< Numbers 27 >
1 And daughters of Zelophehad son of Hepher, son of Gilead, son of Machir, son of Manasseh, of the families of Manasseh son of Joseph, draw near—and these [are] the names of his daughters: Mahlah, Noah, and Hoglah, and Milcah, and Tirzah—
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
2 and stand before Moses, and before Eleazar the priest, and before the princes, and all the congregation, at the opening of the Tent of Meeting, saying,
and stood before Moses, Eleazar the priest, the leaders, and all the Israelites at the entrance to the Tent of Meeting. They said,
3 “Our father died in the wilderness, and he was not in the midst of the congregation who were gathered together against YHWH in the congregation of Korah, but he died for his own sin, and had no sons;
“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.
4 why is the name of our father withdrawn from the midst of his family because he has no son? Give a possession to us in the midst of the brothers of our father”;
Why should our family name be lost simply because he didn't have a son? Give us land to own alongside our uncles.”
5 and Moses brings their cause near before YHWH.
Moses took their case before the Lord.
6 And YHWH speaks to Moses, saying,
The Lord gave him this answer,
7 “The daughters of Zelophehad are speaking correctly; you certainly give to them a possession of an inheritance in the midst of their father’s brothers, and have caused the inheritance of their father to pass over to them.
“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.
8 And you speak to the sons of Israel, saying, When a man dies and has no son, then you have caused his inheritance to pass over to his daughter;
In addition, tell the Israelites, ‘If a man dies and doesn't have a no son, give his property to his daughter.
9 and if he has no daughter, then you have given his inheritance to his brothers;
If he doesn't have a daughter, give his property to his brothers.
10 and if he has no brothers, then you have given his inheritance to his father’s brothers;
If he doesn't have brothers, give his property to his father's brothers.
11 and if his father has no brothers, then you have given his inheritance to his relation who is near to him of his family, and he has possessed it”; and it has been to the sons of Israel for a statute of judgment, as YHWH has commanded Moses.
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.’”
12 And YHWH says to Moses, “Go up to this Mount Abarim, and see the land which I have given to the sons of Israel;
The Lord told Moses, “Go up into the Abarim mountains so you can see the land that I have given the Israelites.
13 and you have seen it, and you have been gathered to your people, also you, as your brother Aaron has been gathered,
After you have seen it, you will also join your forefathers in death, just as your brother Aaron did,
14 because you provoked My mouth in the wilderness of Zin, in the strife of the congregation—to sanctify Me at the waters before their eyes”; they [are] the waters of Meribah, in Kadesh, in the wilderness of Zin.
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.)
15 And Moses speaks to YHWH, saying,
Then Moses pleaded with the Lord,
16 “YHWH, God of the spirits of all flesh, appoint a man over the congregation,
“May the Lord, the God who gives life to all living beings, choose a man to lead the Israelites
17 who goes out before them, and who comes in before them, and who takes them out, and who brings them in, and the congregation of YHWH is not as sheep which have no shepherd.”
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.”
18 And YHWH says to Moses, “Take Joshua son of Nun to yourself, a man in whom [is] the Spirit, and you have laid your hand on him,
The Lord told Moses, “Call for Joshua, son of Nun, a man who has the Spirit in him, and place your hands on him.
19 and have caused him to stand before Eleazar the priest and before all the congregation, and have charged him before their eyes,
Make him stand in front of Eleazar the priest and all the Israelites, and dedicate him while they watch.
20 and have put of your splendor on him, so that all the congregation of the sons of Israel listens.
Hand over some of your authority to him so that all the Israelites will obey him.
21 And he stands before Eleazar the priest, and he has inquired before YHWH for him by the judgment of the Lights; at his word they go out, and at his word they come in, he and all the sons of Israel with him—even all the congregation.”
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.”
22 And Moses does as YHWH has commanded him, and takes Joshua and causes him to stand before Eleazar the priest and before all the congregation,
Moses followed the Lord's instructions. He had Joshua come and stand in front of Eleazar the priest and all the Israelites.
23 and lays his hands on him and charges him, as YHWH has spoken by the hand of Moses.
Moses placed his hands on Joshua and dedicated him, just as the Lord had told him to do.