Numbers 27

1 One day the five daughters of Zelophehad came [to Moses/me]. They were Mahlah, Noah, Hoglah, Milcah, and Tirzah.

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.

2 They came to the entrance of the Sacred Tent and stood in front of Eleazar, Moses/me, the tribal leaders, and many [EUP] other Israeli people.

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,

3 They said, “Our father died [during the time that we were] in the desert, and he did not have any sons. But he was not among those who supported Korah, who rebelled against Yahweh. He died just because he was a sinner [like everyone else].

“Our father died in the wilderness. He was not amongst the company of those who gathered themselves together against the LORD in the company of Korah, but he died in his own sin. He had no sons.

4 (Why should the name of his clan disappear [with the result that we do not receive any land] only because our father had no sons?/It is not right that the name of his clan disappear [with the result that we do not receive any land] only because our father had no sons.) [RHQ] So give us some land like our relatives will be getting!”

Why should the name of our father be taken away from amongst his family, because he had no son? Give to us a possession amongst the brothers of our father.”

5 So Moses/I asked Yahweh [what to do about] their request.

Moses brought their cause before the LORD.

6 And Yahweh replied,

The LORD spoke to Moses, saying,

7 “What the daughters of Zelophehad are requesting is right. You must give them some land, just as you are giving to their father’s relatives. Give to each of them some of the land that would have been given to their brothers [if they had any].

“The daughters of Zelophehad speak right. You shall surely give them a possession of an inheritance amongst their father’s brothers. You shall cause the inheritance of their father to pass to them.

8 “Also tell this to the Israeli people: ‘If a man who has no sons dies, give the things that his sons would have inherited to his daughters.

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.

9 If the man has no sons or daughters, give to his brothers the things that his sons and daughters would have inherited.

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

10 If the man had no brothers, give to his father’s brothers the things that his sons or daughters or brothers would have inherited.

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

11 If the man’s father has no brothers, give to his closest relative the things that the others would have inherited.’ That will be a rule for the Israeli people, because I am giving this as a command to you, Moses, [to tell them].”

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 the LORD commanded Moses.’”

12 One day, Yahweh said to Moses/me, “Climb to the top of the Abarim Mountains [east of the Jordan River]. Then look out over the land that I am giving to the Israeli people.

The LORD said to Moses, “Go up into this mountain of Abarim, and see the land which I have given to the children of Israel.

13 After you have seen it, you will die [EUP] just like your [older] brother Aaron did.

When you have seen it, you also shall be gathered to your people, as Aaron your brother was gathered;

14 The reason [that you will die and not enter that land] is that you both disobeyed my instructions/commands in the Zin Desert. When the Israeli people rebelled against me there at Meribah, near Kadesh, [I told you to speak to the rock to cause] water to flow out of it. [But because you struck the rock instead of speaking to it], you did not show the people my holy power.”

because in the strife of the congregation, you rebelled against my word in the wilderness of Zin, to honour me as holy at the waters before their eyes.” (These are the waters of Meribah of Kadesh in the wilderness of Zin.)

15 Then Moses/I said this to Yahweh:

Moses spoke to the LORD, saying,

16 “Yahweh, you are the God who directs the spirits of all people. So please appoint a new leader for the Israeli people.

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

17 Appoint someone who will lead your people when they go to fight a battle, so that they will not [just wander around] like sheep that do not have a shepherd.” [SIM]

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 the LORD may not be as sheep which have no shepherd.”

18 Yahweh replied, “Get Joshua, the son of Nun, who has my Spirit within him. Lay your hands on him [to appoint him].

The LORD said to Moses, “Take Joshua the son of Nun, a man in whom is the Spirit, and lay your hand on him.

19 Cause him to stand in front of Eleazar the priest, as all the people are watching, and commission/appoint him to be the new leader of the Israeli people.

Set him before Eleazar the priest, and before all the congregation; and commission him in their sight.

20 Give to him some of the authority that you now have, in order that all the Israeli people will [know that they must] obey him.

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

21 When you all need me to guide you, Joshua will stand in front of Eleazar. Then by (casting lots/throwing marked stones on the ground) Eleazar will find out what they should do.”

He shall stand before Eleazar the priest, who shall enquire for him by the judgement of the Urim before the LORD. 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.”

22 So Moses/I did what Yahweh commanded. He/I presented Joshua to Eleazar and to all the Israeli people.

Moses did as the LORD commanded him. He took Joshua, and set him before Eleazar the priest and before all the congregation.

23 Moses/I laid his/my hands on him and commissioned/appointed him to do the work that Yahweh told Moses/me to tell him to do.

He laid his hands on him and commissioned him, as the LORD spoke by Moses.