Numbers 27

1 Then came near the daughters of Zelophehad, son of Hepher, son of Gilead son of Machir son of Manasseh pertaining to the families of Manasseh, son of Joseph, —these being the names of his daughters, Mahlah Noah and Hoglah and Milcah, and Tirzah.

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.

2 So they stood before Moses and before Eleazar the priest, and before the princes, and all the assembly, —at the entrance of the tent of meeting, saying:

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

3 Our father, died in the desert, although, he, was not among the assembly that conspired against Yahweh, in the assembly of Korah, —but, in his own sin, died he; and sons, had he none.

“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.

4 Wherefore should the name of our father be withdrawn out of the midst of his family, because he had no son? Give ye unto us a possession, in the midst of the brethren of our father.

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.”

5 And Moses brought near their cause before Yahweh.

So Moses brought their case before Yahweh.

6 Then spake Yahweh unto Moses, saying:

Yahweh spoke to Moses and said,

7 A right thing, are the daughters of Zelophehad speaking: Thou shalt, surely give, them a possession for an inheritance, in the midst of the brethren of their father, —and shalt cause the inheritance of their father to pass over unto them.

“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.

8 And unto the sons of Israel, shalt thou speak, saying, —When, any man, shall die, having no son, then shall ye cause his inheritance to pass over to his daughter.

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.

9 And, if he hath no daughter, then shall ye give his inheritance unto his, brethren.

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

10 And if he hath no brethren, then shall ye give his inheritance unto the brethren of his father.

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

11 And, if his father hath no brethren, then shall ye give his inheritance unto his blood-relation that is near unto him of his family, and he shall possess it, —So shall it serve the sons of Israel as a regulative statute, As Yahweh commanded Moses.

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.'”

12 And Yahweh said unto Moses, Go up into this mount of Abarim, —and see, the land which I have given unto the sons of Israel;

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

13 And, when thou hast seen it, then shalt thou also be withdrawn unto thy kinsfolk, —as Aaron thy brother was withdrawn;

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

14 because ye resisted my bidding—in the desert of Zin when the assembly contended, —that ye should hallow me regarding the waters, before their eyes, —the same, were the waters of Meribah, of Kadesh in the desert of Zin.

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.

15 Then spake Moses unto Yahweh saying:

Then Moses spoke to Yahweh and said,

16 Let Yahweh, God of the spirits of all flesh, appoint a man over the assembly;

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

17 who may go out before them and who may come in before them, and who may take them out and who may bring them in, —that the assembly of Yahweh become not as sheep that have no shepherd.

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.”

18 And Yahweh said unto Moses: Take thee Joshua son of Nun, a man in whom is spirit, —then shalt thou lean thy hand upon him;

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

19 and shalt cause him to stand before Eleazar the priest, and before all the assembly, —and shalt charge him before their eyes;

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

20 and shalt put some of thine honour upon him, —that all the assembly of the sons of Israel may hearken.

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

21 And, before Eleazar the priest, shall he stand, and shall ask by him for the decision of the Lights, before Yahweh, —at the bidding thereof, shall they go out, and at the bidding thereof, shall they come in—he, and all the sons of Israel with him, even all the assembly.

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.”

22 And Moses did as Yahweh commanded him, —and took Joshua, and caused him to stand before Eleazar the priest, and before all the assembly;

So Moses did as Yahweh had commanded him. He took Joshua and placed him before Eleazar the priest and all the community.

23 and leaned his hands upon him and charged him, —As Yahweh spake by the hand of Moses.

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