Numbers 27

1 Then came 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: and these [are] the names of his daughters; Mahlah, Noah, and Hoglah, and Milcah, and Tirzah.

Now the daughters of Zelophehad son of Hepher, the son of Gilead, the son of Machir, the son of Manasseh, belonged to the clans of Manasseh son of Joseph. These were the names of his daughters: Mahlah, Noah, Hoglah, Milcah, and Tirzah. They approached

2 And they stood before Moses, and before Eleazar the priest, and before the princes, and all the congregation, [by] the door of the tabernacle of the congregation, saying,

the entrance to the Tent of Meeting, stood before Moses, Eleazar the priest, the leaders, and the whole congregation, and said,

3 Our father died in the wilderness, and he was not in the company of them that assembled themselves against the LORD in the company of Korah; but died in his own sin, and had no sons.

“Our father died in the wilderness, but he was not among the followers of Korah who gathered together against the LORD. Instead, he died because of his own sin, and he had no sons.

4 Why should the name of our father be done away from among his family, because he hath no son? Give to us [therefore] a possession among the brethren of our father.

Why should the name of our father disappear from his clan because he had no sons? Give us property among our father’s brothers.”

5 And Moses brought their cause before the LORD.

So Moses brought their case before the LORD,

6 And the LORD spoke to Moses, saying,

and the LORD answered him,

7 The daughters of Zelophehad speak [what is] right: thou shalt surely give them a possession of an inheritance among their father's brethren; and thou shalt cause the inheritance of their father to pass to them.

“The daughters of Zelophehad speak correctly. You certainly must give them property as an inheritance among their father’s brothers, and transfer their father’s inheritance to them.

8 And thou shalt speak to the children of Israel, saying, If a man shall die, and have no son, then ye shall cause his inheritance to pass to his daughter.

Furthermore, you shall say to the Israelites, ‘If a man dies and leaves no son, you are to transfer his inheritance to his daughter.

9 And if he shall have no daughter, then ye shall give his inheritance to his brethren.

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

10 And if he shall have no brethren, then ye shall give his inheritance to his father's brethren.

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

11 And if his father shall have no brethren, then ye shall give inheritance to his kinsman that is next to him of his family, and he shall possess it: and it shall be to the children of Israel a statute of judgment, as the LORD commanded Moses.

And if his father has no brothers, give his inheritance to the next of kin from his clan, that he may take possession of it. This is to be a statutory ordinance for the Israelites, as the LORD has commanded Moses.’”

12 And the LORD said to Moses, Ascend this mount Abarim, and see the land which I have given to the children of Israel.

Then the LORD said to Moses, “Go up this mountain of the Abarim range and see the land that I have given the Israelites.

13 And when thou hast seen it, thou also shalt be gathered to thy people, as Aaron thy brother was gathered.

After you have seen it, you too will be gathered to your people, as your brother Aaron was;

14 For ye rebelled against my commandment in the desert of Zin, in the strife of the congregation, to sanctify me at the water before their eyes: that [is] the water of Meribah in Kadesh in the wilderness of Zin.

for when the congregation contended in the Wilderness of Zin, both of you rebelled against My command to show My holiness in their sight regarding the waters.” Those were the waters of Meribah in Kadesh, in the Wilderness of Zin.

15 And Moses spoke to the LORD, saying,

So Moses appealed to the LORD,

16 Let the LORD, the God of the spirits of all flesh, set a man over the congregation.

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

17 Who may go out before them, and who may go in before them, and who may lead them out, and who may bring them in; that the congregation of the LORD be not as sheep which have no shepherd.

who will go out and come in before them, and who will lead them out and bring them in, so that the congregation of the LORD will not be like sheep without a shepherd.”

18 And the LORD said to Moses, Take to thee Joshua the son of Nun, a man in whom [is] the spirit, and lay thy hand upon him;

And the LORD replied to Moses, “Take Joshua son of Nun, a man with the Spirit in him, and lay your hands on him.

19 And set him before Eleazar the priest, and before all the congregation: and give him a charge in their sight.

Have him stand before Eleazar the priest and the whole congregation, and commission him in their sight.

20 And thou shalt put [some] of thy honor upon him, that all the congregation of the children of Israel may be obedient.

Confer on him some of your authority, so that the whole congregation of Israel will obey him.

21 And he shall stand before Eleazar the priest, who shall ask [counsel] for him after the judgment of Urim before the LORD: at his word shall they go out, and at his word they shall come in, [both] he, and all the children of Israel with him, even all the congregation.

He shall stand before Eleazar the priest, who will seek counsel for him before the LORD by the judgment of the Urim. At his command, he and all the Israelites with him—the entire congregation—will go out and come in.”

22 And Moses did as the LORD commanded him: and he took Joshua, and set him before Eleazar the priest, and before all the congregation:

Moses did as the LORD had commanded him. He took Joshua, had him stand before Eleazar the priest and the whole congregation,

23 And he laid his hands upon him, and gave him a charge, as the LORD commanded by the hand of Moses.

and laid his hands on him and commissioned him, as the LORD had instructed through Moses.