Numbers 27

1 Then 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, drew near. And these are the names of his daughters: Mahlah, Noah, and Hoglah, and Milcah, and Tirzah.

One day the five daughters of Zelophehad came [to Moses/me]. They were Mahlah, Noah, Hoglah, Milcah, and Tirzah.

2 And they stood before Moses, and before Eleazar the priest, and before the rulers and all the congregation, at the door of the tent of meeting, saying,

They came to the entrance of the Sacred Tent and stood in front of Eleazar, Moses/me, the tribal leaders, and many [EUP] other Israeli people.

3 Our father died in the wilderness, and he was not among the company of those who gathered themselves together against Jehovah in the company of Korah, but he died in his own sin, and he had no sons.

They said, “Our father died [during the time that we were] in the desert, and he did not have any sons. But he was not among those who supported Korah, who rebelled against Yahweh. He died just because he was a sinner [like everyone else].

4 Why should the name of our father be taken away from among his family, because he had no son? Give to us a possession among the brothers of our father.

(Why should the name of his clan disappear [with the result that we do not receive any land] only because our father had no sons?/It is not right that the name of his clan disappear [with the result that we do not receive any land] only because our father had no sons.) [RHQ] So give us some land like our relatives will be getting!”

5 And Moses brought their case before Jehovah.

So Moses/I asked Yahweh [what to do about] their request.

6 And Jehovah spoke to Moses, saying,

And Yahweh replied,

7 The daughters of Zelophehad speak right. Thou shall surely give them a possession of an inheritance among their father's brothers, and thou shall cause the inheritance of their father to pass to them.

“What the daughters of Zelophehad are requesting is right. You must give them some land, just as you are giving to their father’s relatives. Give to each of them some of the land that would have been given to their brothers [if they had any].

8 And thou shall speak to the sons of Israel, saying, If a man dies, and has no son, then ye shall cause his inheritance to pass to his daughter.

“Also tell this to the Israeli people: ‘If a man who has no sons dies, give the things that his sons would have inherited to his daughters.

9 And if he has no daughter, then ye shall give his inheritance to his brothers.

If the man has no sons or daughters, give to his brothers the things that his sons and daughters would have inherited.

10 And if he has no brothers, then ye shall give his inheritance to his father's brothers.

If the man had no brothers, give to his father’s brothers the things that his sons or daughters or brothers would have inherited.

11 And if his father has no brothers, then ye shall give his inheritance to his kinsman who is next to him of his family, and he shall possess it. And it shall be to the sons of Israel a statute and ordinance, as Jehovah commanded Moses.

If the man’s father has no brothers, give to his closest relative the things that the others would have inherited.’ That will be a rule for the Israeli people, because I am giving this as a command to you, Moses, [to tell them].”

12 And Jehovah said to Moses, Get thee up onto this mountain of Abarim, and behold the land which I have given to the sons of Israel.

One day, Yahweh said to Moses/me, “Climb to the top of the Abarim Mountains [east of the Jordan River]. Then look out over the land that I am giving to the Israeli people.

13 And when thou have seen it, thou also shall be gathered to thy people, as Aaron thy brother was gathered,

After you have seen it, you will die [EUP] just like your [older] brother Aaron did.

14 because ye rebelled against my word in the wilderness of Zin, in the strife of the congregation, to sanctify me at the waters before their eyes. (These are the waters of Meribah of Kadesh in the wilderness of Zin.)

The reason [that you will die and not enter that land] is that you both disobeyed my instructions/commands in the Zin Desert. When the Israeli people rebelled against me there at Meribah, near Kadesh, [I told you to speak to the rock to cause] water to flow out of it. [But because you struck the rock instead of speaking to it], you did not show the people my holy power.”

15 And Moses spoke to Jehovah, saying,

Then Moses/I said this to Yahweh:

16 Let Jehovah, the God of the spirits of all flesh, appoint a man over the congregation,

“Yahweh, you are the God who directs the spirits of all people. So please appoint a new leader for the Israeli people.

17 who may go out before them, and who may come in before them, and who may lead them out, and who may bring them in, that the congregation of Jehovah be not as sheep which have no shepherd.

Appoint someone who will lead your people when they go to fight a battle, so that they will not [just wander around] like sheep that do not have a shepherd.” [SIM]

18 And Jehovah said to Moses, Take thee Joshua the son of Nun, a man in whom is the Spirit, and lay thy hand upon him,

Yahweh replied, “Get Joshua, the son of Nun, who has my Spirit within him. Lay your hands on him [to appoint him].

19 and set him before Eleazar the priest, and before all the congregation, and give him a charge in their sight.

Cause him to stand in front of Eleazar the priest, as all the people are watching, and commission/appoint him to be the new leader of the Israeli people.

20 And thou shall put of thine honor upon him, that all the congregation of the sons of Israel may obey.

Give to him some of the authority that you now have, in order that all the Israeli people will [know that they must] obey him.

21 And he shall stand before Eleazar the priest, who shall inquire for him by the judgment of the Urim before Jehovah. At his word shall they go out, and at his word they shall come in, both he, and all the sons of Israel with him, even all the congregation.

When you all need me to guide you, Joshua will stand in front of Eleazar. Then by (casting lots/throwing marked stones on the ground) Eleazar will find out what they should do.”

22 And Moses did as Jehovah commanded him. And he took Joshua, and set him before Eleazar the priest, and before all the congregation.

So Moses/I did what Yahweh commanded. He/I presented Joshua to Eleazar and to all the Israeli people.

23 And he laid his hands upon him, and gave him a charge, as Jehovah spoke by Moses.

Moses/I laid his/my hands on him and commissioned/appointed him to do the work that Yahweh told Moses/me to tell him to do.