SEV Biblia, Chapter 12:13
¶ Y le dijo uno de la multitud: Maestro, di a mi hermano que parta conmigo la herencia.
Clarke's Bible Commentary - Luke 12:13
Verse 13. Speak to my brother, that he divide] Among the Jews, the children had the inheritance of their fathers divided among them; the eldest had a double portion, but all the rest had equal parts. It is likely the person complained of in the text was the elder brother; and he wished to keep the whole to himself-a case which is far from being uncommon. The spirit of covetousness cancels all bonds and obligations, makes wrong right, and cares nothing for father or brother.
John Gill's Bible Commentary
Ver. 13. And one of the company said unto him , etc.] Not one of the disciples of Christ, but one of the multitude, or crowd, about him, ( Luke 12:1) Master, speak to my brother, that he divide the inheritance with me : the firstborn, according to the law, in ( Deuteronomy 21:17) had a double portion: but the eider brother here, it seems, was for keeping all, and would not divide any part to his younger brother; wherefore he applies to Christ, to interpose his authority, which he imagined would have great weight with his brother, who might be a hearer of Christ, and favourer of him: or however, such was the fame of Christ, and such credit he obtained by his ministry and miracles, that he concluded a word from him, would go a great way with his brother, to engage him to make a right and proper division, as he ought; and especially, if he looked upon him, as the king Messiah the Jews expected, he might take this to be part of his work and office, to settle such civil affairs as these: we often read in the Jewish writings, of brethren dividing their substance, left by their parents; so it is said f391 , wqlj yjaj , brethren that divide, (a field,) give two corners (to the poor); if they return and become partners, they give but one. Where there were but two brethren, as here, the one was called rwkb , the firstborn; and the other, jwp , simple; having no title or character: and concerning dividing inheritances, there are the following rules f392 : the firstborn takes a double portion of his father's goods, as is said, ( Deuteronomy 21:17) how? a man leaves five children, and one of them is the firstborn: the firstborn takes the third part of the substance, and every one of the four simple ones, takes a sixth part: if he leaves nine children, and one of them is the firstborn, he takes the fifth part, and every one of the eight simple ones, takes a tenth part; and so according to this division, they divided for ever he that has two sons, a firstborn and a simple one, and they both die in his lifetime, the firstborn leaves a daughter, and the simple one leaves a son; lo, the son of the simple one inherits the third part of the old man's goods, which is his father's part; and the daughter of the firstborn, inherits the two thirds, which is the part of her father.
And again f393 , two brethren that divide, and a brother comes to them from the province of the sea: and so three brethren that divide, and a creditor comes and takes the part of one of them, though the one takes land, and the other money, the division is void, and they return and divide the rest equally: if any one orders at the time of death, that there should be given to such an one a palm tree, or a field out of his substance, and the brethren divide, and do not give such an one any thing, lo, the division is void; and how do they do? they give what he ordered the heirs, and after that they return and divide as at the beginning: brethren that divide, value what is upon them; but what is upon their sons and their daughters, which they have in possession, they do not value he that leaves fatherless children, some that are grown up, and others little ones, and they are willing to divide their father's goods, so that those that are grown up may take their part, the sanhedrim appoint a guardian for the little ones, and he chooses a good part for them: and when they are grown up, they cannot make it void, for lo, by the decree of the sanhedrim, they divided for them; but if the sanhedrim err in computation, and give them less, they may make it void, and make another division when, they are grown up.
But it would be tedious to transcribe all the rules, relating to such cases.
Matthew Henry Commentary
Verses 13-21 - Christ's kingdom is spiritual, and not of this world. Christianity doe not meddle with politics; it obliges all to do justly, but wordl dominion is not founded in grace. It does not encourage expectations of worldly advantages by religion. The rewards of Christ's disciples ar of another nature. Covetousness is a sin we need constantly to be warned against; for happiness and comfort do not depend on the wealt of this world. The things of the world will not satisfy the desires of a soul. Here is a parable, which shows the folly of carnal worldlin while they live, and their misery when they die. The character drawn i exactly that of a prudent, worldly man, who has no grateful regard to the providence of God, nor any right thought of the uncertainty of human affairs, the worth of his soul, or the importance of eternity How many, even among professed Christians, point out similar character as models for imitation, and proper persons to form connexions with! We mistake if we think that thoughts are hid, and thoughts are free. When he saw a great crop upon his ground, instead of thanking God for it, or rejoicing to be able to do more good, he afflicts himself. What shall do now? The poorest beggar in the country could not have said a mor anxious word. The more men have, the more perplexity they have with it It was folly for him to think of making no other use of his plenty than to indulge the flesh and gratify the sensual appetites, withou any thought of doing good to others. Carnal worldlings are fools; an the day is coming when God will call them by their own name, and the will call themselves so. The death of such persons is miserable i itself, and terrible to them. Thy soul shall be required. He is loth to part with it; but God shall require it, shall require an account of it require it as a guilty soul to be punished without delay. It is the folly of most men, to mind and pursue that which is for the body and for time only, more than that for the soul and eternity.
Greek Textus Receptus
ειπεν 2036 5627 V-2AAI-3S δε 1161 CONJ τις 5100 X-NSM αυτω 846 P-DSM εκ 1537 PREP του 3588 T-GSM οχλου 3793 N-GSM διδασκαλε 1320 N-VSM ειπε 2036 5628 V-2AAM-2S τω 3588 T-DSM αδελφω 80 N-DSM μου 3450 P-1GS μερισασθαι 3307 5670 V-AMN μετ 3326 PREP εμου 1700 P-1GS την 3588 T-ASF κληρονομιαν 2817 N-ASF
Robertson's NT Word Studies
12:13 {Bid my brother} (eipe twi adelfwi mou). this volunteer from the crowd draws attention to the multitude (verses #13-21). He does not ask for arbitration and there is no evidence that his brother was willing for that. He wants a decision by Jesus against his brother. The law (#De 21:17) was two-thirds to the elder, one-third to the younger.
