Numbers 27

1 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.

Then 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 came near. These are the names of his daughters: Mahlah, Noah, Hoglah, Milcah, and Tirzah.

2 They stood before Moses, Eleazar the priest, the leaders, and before all the community at the entrance to the tent of meeting. They said,

They stood before Moses, before Eleazar the priest, and before the princes and all the congregation, at the door of the Tent of Meeting, saying,

3 “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.

“Our father died in the wilderness. He was not amongst the company of those who gathered themselves together against the LORD in the company of Korah, but he died in his own sin. He had no sons.

4 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.”

Why should the name of our father be taken away from amongst his family, because he had no son? Give to us a possession amongst the brothers of our father.”

5 So Moses brought their case before Yahweh.

Moses brought their cause before the LORD.

6 Yahweh spoke to Moses and said,

The LORD spoke to Moses, saying,

7 “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.

“The daughters of Zelophehad speak right. You shall surely give them a possession of an inheritance amongst their father’s brothers. You shall cause the inheritance of their father to pass to them.

8 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.

You shall speak to the children of Israel, saying, ‘If a man dies, and has no son, then you shall cause his inheritance to pass to his daughter.

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

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

10 If he has no brothers, then you must give his inheritance to his father's brothers.

If he has no brothers, then you shall give his inheritance to his father’s brothers.

11 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.'”

If his father has no brothers, then you shall give his inheritance to his kinsman who is next to him of his family, and he shall possess it. This shall be a statute and ordinance for the children of Israel, as the LORD commanded Moses.’”

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

The LORD said to Moses, “Go up into this mountain of Abarim, and see the land which I have given to the children of Israel.

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

When you have seen it, you also shall be gathered to your people, as Aaron your brother was gathered;

14 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.

because in the strife of the congregation, you rebelled against my word in the wilderness of Zin, to honour me as holy at the waters before their eyes.” (These are the waters of Meribah of Kadesh in the wilderness of Zin.)

15 Then Moses spoke to Yahweh and said,

Moses spoke to the LORD, saying,

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

“Let the LORD, the God of the spirits of all flesh, appoint a man over the congregation,

17 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.”

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 may not be as sheep which have no shepherd.”

18 Yahweh said to Moses, “Take Joshua son of Nun, a man in whom my Spirit lives, and lay your hand on him.

The LORD said to Moses, “Take Joshua the son of Nun, a man in whom is the Spirit, and lay your hand on him.

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

Set him before Eleazar the priest, and before all the congregation; and commission him in their sight.

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

You shall give authority to him, that all the congregation of the children of Israel may obey.

21 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.”

He shall stand before Eleazar the priest, who shall enquire for him by the judgement of the Urim before the LORD. At his word they shall 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 So Moses did as Yahweh had commanded him. He took Joshua and placed him before Eleazar the priest and all the community.

Moses did as the LORD commanded him. He took Joshua, and set him before Eleazar the priest and before all the congregation.

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

He laid his hands on him and commissioned him, as the LORD spoke by Moses.