SEV Biblia, Chapter 26:55
Pero la tierra será repartida por suerte; y por los nombres de las tribus de sus padres heredarán.
Clarke's Bible Commentary - Numbers 26:55
Verse 55. The land shall be divided by lot] The word lrwg goral, translated lot, is supposed by some to signify the stone or pebble formerly used for the purpose of what we term casting lots. The word hlot is Anglo-Saxon, from to divide, or portion out, i. e., fortuitously: it answers to the Greek klhrov, which some think comes from klaw to break; because the lot, being a sort of appeal to God, ("The lot is cast into the lap, but the whole disposing thereof is of the Lord," Prov. xvi. 33,) broke off all contentions and litigations relative to the matter in dispute. From this original division of the promised land by lot to the children of Israel, all portions, appointments, offices, shares, or divisions in spiritual and ecclesiastical matters, were termed lots. So in the New Testament, the word klhrov, lot, is used to signify a portion of spiritual blessedness, and klhronomia, a division by lot, an inheritance; and klhroi, the lotted or appointed persons to different works, shares, &c.; hence our word clergy, klhroi, persons appointed by lot to a lot, portion, or inheritance; see the case of Matthias, Acts i. 26. Persons thus appointed were by accommodation termed inheritors, because originally, when there could be no claims of exclusive right, all lands where a wandering tribe chose to take up its residence were divided by lot, as the promised land in the case before us. So Judah says to Simeon his brother, Judg. i. 3: "Come up with me into my lot." And as God was ever supposed to be the whole disposer in such matters, whatever fell out in the course of God's providence was called a lot. "This is the lot of them that rob us;" Isa. xvii. 14. "Thou hast neither part nor lot in this matter;" Acts viii. 21. A lot in the promised land was evidently typical of a place in eternal glory. "That they may receive forgiveness of sins, and an inheritance (klhron, a lot) among them that are sanctified;" Acts xxvi. 18. "Who hath made us meet to be partakers of the inheritance, klhrou, of the lot) of the saints in light;" Col. i. 12. "Which is the earnest of our inheritance, (klhronomiav, of our allotted portion;") Eph. i. 4. "What is the riches of the glory of his inheritance," (klhronomiav, allotted portion;) Eph. i. 18. As therefore the promised land was divided by lot to the believing Israelites, God determining the lot as he saw good, none of the people having any claim on or right to it; so the kingdom of heaven is a lot given by the mere good will of God to them that believe and obey him; for as unbelief and disobedience threw 600, 000 people out of the inheritance of the promised land; so none who disbelieve God's word, and rebel against his authority, shall ever enter into the kingdom of heaven. - See Ainsworth. These things happened unto them for examples: see then, reader, that thou fall not after the same example of unbelief.
John Gill's Bible Commentary
Ver. 55. Notwithstanding, the land shall be divided by lot , etc.] That the division might appear to be according to the determination and will of God, and not left to the judgment and discretion of the chief magistrate, though bound by the above rule: according to the names of the tribes of their fathers they shall inherit ; that is, according as to whatsoever name of a tribe such a part or portion of the land comes up by lot, that shall their inheritance be: Jarchi says, the names of the twelve tribes were written on twelve scrolls of parchment, and twelve borders or limits of land on twelve others, and they were mixed together in an urn, and the prince put his hand into it and took two scrolls; a scroll came up with the name of a tribe, and a scroll with a border or limit expressed on it; and the lot, he says, was by the Holy Ghost, for Eleazar, at the same time, was clothed with Urim and Thummim f422 ; so that the people were certain that the disposition and division of the land was of God; but there were but nine tribes and a half, among whom the land of Canaan was divided, two tribes and a half settled on the other side Jordan, namely, the tribes of Reuben and Gad, and half the tribe of Manasseh.
Matthew Henry Commentary
Verses 52-56 - In distributing these tribes, the general rule of equity is prescribed that to many should be given more, and to fewer less. Though it seem left to the prudence of their prince, the matter at last must be settled by the providence of God, with which all must be satisfied.
Original Hebrew
אך 389 בגורל 1486 יחלק 2505 את 853 הארץ 776 לשׁמות 8034 מטות 4294 אבתם 1 ינחלו׃ 5157
