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 near the daughters of Zelophehad, son of Hepher, son of Gilead son of Machir son of Manasseh pertaining to the families of Manasseh, son of Joseph, —these being 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,

So they stood before Moses and before Eleazar the priest, and before the princes, and all the assembly, —at the entrance of the tent of meeting, 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 desert, although, he, was not among the assembly that conspired against Yahweh, in the assembly of Korah, —but, in his own sin, died he; and sons, had he none.

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

Wherefore should the name of our father be withdrawn out of the midst of his family, because he had no son? Give ye unto us a possession, in the midst of the brethren of our father.

5 Moses took their case before the Lord.

And Moses brought near their cause before Yahweh.

6 The Lord gave him this answer,

Then spake Yahweh 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.

A right thing, are the daughters of Zelophehad speaking: Thou shalt, surely give, them a possession for an inheritance, in the midst of the brethren of their father, —and shalt cause the inheritance of their father to pass over 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 sons of Israel, shalt thou speak, saying, —When, any man, shall die, having no son, then shall ye cause his inheritance to pass over to his daughter.

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

And, if he hath no daughter, then shall ye give his inheritance unto his, brethren.

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

And if he hath no brethren, then shall ye give his inheritance unto the brethren 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.’”

And, if his father hath no brethren, then shall ye give his inheritance unto his blood-relation that is near unto him of his family, and he shall possess it, —So shall it serve the sons of Israel as a regulative statute, As Yahweh 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 Yahweh said unto Moses, Go up into this mount of Abarim, —and see, the land which I have given unto 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 thou hast seen it, then shalt thou also be withdrawn unto thy kinsfolk, —as Aaron thy brother was withdrawn;

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 resisted my bidding—in the desert of Zin when the assembly contended, —that ye should hallow me regarding the waters, before their eyes, —the same, were the waters of Meribah, of Kadesh in the desert of Zin.

15 Then Moses pleaded with the Lord,

Then spake Moses unto Yahweh saying:

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

Let Yahweh, God of the spirits of all flesh, appoint a man over the assembly;

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 take them out and who may bring them in, —that the assembly of Yahweh become not as sheep that 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 Yahweh said unto Moses: Take thee Joshua son of Nun, a man in whom is spirit, —then shalt thou lean 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 shalt cause him to stand before Eleazar the priest, and before all the assembly, —and shalt charge him before their eyes;

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

and shalt put some of thine honour upon him, —that all the assembly of the sons of Israel may hearken.

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 Eleazar the priest, shall he stand, and shall ask by him for the decision of the Lights, before Yahweh, —at the bidding thereof, shall they go out, and at the bidding thereof, shall they come in—he, and all the sons of Israel with him, even all the assembly.

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 Yahweh commanded him, —and took Joshua, and caused him to stand before Eleazar the priest, and before all the assembly;

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

and leaned his hands upon him and charged him, —As Yahweh spake by the hand of Moses.