Numbers 27

1 Then came the daughters of Salphaad, the son of Hepher, the son of Galaad, the son of Machir, the son of Manasses, who was the son of Joseph: and their names are Maala, and Noa, and Hegla, and Melcha, and Thersa.

The daughters of Zelophehad came to present their case. Their father Zelophehad was the son of Hepher, son of Gilead, son of Machir, son of Manasseh, and was from the tribe of Manasseh, son of Joseph. The names of his daughters were Mahlah, Noah, Hoglah, Milcah, and Tirzah. They came

2 And they stood before Moses and Eleazar the priest, and all the princes of the people at the door of the tabernacle of the covenant, and said:

and stood before Moses, Eleazar the priest, the leaders, and all the Israelites at the entrance to the Tent of Meeting. They said,

3 Our father died in the desert, and was not in the sedition, that was raised against the Lord under Core, but he died in his own sin: and he had no male children. Why is his name taken away out of his family, because he had no son? Give us a possession among the kinsmen of our father.

“Our father died in the desert, but he wasn't one of Korah's followers who joined together to rebel against the Lord. No, he died from his own sins, and he didn't have any sons.

4 And Moses referred their cause to the judgment of the Lord.

Why should our family name be lost simply because he didn't have a son? Give us land to own alongside our uncles.”

5 And the Lord said to him:

Moses took their case before the Lord.

6 The daughters of Salphaad demand a just thing: Give them a possession among their father’s kindred, and let them succeed him in his inheritance.

The Lord gave him this answer,

7 And to the children of Israel thou shalt speak these things:

“What the daughters of Zelophehad are saying is right. You really must give them land to own alongside their uncles—give to them what would have been allocated to their father.

8 When a man dieth without a son, his inheritance shall pass to his daughter.

In addition, tell the Israelites, ‘If a man dies and doesn't have a no son, give his property to his daughter.

9 If he have no daughter, his brethren shall succeed him.

If he doesn't have a daughter, give his property to his brothers.

10 And if he have no brethren, you shall give the inheritance to his father’s brethren.

If he doesn't have brothers, give his property to his father's brothers.

11 But if he have no uncles by the father, the inheritance shall be given to them that are the next akin. And this shall be to the children of Israel sacred by a perpetual law, as the Lord hath commanded Moses.

If his father doesn't have brothers, give his property his family's next of kin so that they can own it. This is a legal regulation for the Israelites, given as an order by the Lord to Moses.’”

12 The Lord also said to Moses: Go up into this mountain Abarim, and view from thence the land which I will give to the children of Israel.

The Lord told Moses, “Go up into the Abarim mountains so you can see the land that I have given the Israelites.

13 And when thou shalt have seen it, thou also shalt go to thy people, as thy brother Aaron is gone:

After you have seen it, you will also join your forefathers in death, just as your brother Aaron did,

14 Because you offended me in the desert of Sin in the contradiction of the multitude, neither would you sanctify me before them at the waters. These are the waters of contradiction in Cades of the desert of Sin.

because when the Israelites complained in the Desert of Zin, you both rebelled against my instructions to show my holiness before them in regard to providing water.” (These were the waters of Meribah in Kadesh, in the Desert of Zin.)

15 And Moses answered him:

Then Moses pleaded with the Lord,

16 May the Lord the God of the spirits of all flesh provide a man, that may be over this multitude:

“May the Lord, the God who gives life to all living beings, choose a man to lead the Israelites

17 And may go out and in before them, and may lead them out, or bring them in: lest the people of the Lord be as sheep without a shepherd.

who will tell them what to do and show them where to go, so that the people of the Lord won't be like sheep without a shepherd.”

18 And the Lord said to him: Take Josue the son of Nun, a man in whom is the Spirit, and put thy hand upon him.

The Lord told Moses, “Call for Joshua, son of Nun, a man who has the Spirit in him, and place your hands on him.

19 And he shall stand before Eleazar the priest and all the multitude:

Make him stand in front of Eleazar the priest and all the Israelites, and dedicate him while they watch.

20 And thou shalt give him precepts in the sight of all, and part of thy glory, that all the congregation of the children of Israel may hear him.

Hand over some of your authority to him so that all the Israelites will obey him.

21 If any thing be to be done, Eleazar the priest shall consult the Lord for him. He and all the children of Israel with him, and the rest of the multitude shall go out and go in at his word.

When he needs instructions he is to go before Eleazar the priest who will ask the Lord on his behalf and find out the decision using the Urim. Joshua will give orders to all the Israelites concerning everything they are to do.”

22 Moses did as the Lord had commanded. And when he had taken Josue, he set him before Eleazar the priest, and all the assembly of the people,

Moses followed the Lord's instructions. He had Joshua come and stand in front of Eleazar the priest and all the Israelites.

23 And laying his hands on his head, he repeated all things that the Lord had commanded.

Moses placed his hands on Joshua and dedicated him, just as the Lord had told him to do.