Numbers 36:1 - Coke's Commentary on the Holy Bible

The chief fathers of the families of the children of Gilead— On account of the case of the daughters of Zelophehad, mentioned ch. 27: some of the chief heads of that family, foreseeing a great inconvenience which was likely to happen in the marriage of these women, make a new petition to Moses in full council, for timely preventing it by a proper law. By the sons of Manasseh most interpreters understand those of the half tribe of Manasseh who were settled in Canaan, because the daughters of Zelophehad had their inheritance among them, Joshua 17. But their being called the children of Gilead determines Calmet and Le Clerc to think those of the other half tribe are meant, who settled on the east side of Jordan: thus they speak not so much on account of themselves as of their tribe, nay, of the whole Jewish nation; for it was a common concern. See Poole's Synopsis.