Komentaryong Sumisipi para sa Mga Bilang 27:1

נבוב לוחות תעשה אותו, “you shall construct it hollow, of boards.” It was square. as the Torah had written: “it shall be square” (verse 1). The wooden boards surrounded its four sides, the inside being hollow. This is in accordance with the translation by Onkelos, חליל לוחין. The expression נבוב is found in Job 11,12 ואיש נבוב ילבב, where it means “a hollow man will get understanding.” [The author meant that as opposed to G’d man is hollow, lacks understanding at birth and has to acquire it as he grows older. Ed.]

If Moses did not know the answer himself this is not held against him as it was when he did not know the answer to the query of the daughters of Tzelofchod (Numbers 27,1). In that instance the answer did not need divine guidance as even the Gentile nations appreciate that before the brothers of the deceased are entitle to inherit him, daughters as next of kin take precedence. If Moses nonetheless did not know, this was a punishment for his having made a careless remark when he told the chiefs of tens, fifties, hundreds, and thousands that when they encountered a matter too difficult for them they should submit it to him and he would deal with it (Deut. 1,17). Seeing that Moses had not known the answer to a simple question, the sages considered this as a form of punishment for him. The law involving a possible postponement of the Passover celebrations for individuals who through no fault of their own could not participate on the date set aside for it, was something that had to be legislated and could not be arrived at by use of one’s intellect. Not knowing the answer could not therefore be considered a failing on the part of Moses and therefore a form of punishment.

And they were married. Rashi is answering the question: In Parshas Pinchas (27:1) Scripture mentioned Sirtzah at the end, while here she is mentioned second. He answers that here they are listed in the order of seniority [i.e., age], meaning that here it is written, “They were…wives to their cousins” and it is customary for sisters to marry in order of their birth, first the oldest and afterward the younger ones in order of their age, as it is written [referring to marrying the younger daughter before the older] (Bereishis 29:26), “Such is not done in our place…”