Inheritance - Part 11
Transferred After Death

Some children inherit the estate after the death of their father by the governing authorities (elders of the land, one case with the priest - Jehoash, some cases the government officials).

Daughters of Zelophehad receive inheritance from the Moses and Eleazar, the priest, concerning inheritance of their father after death (verse 8) in Numbers 27:1-8. This is an example of the government laws deciding the heirs.

Numbers 27:1-8
1 Then came the daughters of Zelophehad, the son of Hepher, the son of Gilead, the son of Machir, the son of Manasseh, of the families of Manasseh the son of Joseph: and these are the names of his daughters; Mahlah, Noah, and Hoglah, and Milcah, and Tirzah.
2 And they stood before Moses, and before Eleazar the priest, and before the princes and all the congregation, by the door of the tabernacle of the congregation, saying,
3 Our father died in the wilderness, and he was not in the company of them that gathered themselves together against the LORD in the company of Korah; but died in his own sin, and had no sons.
4 Why should the name of our father be done away from among his family, because he hath no son? Give unto us therefore a possession among the brethren of our father.
5 And Moses brought their cause before the LORD.
6 And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying,
7 The daughters of Zelophehad speak right: thou shalt surely give them a possession of an inheritance among their father's brethren; and thou shalt cause the inheritance of their father to pass unto them.
8 And thou shalt speak unto the children of Israel, saying, If a man die, and have no son, then ye shall cause his inheritance to pass unto his daughter. KJV

The Lord also instructed Moses on how to pass on an inheritance if the father has no children in Numbers 27:9-11. Inheritance given to father’s brother if no sons or daughters, then if the father has no brother it goes to the next kinsman for his possession to keep it in the man’s family as a statute for the Children of Israel. When the father has no children, no brothers the next of kin would be his father’s brother’s family. If his father had no brothers but only sisters the inheritance could pass unto them if they married inside the family. If they were not married the inheritance would certainly pass unto the sisters (or sister). If the father had no children then the inheritance would be given to the grandfathers brother’s family and so on and so forth.

9 And if he have no daughter, then ye shall give his inheritance unto his brethren.
10 And if he have no brethren, then ye shall give his inheritance unto his father's brethren.
11 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. KJV

Ish-bosheth was made King over the ten tribes of Israel by Abner after the death of his father, King Saul according to 2 Samuel 2:7-10 This is an example of a military leader (an elder) establishing a king because no one could withstand his authority. Typically throughout history military captains imposed their will upon the people they were supposed to protect. It is better for the Lord to chose a king over his people but since many are unwilling to accept God’s choice man appoints man. Historically we know that Ish-bosheth was not known for being a strong king of Israel because he was “man appointed” but King David was because he was “God ordained and appointed”.

2 Samuel 2:8-10
8 But Abner the son of Ner, captain of Saul's host, took Ish-bosheth the son of Saul, and brought him over to Mahanaim;
9 And made him king over Gilead, and over the Ashurites, and over Jezreel, and over Ephraim, and over Benjamin, and over all Israel.
10 Ish-bosheth Saul's son was forty years old when he began to reign over Israel, and reigned two years. But the house of Judah followed David. KJV

Rehoboam reigned in place of King Solomon his father in 2 Chronicles 9:30,31. This is an example of the son taking over the estate of his father but not all the responsibility of his father. Rehoboam had an opportunity to reign over all twelve tribes but because he answered the people roughly he was rejected by ten tribes of Israel according to 1 Kings 12:1-24

1 Kings 12:1
And Rehoboam went to Shechem: for all Israel were come to Shechem to make him king. KJV

However because Rehoboam did not listen to the counsel of the old men (the heart of the people) he didn’t receive the full estate of his father Solomon but only two tribes of the twelve tribes of the children of Israel. Refer to 1 Kings 12:2-17

Rehoboam was probably the elder son and that is why he was considered by the elders of the land to be the next king over all of Israel according to 1 Kings 12:1. King Solomon should of prayed for God’s choice but since King Solomon was not as close to the Lord in his old age he did not. Thus, King Solomon’s house (estate) was not left in order because he lacked an established successor to take over the Nation of Israel. Although Solomon was a wise king you can be foolish (or disobedience) in certain functions of your business (career, administration, job, etc…..).

2 Chronicles 9:30-31
30 And Solomon reigned in Jerusalem over all Israel forty years.
31 And Solomon slept with his fathers, and he was buried in the city of David his father: and Rehoboam his son reigned in his stead. KJV

Amaziah was twenty-five years old when he began to reigned over Jerusalem after the death of his father, King Joash according to 2 Chronicles 25:1

Amaziah was twenty and five years old when he began to reign, and he reigned twenty and nine years in Jerusalem. And his mother's name was Jehoaddan of Jerusalem. KJV

His father, Joash, was killed suddenly by conspiracy for shedding innocence blood of the sons of Jehoiada (the priest). This means Amaziah died prematurely and without warning, therefore his house was not in order. Thus, the estate passed by the customs of the people and general consent of the elders of the land.

