֵ֣י יִשְׂרָאֵ֑ל וַֽאדֹנִי֙ צֻוָּ֣ה בַֽיהֹוָ֔ה לָתֵ֗ת אֶֽת־נַחֲלַ֛ת צְלׇפְחָ֥ד אָחִ֖ינוּ לִבְנֹתָֽיו׃

3Now, if they marry persons from another Israelite tribe, their share will be cut off from our ancestral portion and be added to the portion of the tribe into which they marry; thus our allotted portion will be diminished.

v'-ha-YU l'-e-KHAD mi-b'-NAY shiv-TAY v'-nay yis-ra-AYL l'-na-SHEEM v'-nig-r'-AH na-kha-la-TAN mi-na-kha-LAT a-vo-TAY-nu v'-no-SAF AL na-kha-LAT ha-ma-TEH a-SHER tih-YE-nah la-HEM u-mi-go-RAL na-kha-la-TAY-nu yi-ga-RAY-a

גוְ֠הָי֠וּ לְאֶחָ֞ד מִבְּנֵ֨י שִׁבְטֵ֥י בְנֵֽי־יִשְׂרָאֵל֮ לְנָשִׁים֒ וְנִגְרְעָ֤ה נַחֲלָתָן֙ מִנַּחֲלַ֣ת אֲבֹתֵ֔ינוּ וְנוֹסַ֕ף עַ֚ל נַחֲלַ֣ת הַמַּטֶּ֔ה אֲשֶׁ֥ר תִּהְיֶ֖ינָה לָהֶ֑ם וּמִגֹּרַ֥ל נַחֲלָתֵ֖נוּ יִגָּרֵֽעַ׃

36:3 Their share will be cut off from our ancestral portion

Motivated by a deep sense of passion for the Land of Israel, Tzelofchad’s daughters pleaded with Moshe for the right to inherit their father’s land in the absence of sons, and their request was granted (see Chapter 27). Now, the elders of the tribe of Menashe, who share the same love of the land, approach Moshe concerned that this ruling could adversely affect their tribe. The Land of Israel will soon be divided among the tribes through lots, for eternal inheritance. If Tzelofchad’s daughters would marry men from other tribes, their father’s land that they inherit, which will ultimately be inherited by their husbands and sons, will be permanently transferred to other tribes. The prospect of their tribe losing title to a piece of Eretz Yisrael is distressing to the tribal leaders, and they approach Moshe with their dilemma. To resolve the issue, the daughters of Tzelofchad are instructed to marry men from their own the tribe, thus guaranteeing that the tribe of Menashe will maintain every inch of the precious land in its possession. The Book of Bamidbar tells the story of many times that the Children of Israel provoked Hashem in the desert. The most unsettling of these was the sin of the spies, the rejection of the Promised Land that led to forty years of wandering in the desert and the death of an entire generation. However, in contrast, the book concludes with an inspiring example of deep love for Eretz Yisrael.

4And even when the Israelites observe the jubilee, their share will be added to that of the tribe into which they marry, and their share will be cut off from the ancestral portion of our tribe.”

v'-im y'-HE-yeh ha-yo-VAYL li-v'-NAY yis-ra-AYL, v'-no-s'-FAH na-cha-LA-tan al na-cha-LAT ha-ma-TEH, a-SHER tih-YE-nah la-HEM, u-mi-na-cha-LAT ma-TEH a-vo-tay-NU yi-ga-RA na-cha-LA-tan.

דוְאִם־יִהְיֶ֣ה הַיֹּבֵל֮ לִבְנֵ֣י יִשְׂרָאֵל֒ וְנֽוֹסְפָה֙ נַחֲלָתָ֔ן עַ֚ל נַחֲלַ֣ת הַמַּטֶּ֔ה אֲשֶׁ֥ר תִּהְיֶ֖ינָה לָהֶ֑ם וּמִֽנַּחֲלַת֙ מַטֵּ֣ה אֲבֹתֵ֔ינוּ יִגָּרַ֖ע נַחֲלָתָֽן׃

5So Moshe, at Hashem's bidding, instructed the Israelites, saying: “The plea of the Josephite tribe is just.

vai-TZA-vu mo-SHE et b'-NAY yis-ra-AYL al-PI a-do-NAI lay-MOR: KEN ma-TEH b'-NAY yo-SEF do-VE-rim

הוַיְצַ֤ו מֹשֶׁה֙ אֶת־בְּנֵ֣י יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל עַל־פִּ֥י יְהֹוָ֖ה לֵאמֹ֑ר כֵּ֛ן מַטֵּ֥ה בְנֵֽי־יוֹסֵ֖ף דֹּבְרִֽים׃

6This is what Hashem has commanded concerning the daughters of Tzelofchad: They may marry anyone they wish, provided they marry into a clan of their father's tribe.

ZEH ha-DA-var a-SHER tzi-VAH a-do-NAI liv-NOT tze-lof-KHAD lay-MOR la-TOV b'-ay-NAY-hem tih-YE-nah l'-na-SHEEM AKH l'-mish-PA-khat ma-TEH a-vee-HEM tih-YE-nah l'-na-SHEEM.

