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

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, came forward: their names are Mahlah, Noah, and Hoglah, and Milcah, and Tirzah.

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

They came before Moses and Eleazar the priest and the chiefs and all the people at the door of the Tent of meeting, 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.

Death overtook our father in the waste land; he was not among those who were banded together with Korah against the Lord; but death came to him in his 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 is the name of our father to be taken away from among his family, because he had no son? Give us a heritage among our father's brothers.

5 Moses took their case before the Lord.

So Moses put their cause before the Lord.

6 The Lord gave him this answer,

And the Lord said to Moses,

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.

What the daughters of Zelophehad say is right: certainly you are to give them a heritage among their father's brothers: and let the property which would have been their father's go 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.

And say to the children of Israel, If a man has no son at the time of his death, let his heritage go to his daughter.

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

And if he has no daughter, then give his heritage to his brothers.

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

And if he has no brothers, then give his heritage 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, then give it to his nearest relation in the family, as his heritage: this is to be a decision made by law for the children of Israel, as the Lord gave orders to Moses.

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

And the Lord said to Moses, Go up into this mountain of Abarim so that you may see the land which I have given to the children of Israel.

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

And when you have seen it, you will be put to rest with 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.)

Because in the waste land of Zin, when the people were angry, you and he went against my word and did not keep my name holy before their eyes, at the waters. (These are the waters of Meribah in Kadesh in the waste land of Zin.)

15 Then Moses pleaded with the Lord,

Then Moses said to the Lord,

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

Let the Lord, the God of the spirits of all flesh, put a man at the head of this people,

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.”

To go out and come in before them and be their guide; so that the people of the Lord may not be like sheep without a keeper.

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 said to Moses, Take Joshua, the son of Nun, a man in whom is the spirit, and put your hand on him;

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

And take him before Eleazar the priest and all the meeting of the people, and give him his orders before their eyes.

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

And put your honour on him, so that all the children of Israel may be under his authority.

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 will take his place before Eleazar the priest, so that he may get directions from the Lord for him, with the Urim: at his word they will go out, and at his word they will come in, he and all the children of Israel.

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

So Moses did as the Lord said: he took Joshua and put him before Eleazar the priest and the meeting of the people:

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

And he put his hands on him and gave him his orders, as the Lord had said by Moses.