2 Chronicles 24:24-25
24 For the army of the Syrians came with a small company of men, and the LORD delivered a very great host into their hand, because they had forsaken the LORD God of their fathers. So they executed judgment against Joash.
25 And when they were departed from him, (for they left him in great diseases,) his own servants conspired against him for the blood of the sons of Jehoiada the priest, and slew him on his bed, and he died: and they buried him in the city of David, but they buried him not in the sepulchres of the kings. KJV

Uzziah was only sixteen years old when he began to reign over Judah after the death of his father, King Amaziah according to 2 Chronicles 26:1

Then all the people of Judah took Uzziah, who was sixteen years old, and made him king in the room of his father Amaziah. KJV

Notice in this example “all the people” chose Uzziah, not just the elders of the land. This is also another case where the King of Israel, Uzziah’s father (Amaziah), was killed suddenly by conspiracy. Therefore his house (estate) was not in order but it was presumed his son would be the next king of Israel. Again the transfer of the estate from the father to the son was done after the death of the father. Again this is an example where the estate passed to the son by the customs of the people with the support laws of the land.

2 Chronicles 25:27-28
27 Now after the time that Amaziah did turn away from following the LORD they made a conspiracy against him in Jerusalem; and he fled to Lachish: but they sent to Lachish after him, and slew him there.
28 And they brought him upon horses, and buried him with his fathers in the city of Judah. KJV

Josiah was only eight years old when he began to reign over Judah after the death of his father, King Amon according to 2 Chronicles 34:1

Josiah was eight years old when he began to reign, and he reigned in Jerusalem one and thirty years. KJV

His father was killed by conspiracy so the estate was transferred after the death of his father, King Amon according to 2 Chronicles 33:23-25.

23 And humbled not himself before the LORD, as Manasseh his father had humbled himself; but Amon trespassed more and more.
24 And his servants conspired against him, and slew him in his own house.
25 But the people of the land slew all them that had conspired against king Amon; and the people of the land made Josiah his son king in his stead. KJV

Notice that conspiracy seemed to be more common among kings that did evil in the sight of the Lord. This sudden death by conspiracy always forces those in authority to make a quick decision on who should be the next king. With the foundation of the new king being set quickly, instead of an established process of time, they typically stumble in the beginning of their reign. Through God’s grace the Lord can keep them on track, without God’s grace the reign of the new king is typically disastrous. This is because the decisions of the king are done by men instead of God’s Holy Written Word.

Jehoash was an infant when he was hid from the ruler Athaliah that sought to kill him. He was hidden by the Jehosheba, the daughter of king Joram, for six years. Jehoash began to reign in Jerusalem at the age of seven, six years after the death of his father, King Ahaziah. Refer to 2 Kings 11:1-21 for the complete story.

2 Kings 11:21
Seven years old was Jehoash when he began to reign. KJV

Since Jehoash began to reign at such a young age he needed a lot of help from his elders. Also Jehoash did not receive any instructions about being a king from his father but through God’s grace he reigned forty years. However, when Jehoash listen to the wise counsel of Jehoiada, the priest, he did what was pleasing to God.

2 Kings 12:1-2
1 In the seventh year of Jehu Jehoash began to reign; and forty years reigned he in Jerusalem. And his mother's name was Zibiah of Beer-sheba.
2 And Jehoash did that which was right in the sight of the LORD all his days wherein Jehoiada the priest instructed him. KJV

This is an example of the estate of a father passing unto the son after a long time delay. This is why we stress the heir needs God’s wisdom to run (manage) an estate not just the physical assets. When the wisdom of God is in the heir and the assets of the estate are in proper order the management of the estate goes a lot smoother.

The children should not have to lay up (money, provision - NIV, NLT, AMP Versions) for the parents because typically the parents have an inheritance setup for the children.

2 Corinthians 12:12-14
12 Truly the signs of an apostle were wrought among you in all patience, in signs, and wonders, and mighty deeds
13 For what is it wherein ye were inferior to other churches, except it be that I myself was not burdensome to you? forgive me this wrong.
14 Behold, the third time I am ready to come to you; and I will not be burdensome to you: for I seek not yours, but you: for the children ought not to lay up for the parents, but the parents for the children.

Generally speaking the inheritance of a father should transfer to the heirs (his children) before the death of the father for the best results, which means exact execution of the fathers wishes (his will). If that does happen the next transfer will happen right after the death of the father. This is very common because most people do not know how to handle death so they don’t speak to their children about their departure and what to do when they departed. The worst scenario is to start managing the inheritance of a father years after their death. The good news is even in a worst case scenario the Lord is able to give total victory in handling the estate of a father or mother.