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.
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 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,
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 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 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 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 our family name be lost simply because he didn't have a son? Give us land to own alongside our uncles.”
5 And Moses brought their cause before the LORD.
Moses took their case before the Lord.
6 And the LORD spoke to Moses, saying,
The Lord gave him this answer,
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.
“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 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.
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 shall have no daughter, then ye shall give his inheritance to his brethren.
If he doesn't have a daughter, give his property to his brothers.
10 And if he shall have no brethren, then ye shall give his inheritance to his father's brethren.
If he doesn't have brothers, give his property 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.
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 the LORD said to Moses, Ascend this mount Abarim, and see the land which I have given to the children 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 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 will also join your forefathers in death, just as your brother Aaron did,
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.
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 spoke to the LORD, saying,
Then Moses pleaded with 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 who gives life to all living beings, choose a man to lead the Israelites
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 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 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;
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 set him before Eleazar the priest, and before all the congregation: and give him a charge in their sight.
Make him stand in front of Eleazar the priest and all the Israelites, and dedicate him while they watch.
20 And thou shalt put [some] of thy honor upon him, that all the congregation of the children of Israel may be obedient.
Hand over some of your authority to him so that all the Israelites 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.
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 did as the LORD commanded him: and he took Joshua, and set him 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 he laid his hands upon him, and gave him a charge, as the LORD commanded by the hand of Moses.
Moses placed his hands on Joshua and dedicated him, just as the Lord had told him to do.
