Numbers 27

1 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.

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 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,

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. He was not among the company of those who gathered themselves together against Yahweh in the company of Korah, but he died in his own sin. He 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 taken away from among his family, because he had no son? Give to us a possession among 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 Moses brought their cause before Yahweh.

Moses took their case before the Lord.

6 Yahweh spoke to Moses, saying,

The Lord gave him this answer,

7 “The daughters of Zelophehad speak right. You shall surely give them a possession of an inheritance among their father’s brothers. You shall 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 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.

In addition, tell the Israelites, ‘If a man dies and doesn't have a no son, give his property to his daughter.

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

If he doesn't have a daughter, give his property to his brothers.

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

If he doesn't have brothers, give his property to his father's brothers.

11 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 Yahweh 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 Yahweh said to Moses, “Go up into this mountain of 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 When you have seen it, you also shall be gathered to your people, as Aaron your brother was gathered;

After you have seen it, you will also join your forefathers in death, just as your brother Aaron did,

14 because in the strife of the congregation, you rebelled against my word in the wilderness of Zin, to honor me as holy at the waters before their eyes.” (These are the waters of Meribah of 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 Moses spoke to Yahweh, saying,

Then Moses pleaded with the Lord,

16 “Let Yahweh, the 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 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 Yahweh may not be 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 Yahweh said to Moses, “Take Joshua the son of Nun, a man in whom is the Spirit, and lay 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 Set him before Eleazar the priest, and before all the congregation; and commission him in their sight.

Make him stand in front of Eleazar the priest and all the Israelites, and dedicate him while they watch.

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

Hand over some of your authority to him so that all the Israelites will obey him.

21 He shall stand before Eleazar the priest, who shall inquire for him by the judgment of the Urim before Yahweh. 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.”

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 Moses did as Yahweh commanded him. 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 He laid his hands on him and commissioned him, as Yahweh spoke by Moses.

Moses placed his hands on Joshua and dedicated him, just as the Lord had told him to do.