Liber Numeri 27
1 Accesserunt autem filiæ Salphaad, filii Hepher, filii Galaad, filii Machir, filii Manasse, qui fuit filius Ioseph: quarum sunt nomina, Maala, et Noa, et Hegla, et Melcha, et Thersa.
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 Steteruntque coram Moyse et Eleazaro sacerdote, et cunctis principibus populi ad ostium tabernaculi fœderis, atque dixerunt:
and stood before Moses, Eleazar the priest, the leaders, and all the Israelites at the entrance to the Tent of Meeting. They said,
3 Pater noster mortuus est in deserto, nec fuit in seditione, quæ concitata est contra Dominum sub Core, sed in peccato suo mortuus est: hic non habuit mares filios. Cur tollitur nomen illius de familia sua, quia non habuit filium? Date nobis possessionem inter cognatos patris nostri.
“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 Retulitque Moyses causam earum ad iudicium Domini.
Why should our family name be lost simply because he didn't have a son? Give us land to own alongside our uncles.”
5 Qui dixit ad eum:
Moses took their case before the Lord.
6 Iustam rem postulant filiæ Salphaad: da eis possessionem inter cognatos patris sui, et ei in hereditatem succedant.
The Lord gave him this answer,
7 Ad filios autem Israel loqueris hæc:
“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 Homo cum mortuus fuerit absque filio, ad filiam eius transibit hereditas.
In addition, tell the Israelites, ‘If a man dies and doesn't have a no son, give his property to his daughter.
9 Si filiam non habuerit, habebit successores fratres suos.
If he doesn't have a daughter, give his property to his brothers.
10 Quod si et fratres non fuerint, dabitis hereditatem fratribus patris eius.
If he doesn't have brothers, give his property to his father's brothers.
11 Sin autem nec patruos habuerit, dabitur hereditas his, qui ei proximi sunt. Eritque hoc filiis Israel sanctum lege perpetua, sicut præcepit Dominus Moysi.
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 Dixit quoque Dominus ad Moysen: Ascende in montem istum Abarim, et contemplare inde Terram, quam daturus sum filiis Israel.
The Lord told Moses, “Go up into the Abarim mountains so you can see the land that I have given the Israelites.
13 Cumque videris eam, ibis et tu ad populum tuum, sicut ivit frater tuus Aaron:
After you have seen it, you will also join your forefathers in death, just as your brother Aaron did,
14 quia offendistis me in deserto Sin in contradictione multitudinis, nec sanctificare me voluistis coram ea super aquas. Hæ sunt aquæ contradictionis in Cades deserti Sin.
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 Cui respondit Moyses:
Then Moses pleaded with the Lord,
16 Provideat Dominus Deus spirituum omnis carnis, hominem, qui sit super multitudinem hanc:
“May the Lord, the God who gives life to all living beings, choose a man to lead the Israelites
17 et possit exire et intrare ante eos, et educere eos vel introducere: ne sit populus Domini sicut oves absque pastore.
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 Dixitque Dominus ad eum: Tolle Iosue filium Nun virum in quo est Spiritus, et pone manum tuam super eum.
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 Qui stabit coram Eleazaro sacerdote et omni multitudine:
Make him stand in front of Eleazar the priest and all the Israelites, and dedicate him while they watch.
20 et dabis ei præcepta cunctis videntibus, et partem gloriæ tuæ, ut audiat eum omnis synagoga filiorum Israel.
Hand over some of your authority to him so that all the Israelites will obey him.
21 Pro hoc, si quid agendum erit, Eleazar sacerdos consulet Dominum. Ad verbum eius egredietur et ingredietur ipse, et omnes filii Israel cum eo, et cetera multitudo.
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 Fecit Moyses ut præceperat Dominus. Cumque tulisset Iosue, statuit eum coram Eleazaro sacerdote et omni frequentia populi.
Moses followed the Lord's instructions. He had Joshua come and stand in front of Eleazar the priest and all the Israelites.
23 Et impositis capiti eius manibus, cuncta replicavit quæ mandaverat Dominus.
Moses placed his hands on Joshua and dedicated him, just as the Lord had told him to do.
