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27 Then came the daughters of Zelophehad, the son of Hepher, the son of Gilead, the son of Machir, the son of Manasseh, of the family of Manasseh, the son of Joseph (and the names of his daughters were these: Mahlah, Noah, and Hoglah, and Milcah, and Tirzah)

and stood before Moses, and before Eleazar the Priest, and before the Princes, and all the assembly at the door of the Tabernacle of the Congregation, saying,

“Our father died in the wilderness. And he was not among the assembly of those who were assembled against the LORD in the company of Korah, but died in his sin and had no sons.

“Why should the name of our father be taken away from among his family because he has no son? Give us a possession among the brothers of our father.”

Then Moses brought their cause before the LORD.

And the LORD spoke to Moses, saying,

“The daughters of Zelophehad speak rightly. You shall give them a possession to inherit among their father’s brothers and shall turn the inheritance of their father to them.

“Also, you shall speak to the children of Israel, saying, ‘If a man dies and has no son, then you shall turn his inheritance to his daughter.

‘And if he has no daughter, you shall give his inheritance to his brothers.

10 ‘And if he has no brothers, you shall give his inheritance to his father’s brothers.

11 ‘And if his father has no brothers, you shall give his inheritance to his next kinsman in his family. And he shall possess it. And this shall be to the children of Israel a Law of Judgment, as the LORD has commanded Moses.’”

12 Again, the LORD said to Moses, “Go up into the Mount of Abarim, and behold the land which I have given to the children of Israel.

13 “And when you have seen it, you shall be gathered to your people also, as Aaron your brother was gathered.

14 “For you were disobedient to My Word in the desert of Zin, in the strife of the assembly to sanctify Me in the waters before their eyes. That is the water of Meribah in Kadesh, in the wilderness of Zin.”

15 Then Moses spoke to the LORD, saying,

16 “Let the LORD, God of the spirits, of all flesh, appoint a man over the Congregation,

17 “who may go out and in before them and lead them out and in, so that the Congregation of the LORD are not as sheep who have no shepherd.”

18 And the LORD said to Moses, “Take with you Joshua, the son of Nun, in whom is the Spirit. And put your hands upon him.

19 “And set him before Eleazar the Priest, and before all the Congregation. And give him a commission in their sight.

20 “And give him some of your glory, so that all the Congregation of the children of Israel may obey.

21 “And he shall stand before Eleazar the Priest, who shall ask counsel for him by the judgment of Urim, before the LORD. At his word they shall go out. And at his word they shall come in, he and all the children of Israel with him, and all the Congregation.”

22 So Moses did as the LORD had commanded him. And he took Joshua and set him before Eleazar the Priest, and before all the Congregation.

23 Then he put his hands upon him and gave him a commission, as the LORD had spoken by the hand of Moses.

A Law of Inheritance

27 Then (A)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, came forward; and these are (B)the names of his daughters: Mahlah, Noah, Hoglah, Milcah, and Tirzah. They stood before Moses, before Eleazar the priest, before the leaders, and all the congregation at the entrance of the tent of meeting, saying, “Our father (C)died in the wilderness, yet he was not among the group of those who gathered together against the Lord, in the group of Korah; but he died in his own sin, and (D)he had no sons. Why should the name of our father be withdrawn from among his family simply because he had no son? Give us property among our father’s brothers.” (E)So Moses brought their case before the Lord.

Then the Lord said to [a]Moses, (F)The daughters of Zelophehad are right about their statements. You shall certainly give them hereditary property among their father’s brothers, and you shall transfer the inheritance of their father to them. Further, you shall speak to the sons of Israel, saying, ‘If a man dies and has no son, then you shall transfer his inheritance to his daughter. And if he has no daughter, then you shall give his inheritance to his brothers. 10 If he has no brothers, then you shall give his inheritance to his father’s brothers. 11 And 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; and it shall be a (G)statutory ordinance to the sons of Israel, just as the Lord has commanded Moses.’”

12 (H)Then the Lord said to Moses, “Go up to this (I)mountain of Abarim, and see the land which I have given to the sons of Israel. 13 When you have seen it, you too (J)will be gathered to your people, (K)just as Aaron your brother [b]was; 14 for in the wilderness of Zin, during the strife of the congregation, (L)you rebelled against My [c]command to treat Me as holy before their eyes at the water.” (These are the waters of Meribah of Kadesh in the wilderness of Zin.)

