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

And there came nigh the daughters of Zelophehad, the son of Chepher, the son of Gil'ad, the son of Machir, the son of Manasseh, of the families of Menasseh the son of Joseph: and these are the names of his daughters, Machlah, No'ah, and Choglah, 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 Elazar 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; but he was not among the company of those that gathered themselves together against the Lord in the company of Korach; but in his own sin he died, and sons he had not.

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 the midst of his family, because he hath no son? Give unto us 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 unto 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 rightly: thou shalt indeed give them a possession as an inheritance among the brothers of their father; and thou shalt cause the inheritance of their father to pass unto 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 unto the children of Israel shalt thou speak, saying, If a man die, and have no son, then shall ye cause his inheritance to pass unto his daughter.

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

And if he have no daughter, then shall ye give his inheritance unto his brothers.

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

And if he have no brothers, then shall ye give his inheritance unto 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 shall ye give his inheritance unto his kinsman that is next to him of his family, and he shall inherit it; and it shall be unto the children of Israel a statute of justice, as the Lord hath 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 unto Moses, Go thou up unto this mount of 'Abarim, and see the land which I have given unto 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 thou hast seen it, then shalt thou also be gathered unto thy people, as Aaron thy brother hath been 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.)

Because ye rebelled against my order in the desert of Zin, at the quarreling of the congregation, to sanctify me through the waters before their eyes: these are the waters of Meribah in Kadesh, in the wilderness of Zin.

15 Then Moses pleaded with the Lord,

And Moses spoke unto 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, 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 may go out before them, and who may come in before them, and who may lead them out, and who may bring them in; that the congregation of the Lord be not as a flock 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 unto Moses, Take to thyself Joshua the son of Nun, a man in whom there is a spirit, and thou shalt lay thy hand upon him;

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

And thou shalt cause him to stand before Elazar the priest, and before all the congregation; and thou shalt give him a charge before their eyes.

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

And thou shalt put some of thy greatness upon him; in order 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 before Elazar the priest shall he stand, and he shall ask of him after the judgment of the Urim before the Lord: at his direction shall they go out, and at his direction shall they come in, he, and all the children of Israel with him, and 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 had commanded him; and he took Joshua, and caused him to stand before Elazar 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 upon him, and gave him a charge: as the Lord had commanded by the hand of Moses.