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 to Moses came the daughters of Zelophehad son of Hepher son of Gilead son of Machir son of Manasseh, of the clans of Manasseh son of Joseph. These were the names of his daughters: Mahlah, Noah, Hoglah, Milkah, 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 stood before Moses, Eleazar the priest, the leaders, and before all the community at the entrance to the tent of meeting. 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 wilderness. He was not among those who conspired against Yahweh in the company of Korah. He died for his own 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 should our father's name be taken away from among his clan members because he had no son? Give us land among our father's relatives.”

5 Moses took their case before the Lord.

So Moses brought their case before Yahweh.

6 The Lord gave him this answer,

Yahweh spoke to Moses and said,

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.

“Zelophehad's daughters are speaking correctly. You must certainly give them land as an inheritance among their father's relatives, and you must ensure that their father's inheritance passes on 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.

You must speak to the people of Israel and say, 'If a man dies and has no son, then you must cause his inheritance to pass to his daughter.

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

If he has no daughter, then you must give his inheritance to his brothers.

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

If he has no brothers, then you must 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.’”

If his father has no brothers, then you must give his inheritance to his nearest relative in his clan, and he must take it for his own. This will be a law established by decree for the people of Israel, as Yahweh has commanded me.'”

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

Yahweh said to Moses, “Go up the mountains of Abarim and look at the land that I have given to the people of Israel.

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

After you have seen it, you, too, must be gathered to your people, like Aaron your brother.

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.)

This will happen because you two rebelled against my command in the wilderness of Zin. There, when the water flowed from the rock, in your anger you failed to honor me as holy before the eyes of the whole community.” These are the waters of Meribah of Kadesh in the wilderness of Zin.

15 Then Moses pleaded with the Lord,

Then Moses spoke to Yahweh and said,

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

“May you, Yahweh, the God of the spirits of all humanity, appoint a man over the community,

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.”

a man who may go out and come in before them and lead them out and bring them in, so that your community is not like 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.

Yahweh said to Moses, “Take Joshua son of Nun, a man in whom my Spirit lives, 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.

Place him before Eleazar the priest and before all the community, and command him before their eyes to lead them.

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

You must put some of your authority on him, so that all the community of the people of Israel may obey 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.”

He will go before Eleazar the priest to seek my will for him by the decisions of the Urim. It will be at his command that the people will go out and come in, both he and all the people of Israel with him, the whole community.”

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 Yahweh had commanded him. He took Joshua and placed him before Eleazar the priest and all the community.

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

He laid his hands on him and commanded him to lead, as Yahweh had commanded him to do.