Joshua to Succeed Moses

15 Then Moses spoke to the Lord, saying, 16 (M)May the Lord, the God of the spirits of [d]humanity, appoint a man over the congregation, 17 who (N)will go out [e]and come in before them, and lead them out and [f]bring them in, so that the congregation of the Lord will not be (O)like sheep that have no shepherd.” 18 So the Lord said to Moses, “[g]Take Joshua the son of Nun, a man (P)in whom is the Spirit, and (Q)lay your hand on him; 19 and have him stand before Eleazar the priest and before all the congregation, and (R)commission him in their sight. 20 And you shall put some of your [h]authority on him, so that all the congregation of the sons of Israel will obey him. 21 Moreover, he shall stand before Eleazar the priest, who shall inquire for him (S)by the judgment of the Urim before the Lord. At his [i]command they shall go out, and at his [j]command they shall come in, both he and all the sons of Israel with him, all the congregation.” 22 Then Moses did just as the Lord commanded him; he took Joshua and had him stand before Eleazar the priest and before all the congregation. 23 Then he laid his hands on him and (T)commissioned him, just as the Lord had spoken [k]through Moses.

Footnotes

  1. Numbers 27:6 Lit Moses, saying
  2. Numbers 27:13 Lit was gathered
  3. Numbers 27:14 Lit mouth
  4. Numbers 27:16 Lit all flesh
  5. Numbers 27:17 Lit before them and who will
  6. Numbers 27:17 Lit who will bring
  7. Numbers 27:18 Lit Take for yourself
  8. Numbers 27:20 Lit majesty
  9. Numbers 27:21 Lit mouth
  10. Numbers 27:21 Lit mouth
  11. Numbers 27:23 Lit by the hand of

Zelophehad’s Daughters(A)

27 The daughters of Zelophehad(B) son of Hepher,(C) the son of Gilead,(D) the son of Makir,(E) the son of Manasseh, belonged to the clans of Manasseh son of Joseph. The names of the daughters were Mahlah, Noah, Hoglah, Milkah and Tirzah. They came forward and stood before Moses,(F) Eleazar the priest, the leaders(G) and the whole assembly at the entrance to the tent of meeting(H) and said, “Our father died in the wilderness.(I) He was not among Korah’s followers, who banded together against the Lord,(J) but he died for his own sin and left no sons.(K) Why should our father’s name disappear from his clan because he had no son? Give us property among our father’s relatives.”

So Moses brought their case(L) before the Lord,(M) and the Lord said to him, “What Zelophehad’s daughters are saying is right. You must certainly give them property as an inheritance(N) among their father’s relatives and give their father’s inheritance to them.(O)

“Say to the Israelites, ‘If a man dies and leaves no son, give his inheritance to his daughter. If he has no daughter, give his inheritance to his brothers. 10 If he has no brothers, give his inheritance to his father’s brothers. 11 If his father had no brothers, give his inheritance to the nearest relative in his clan, that he may possess it. This is to have the force of law(P) for the Israelites, as the Lord commanded Moses.’”

Joshua to Succeed Moses

12 Then the Lord said to Moses, “Go up this mountain(Q) in the Abarim Range(R) and see the land(S) I have given the Israelites.(T) 13 After you have seen it, you too will be gathered to your people,(U) as your brother Aaron(V) was, 14 for when the community rebelled at the waters in the Desert of Zin,(W) both of you disobeyed my command to honor me as holy(X) before their eyes.” (These were the waters of Meribah(Y) Kadesh, in the Desert of Zin.)

15 Moses said to the Lord, 16 “May the Lord, the God who gives breath to all living things,(Z) appoint someone over this community 17 to go out and come in before them, one who will lead them out and bring them in, so the Lord’s people will not be like sheep without a shepherd.”(AA)

18 So the Lord said to Moses, “Take Joshua son of Nun, a man in whom is the spirit of leadership,[a](AB) and lay your hand on him.(AC) 19 Have him stand before Eleazar the priest and the entire assembly and commission him(AD) in their presence.(AE) 20 Give him some of your authority so the whole Israelite community will obey him.(AF) 21 He is to stand before Eleazar the priest, who will obtain decisions for him by inquiring(AG) of the Urim(AH) before the Lord. At his command he and the entire community of the Israelites will go out, and at his command they will come in.”

22 Moses did as the Lord commanded him. He took Joshua and had him stand before Eleazar the priest and the whole assembly. 23 Then he laid his hands on him and commissioned him,(AI) as the Lord instructed through Moses.

Footnotes

  1. Numbers 27:18 Or the Spirit