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.

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 Eleazar the priest, and all the princes of the people at the door of the tabernacle of the covenant, and said:

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 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.

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

(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 the Lord said to him:

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

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.

And Yahweh replied,

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

“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 When a man dieth without a son, his inheritance shall 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 If he have no daughter, his brethren shall succeed him.

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 have no brethren, you shall give the inheritance to his father’s brethren.

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 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 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 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.

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

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

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 answered him:

Then Moses/I said this to Yahweh:

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

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

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.

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 the Lord said to him: Take Josue the son of Nun, a man in whom is the Spirit, and put 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 he shall stand before Eleazar the priest and all the multitude:

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 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.

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 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 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 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,

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

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

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.