Numbers 27

1 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

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

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

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

3 “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.

“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.

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

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

5 Moses took their case before the Lord.

So Moses brought their case before the LORD,

6 The Lord gave him this answer,

and the LORD answered him,

7 “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.

“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.

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

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

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

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

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

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

11 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.’”

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.’”

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

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

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

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

14 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.)

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.

15 Then Moses pleaded with the Lord,

So Moses appealed to the LORD,

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

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

17 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.”

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.”

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

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

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

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

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

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

21 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.”

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.”

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

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

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

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