Numbers 27

1 Now the daughters of Zelophehad son of Hepher, the son of Gilead, the son of Machir, the son of Manasseh, belonged to the clans of Manasseh son of Joseph. These were the names of his daughters: Mahlah, Noah, Hoglah, Milcah, and Tirzah. They approached

Then to Moses came the daughters of Zelophehad son of Hepher son of Gilead son of Machir son of Manasseh, of the clans of Manasseh son of Joseph. These were the names of his daughters: Mahlah, Noah, Hoglah, Milkah, and Tirzah.

2 the entrance to the Tent of Meeting, stood before Moses, Eleazar the priest, the leaders, and the whole congregation, and said,

They stood before Moses, Eleazar the priest, the leaders, and before all the community at the entrance to the tent of meeting. They said,

3 “Our father died in the wilderness, but he was not among the followers of Korah who gathered together against the LORD. Instead, he died because of his own sin, and he had no sons.

“Our father died in the wilderness. He was not among those who conspired against Yahweh in the company of Korah. He died for his own sin, and he had no sons.

4 Why should the name of our father disappear from his clan because he had no sons? Give us property among our father’s brothers.”

Why should our father's name be taken away from among his clan members because he had no son? Give us land among our father's relatives.”

5 So Moses brought their case before the LORD,

So Moses brought their case before Yahweh.

6 and the LORD answered him,

Yahweh spoke to Moses and said,

7 “The daughters of Zelophehad speak correctly. You certainly must give them property as an inheritance among their father’s brothers, and transfer their father’s inheritance to them.

“Zelophehad's daughters are speaking correctly. You must certainly give them land as an inheritance among their father's relatives, and you must ensure that their father's inheritance passes on to them.

8 Furthermore, you shall say to the Israelites, ‘If a man dies and leaves no son, you are to transfer his inheritance to his daughter.

You must speak to the people of Israel and say, 'If a man dies and has no son, then you must cause his inheritance to pass to his daughter.

9 If he has no daughter, give his inheritance to his brothers.

If he has no daughter, then you must give his inheritance to his brothers.

10 If he has no brothers, give his inheritance to his father’s brothers.

If he has no brothers, then you must give his inheritance to his father's brothers.

11 And if his father has no brothers, give his inheritance to the next of kin from his clan, that he may take possession of it. This is to be a statutory ordinance for the Israelites, as the LORD has commanded Moses.’”

If his father has no brothers, then you must give his inheritance to his nearest relative in his clan, and he must take it for his own. This will be a law established by decree for the people of Israel, as Yahweh has commanded me.'”

12 Then the LORD said to Moses, “Go up this mountain of the Abarim range and see the land that I have given the Israelites.

Yahweh said to Moses, “Go up the mountains of Abarim and look at the land that I have given to the people of Israel.

13 After you have seen it, you too will be gathered to your people, as your brother Aaron was;

After you have seen it, you, too, must be gathered to your people, like Aaron your brother.

14 for when the congregation contended in the Wilderness of Zin, both of you rebelled against My command to show My holiness in their sight regarding the waters.” Those were the waters of Meribah in Kadesh, in the Wilderness of Zin.

This will happen because you two rebelled against my command in the wilderness of Zin. There, when the water flowed from the rock, in your anger you failed to honor me as holy before the eyes of the whole community.” These are the waters of Meribah of Kadesh in the wilderness of Zin.

15 So Moses appealed to the LORD,

Then Moses spoke to Yahweh and said,

16 “May the LORD, the God of the spirits of all flesh, appoint a man over the congregation

“May you, Yahweh, the God of the spirits of all humanity, appoint a man over the community,

17 who will go out and come in before them, and who will lead them out and bring them in, so that the congregation of the LORD will not be like sheep without a shepherd.”

a man who may go out and come in before them and lead them out and bring them in, so that your community is not like sheep that have no shepherd.”

18 And the LORD replied to Moses, “Take Joshua son of Nun, a man with the Spirit in him, and lay your hands on him.

Yahweh said to Moses, “Take Joshua son of Nun, a man in whom my Spirit lives, and lay your hand on him.

19 Have him stand before Eleazar the priest and the whole congregation, and commission him in their sight.

Place him before Eleazar the priest and before all the community, and command him before their eyes to lead them.

20 Confer on him some of your authority, so that the whole congregation of Israel will obey him.

You must put some of your authority on him, so that all the community of the people of Israel may obey him.

21 He shall stand before Eleazar the priest, who will seek counsel for him before the LORD by the judgment of the Urim. At his command, he and all the Israelites with him—the entire congregation—will go out and come in.”

He will go before Eleazar the priest to seek my will for him by the decisions of the Urim. It will be at his command that the people will go out and come in, both he and all the people of Israel with him, the whole community.”

22 Moses did as the LORD had commanded him. He took Joshua, had him stand before Eleazar the priest and the whole congregation,

So Moses did as Yahweh had commanded him. He took Joshua and placed him before Eleazar the priest and all the community.

23 and laid his hands on him and commissioned him, as the LORD had instructed through Moses.

He laid his hands on him and commanded him to lead, as Yahweh had commanded him to do.