וזֶ֣ה הַדָּבָ֞ר אֲשֶׁר־צִוָּ֣ה יְהֹוָ֗ה לִבְנ֤וֹת צְלׇפְחָד֙ לֵאמֹ֔ר לַטּ֥וֹב בְּעֵינֵיהֶ֖ם תִּהְיֶ֣ינָה לְנָשִׁ֑ים אַ֗ךְ לְמִשְׁפַּ֛חַת מַטֵּ֥ה אֲבִיהֶ֖ם תִּהְיֶ֥ינָה לְנָשִֽׁים׃

7No inheritance of the Israelites may pass over from one tribe to another, but the Israelites must remain bound each to the ancestral portion of his tribe.

v'-LO tis-SOV na-KHA-lah li-v'-NAY yis-ra-AYL mi-ma-TEH el ma-TEH, KEE eesh b'-na-cha-LAT ma-TEH a-vo-TAV yid-b'-KU v'-nay yis-ra-AYL.

זוְלֹֽא־תִסֹּ֤ב נַחֲלָה֙ לִבְנֵ֣י יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל מִמַּטֶּ֖ה אֶל־מַטֶּ֑ה כִּ֣י אִ֗ישׁ בְּנַחֲלַת֙ מַטֵּ֣ה אֲבֹתָ֔יו יִדְבְּק֖וּ בְּנֵ֥י יִשְׂרָאֵֽל׃

8Every daughter among the Israelite tribes who inherits a share must marry someone from a clan of her father's tribe, in order that every Israelite may keep his ancestral share.

v'-kol-BAT yo-RE-shet na-KHA-lah mi-ma-TOHT b'-NAY yis-ra-AYL, l'-e-KHAD mi-mish-PA-khat ma-TEH a-VE-ha, tih-YEH l'-i-SHAH, l'-ma-AN yi-r'-SHU b'-NAY yis-ra-AYL, eesh na-KHA-lat a-vo-TAV

חוְכׇל־בַּ֞ת יֹרֶ֣שֶׁת נַחֲלָ֗ה מִמַּטּוֹת֮ בְּנֵ֣י יִשְׂרָאֵל֒ לְאֶחָ֗ד מִמִּשְׁפַּ֛חַת מַטֵּ֥ה אָבִ֖יהָ תִּהְיֶ֣ה לְאִשָּׁ֑ה לְמַ֗עַן יִֽירְשׁוּ֙ בְּנֵ֣י יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל אִ֖ישׁ נַחֲלַ֥ת אֲבֹתָֽיו׃

9Thus no inheritance shall pass over from one tribe to another, but the Israelite tribes shall remain bound each to its portion.”

v'-LO tis-SOV na-KHA-lah mi-ma-TEH l'-ma-TEH a-KHER, kee EESH b'-na-kha-LA-to yid-B'-ku ma-TOT b'-nay yis-ra-AYL

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

10The daughters of Tzelofchad did as Hashem had commanded Moshe:

ka-a-SHER tzi-VAH a-do-NAI et-mo-SHE, KEN a-SU b'-NOT tze-lof-KHAD

יכַּאֲשֶׁ֛ר צִוָּ֥ה יְהֹוָ֖ה אֶת־מֹשֶׁ֑ה כֵּ֥ן עָשׂ֖וּ בְּנ֥וֹת צְלׇפְחָֽד׃

11Machla, Tirtza, Chagla, Milka, and Noa, Tzelofchad's daughters, were married to sons of their uncles,

va-ti-HEI-na ma-KHA-lah tir-TZAH v'-kho-G'-LAH u-mil-KAH v'-no-AH b'-not t'-lof-KHAD l'-nei do-DAY-hen l'-na-SHEEM

יאוַתִּהְיֶ֜ינָה מַחְלָ֣ה תִרְצָ֗ה וְחׇגְלָ֧ה וּמִלְכָּ֛ה וְנֹעָ֖ה בְּנ֣וֹת צְלׇפְחָ֑ד לִבְנֵ֥י דֹדֵיהֶ֖ן לְנָשִֽׁים׃

12marrying into clans of descendants of Menashe son of Yosef; and so their share remained in the tribe of their father's clan.

mi-mi-SHE-fo-KHOT b'-NAY me-na-SHE ben yo-SEF ha-YU l'-na-SHEEM va-t'-HEE na-kha-LA-tan al ma-TEH mi-SHE-PA-khat a-ve-HEN

יבמִֽמִּשְׁפְּחֹ֛ת בְּנֵֽי־מְנַשֶּׁ֥ה בֶן־יוֹסֵ֖ף הָי֣וּ לְנָשִׁ֑ים וַתְּהִי֙ נַחֲלָתָ֔ן עַל־מַטֵּ֖ה מִשְׁפַּ֥חַת אֲבִיהֶֽן׃

13These are the commandments and regulations that Hashem enjoined upon the Israelites, through Moshe, on the steppes of Moab, at the Yarden near Yericho.

AY-leh ha-mitz-VOT v'-ha-mish-pa-TEEM a-SHER tzi-VA a-do-NAI b'-yad mo-SHE el b'-NAY yis-ra-AYL b'-ar-VOT mo-AV al ya-r'-DEN ye-RE-kho

יגאֵ֣לֶּה הַמִּצְוֺ֞ת וְהַמִּשְׁפָּטִ֗ים אֲשֶׁ֨ר צִוָּ֧ה יְהֹוָ֛ה בְּיַד־מֹשֶׁ֖ה אֶל־בְּנֵ֣י יִשְׂרָאֵ֑ל בְּעַֽרְבֹ֣ת מוֹאָ֔ב עַ֖ל יַרְדֵּ֥ן יְרֵחֽוֹ׃