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 came 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: and these are the names of his daughters; 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,
And they stood before Moses, and before Eleazar the priest, and before the princes and all the congregation, by the door of the tabernacle of the congregation, saying,
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, and he was not in the company of them that gathered themselves together against the LORD in the company of Korah; but died in his own sin, and 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 be done away from among his family, because he has no son? Give to us therefore a possession among the brothers of our father.
5 Moses took their case before the Lord.
And Moses brought their cause before the LORD.
6 The Lord gave him this answer,
And the LORD spoke to Moses, saying,
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 right: you shall surely give them a possession of an inheritance among their father’s brothers; and you shall cause the inheritance of their father to pass 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 you shall speak to the children of Israel, saying, If a man die, and have no son, then you shall cause his inheritance to pass to his daughter.
9 If he doesn't have a daughter, give his property to his brothers.
And if he have no daughter, then you shall give his inheritance to his brothers.
10 If he doesn't have brothers, give his property to his father's brothers.
And if he have no brothers, then you shall 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 have no brothers, then you shall give his inheritance to his kinsman that is next to him of his family, and he shall possess it: and it shall be to the children of Israel a statute of judgment, as the LORD 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.
And the LORD said to Moses, Get you up into this mount Abarim, and 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 also shall be gathered to your people, as Aaron your brother was gathered.
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 rebelled against my commandment in the desert of Zin, in the strife of the congregation, to sanctify me at the water before their eyes: that is the water of Meribah in Kadesh in the wilderness of Zin.
15 Then Moses pleaded with the Lord,
And Moses spoke to the LORD, saying,
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, set 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.”
Which may go out before them, and which may go in before them, and which may lead them out, and which may bring them in; that the congregation of the LORD be not as sheep which have no 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 Moses, Take you Joshua the son of Nun, a man in whom is the spirit, and lay 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 set him before Eleazar the priest, and before all the congregation; and give him a charge in their sight.
20 Hand over some of your authority to him so that all the Israelites will obey him.
And you shall put some of your honor on him, that all the congregation of the children of Israel may be obedient.
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.”
And he shall stand before Eleazar the priest, who shall ask counsel for him after the judgment of Urim before the LORD: at his word shall they go out, and at his word they shall come in, both he, and all the children of Israel with him, even all the congregation.
22 Moses followed the Lord's instructions. He had Joshua come and stand in front of Eleazar the priest and all the Israelites.
And Moses did as the LORD commanded him: and he took Joshua, and set him before Eleazar the priest, and before all the congregation:
23 Moses placed his hands on Joshua and dedicated him, just as the Lord had told him to do.
And he laid his hands on him, and gave him a charge, as the LORD commanded by the hand of Moses.
