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 there approached the daughters of Zelophehad, the son of Hepher, the son of Gilead, the son of Machir, the son of Manasseh, who was the son of Joseph: and their names are Mahlah, and Noa, 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,

And they stood before Moses and Eleazar the priest, and all the leaders of the people, at the door of the tabernacle of the covenant, and they 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 desert, and was not with the sedition, which was stirred up against the Lord under Korah, but he died in his own sin; he had no male sons. Why is his name taken away from his family, because he had no son? Give us a possession among the kinsmen of our father.”

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

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

5 Moses took their case before the Lord.

And the Lord said to him:

6 The Lord gave him this answer,

“The daughters of Zelophehad are asking for something just. So give them a possession among the kinsmen of their father, and let them succeed him in his inheritance.

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.

And to the sons of Israel, you shall speak these things:

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

When a man dies without a son, his inheritance shall be transferred to his daughter.

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

If he has no daughter, his brothers shall succeed him.

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

But if there were also no brothers, you shall give the inheritance to the brothers of his father.

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.’”

But if he has no paternal uncles, the inheritance shall be given to those who are closest to him. And this shall be, for the sons of Israel, consecrated as a perpetual law, just as the Lord has instructed Moses.”

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

The Lord also said to Moses: “Ascend onto this mountain, Abarim, and contemplate from there the land, which I will give to the sons 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 shall then go to your people, just as your brother Aaron went.

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 you offended me in the desert of Sin at the Contradiction of the multitude; neither were you willing to sanctify me in their sight over the waters. These are the Waters of Contradiction at Kadesh in the desert of Sin.”

15 Then Moses pleaded with the Lord,

Moses answered him:

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, provide a man, who may be over this multitude,

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.”

and who may be able to exit and enter before them, and who may lead them out or lead them in: lest the people of the Lord 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 said to him: “Take Joshua, the son of Nun, a man in whom the Spirit is, and place your hand upon him.

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

And he shall stand before Eleazar the priest and the entire multitude.

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

And you shall give him the precepts in the sight of all, and a portion of your glory, so that the entire congregation of the sons of Israel may listen to 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.”

On his behalf, if anything is to be done, Eleazar the priest shall consult the Lord. He, and all the sons of Israel with him, and the rest of the multitude, shall go out and enter in at his word.”

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 just as the Lord had instructed. And when he had brought Joshua, he set him before Eleazar the priest, and before the entire gathering of the people.

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

And imposing his hands upon his head, he repeated all that the Lord had commanded.