This incident follows from 27.1-11.

v1-4: The inheritance of Zelophehad's daughters would have led to the land being lost to the tribe of Manasseh, had the women married outside their tribe.

v6: The command, in response to the situation, was that the women only marry within their tribe. This was a wise solution to avoid future problems. In a similar way, Christians should marry like-minded Christians.

v7-9: The rules laid down were to ensure that no inheritance passed from tribe to tribe. To do otherwise would have caused chaos.

v10-12: The pleasing aspect of the incident was that the women did as commanded.