Philological and Thematic Affinities between Numbers 36 and Deuteronomy

Biblical scholars generally agree that Numbers 36 is an appendix to that book, which was added at some point after the balance of the book had reached its final form. Two primary reasons are given for this position. The first reason is the existence of a conflict, between Num 27 and 36, regarding the inheritance of the daughters of Zelophehad. The second reason is a philological discontinuity between chap 36 and the other P material in Num 27-35, with scholars noting the presence in chap 36 of terms and phrases that are otherwise unusual or foreign to P. Some have noted that these unusual terms and phrases have an affinity with Deuteronomy; however, they have generally failed to investigate the presence of these similarities with Deuteronomy further. This paper will first evaluate the philological and thematic affinities that Num 36 shares with the P material in Numbers. Subsequently, it will consider the philological and thematic affinities shared between Num 36 and Deuteronomy. This paper will demonstrate that Num 36 provides evidence that it was specifically composed to function as a transition between Numbers and Deuteronomy, based upon the presence of themes and philology some of which are consonant with P and others which conform to Deuteronomy. It will be argued that Num 36 is not merely appended to the book of Numbers as an afterthought, but that its author appears to have sought for this chapter to bind together the Tetrateuch and Deuteronomy.