Numbers 27
Expanded Bible
Zelophehad’s Daughters
27 Then the daughters of Zelophehad came near. Zelophehad was the son of Hepher, the son of Gilead, the son of Makir, the son of Manasseh. Zelophehad’s daughters belonged to the ·family groups [clans] of Manasseh son of Joseph [26:29–34]. The daughters’ names were Mahlah, Noah, Hoglah, Milcah, and Tirzah. 2 They went to the entrance of the Meeting Tent and stood before Moses, Eleazar the priest, the leaders, and all the ·people [community; congregation; assembly]. They said, 3 “Our father died in the ·desert [wilderness]. He was not ·one of Korah’s followers [L in the community/congregation/assembly of Korah] who came together against the Lord [16:1–50], but he died because of his own sin, and he had no sons. 4 ·Our father’s name will [L Why should our father’s name…?] die out because he had no sons. Give us ·property [a possession] among our father’s relatives [36:1–13; Josh. 17:3–6].”
5 So Moses brought their case to the Lord, 6 and the Lord said to him, 7 “The daughters of Zelophehad are right; they should certainly get ·what their father owned [L a possession of the inheritance in the midst of the relatives of their father]. ·Give [L Pass on to] them ·property among their father’s relatives [L the inheritance of their father].
8 “Tell the ·Israelites [L sons/T children of Israel], ‘If a man dies and has no son, then ·everything he owned should go [L pass on his inheritance] to his daughter. 9 If he has no daughter, then ·everything he owned should go [L you should give his inheritance] to his brothers. 10 If he has no brothers, then ·everything he owned should go [L you should give his inheritance] to his father’s brothers. 11 And if his father had no brothers, then ·everything he owned should go [L you should give his inheritance] to the nearest relative in his ·family group [clan]. This should be a ·rule [statute; ordinance; requirement] among the ·people [L sons; T children] of Israel, as the Lord has given this command to Moses.’”
Joshua Is the New Leader
12 Then the Lord said to Moses, “Climb this mountain in the Abarim Mountains, and look at the land I have given to the ·Israelites [L sons/T children of Israel]. 13 After you have seen it, you will ·die and join your ancestors [L be gathered to your people] as your brother Aaron ·did [L was gathered; 20:22–29], 14 because you both ·acted [rebelled] against my command in the ·Desert [Wilderness] of Zin. You did not honor me as holy before the people at the waters of Meribah [20:1–13].” (This was at Meribah in Kadesh in the ·Desert [L Wilderness] of Zin.)
15 Moses said to the Lord, 16 “The Lord is the God of the spirits of all ·people [L flesh]. May he ·choose a leader for these people [L appoint someone over the community/assembly/congregation], 17 who will go in and out before them. He must lead them out like sheep and bring them in; the Lord’s ·people [community; assembly; congregation] must not be like sheep without a shepherd.”
18 So the Lord said to Moses, “Take Joshua son of Nun, because my Spirit is in him. ·Put [Lay] your hand on him, 19 and have him stand before Eleazar the priest and all the ·people [community; assembly; congregation]. Then give him his orders ·as they watch [L before their eyes]. 20 Let him share your honor so that all the ·Israelites [L community/assembly/congregation of the sons/T children of Israel] will ·obey [listen to] him. 21 He must stand before Eleazar the priest, and Eleazar will get advice from the Lord by using the Urim [Ex. 28:30]. At his command all the ·Israelites [L sons/T children of Israel, the whole community/assembly/congregation] will go out, and at his command they will all come in.”
22 Moses did what the Lord told him. He took Joshua and had him stand before Eleazar the priest and all the ·people [community; assembly; congregation], 23 and he ·put [lay] his hands on him and gave him orders, just as the Lord had told him.
Numbers 27
Amplified Bible
A Law of Inheritance
27 Then the [five] daughters of Zelophehad the son of Hepher, the son of Gilead, the son of Machir, the son of Manasseh, from the [a]tribes of Manasseh [who was] the son of Joseph, approached [with a request]. These are the names of his daughters: Mahlah, Noah, Hoglah, Milcah, and Tirzah. 2 They stood before Moses, Eleazar the priest, the leaders, and all the congregation at the doorway of the Tent of Meeting (tabernacle), saying, 3 “Our father died in the wilderness. He was not among those who assembled together against the Lord in the company of Korah, but he died for his own sin [as did all those who rebelled at Kadesh], and he had no sons.(A) 4 Why should the name of our father be removed from his family because he had no son? Give to us a possession (land) among our father’s brothers.” 5 So Moses brought their case before the Lord.
6 Then the Lord said to Moses, 7 “The request of the daughters of Zelophehad is justified. You shall certainly give them a possession as an inheritance among their father’s brothers, and you shall transfer their father’s inheritance to them. 8 Further, you shall say to the Israelites, ‘If a man dies and has no son, you shall transfer his inheritance to his daughter. 9 If a man has no daughter, then you shall give his inheritance to his brothers. 10 If a man has no brothers, then you shall give his inheritance to his father’s brothers. 11 If his father has no brothers, then you shall give his inheritance to his nearest relative in his own family, and he shall take possession of it. It shall be a statute and ordinance to the Israelites, just as the Lord has commanded Moses.’”
12 Then the Lord said to Moses, “Go up to this mountain (Nebo) [in the] Abarim [range] and look at the land I have given to the sons of Israel. 13 When you have seen it, you too will be gathered to your people [in death], just as Aaron your brother was gathered; 14 because in the Wilderness of Zin, during the strife of the congregation, you rebelled against My command to treat me as holy [by following My instruction] before their eyes at the water.” (These are the waters of Meribah in Kadesh in the Wilderness of Zin.)(B)
Joshua to Succeed Moses
15 Then Moses spoke to the Lord, saying, 16 “[b]Let the Lord, the God of the spirits of all flesh, appoint a man over the congregation 17 who will go out and come in before them, and will lead them out and bring them in, so that the congregation of the Lord will not be as sheep without a shepherd.” 18 The Lord said to Moses, “Take Joshua the son of Nun, a man in whom is the Spirit, and lay your hand on him; 19 and have him stand before Eleazar the priest and before the whole congregation, and give him a commission in their sight. 20 You shall put some of your authority and honor on him, so that all the congregation of the Israelites will obey him. 21 He shall stand before Eleazar the priest, who shall inquire before the Lord for him by the judgment (decision) of the [c]Urim. At Joshua’s command the people shall go out and at his command they shall come in, he and all the congregation of Israel with him.” 22 Moses did as the Lord commanded him. He took Joshua and had him stand before Eleazar the priest and the whole congregation, 23 and Moses laid his hands on Joshua and commissioned him, just as the Lord had commanded through Moses.
Footnotes
- Numbers 27:1 Lit families.
- Numbers 27:16 In his humility and godliness, Moses never complained to God about the severity of his punishment. His only concern was to protect the people whom he had reluctantly led, who had so often exasperated and disappointed him.
- Numbers 27:21 One of two articles (used like lots) in the priest’s breastpiece worn when inquiring of the Lord for the people (Ex 28:30).
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