Numbers 27

Zelophehad's Daughters

1 The daughters of Zelophehad son of Hepher, the son of Gilead, the son of Makir, the son of Manasseh, belonged to the clans of Manasseh son of Joseph. The names of the daughters were Mahlah, Noah, Hoglah, Milcah and Tirzah. They approached2 the entrance to the Tent of Meeting and stood before Moses, Eleazar the priest, the leaders and the whole assembly, and said,3 “Our father died in the desert. He was not among Korah's followers, who banded together against the Lord, but he died for his own sin and left no sons.

4 Why should our father's name disappear from his clan because he had no son? Give us property among our father's relatives.”
5 So Moses brought their case before the Lord6 and the Lord said to him,

7 “What Zelophehad's daughters are saying is right. You must certainly give them property as an inheritance among their father's relatives and turn their father's inheritance over to them.
8 “Say to the Israelites, ‘If a man dies and leaves no son, turn his inheritance over to his daughter.9 If he has no daughter, give his inheritance to his brothers.10 If he has no brothers, give his inheritance to his father's brothers.

11 If his father had no brothers, give his inheritance to the nearest relative in his clan, that he may possess it. This is to be a legal requirement for the Israelites, as the Lord commanded Moses.’ ”

Joshua to Succeed Moses

12 Then the Lord said to Moses, “Go up this mountain in the Abarim range and see the land I have given the Israelites.13 After you have seen it, you too will be gathered to your people, as your brother Aaron was,

14 for when the community rebelled at the waters in the Desert of Zin, both of you disobeyed my command to honor me as holy before their eyes.” (These were the waters of Meribah Kadesh, in the Desert of Zin.)
15 Moses said to the Lord,16 “May the Lord, the God of the spirits of all mankind, appoint a man over this community

17 to go out and come in before them, one who will lead them out and bring them in, so the Lord's people will not be like sheep without a shepherd.”
18 So the Lord said to Moses, “Take Joshua son of Nun, a man in whom is the spirit, and lay your hand on him.19 Have him stand before Eleazar the priest and the entire assembly and commission him in their presence.20 Give him some of your authority so the whole Israelite community will obey him.

21 He is to stand before Eleazar the priest, who will obtain decisions for him by inquiring of the Urim before the Lord. At his command he and the entire community of the Israelites will go out, and at his command they will come in.”
22 Moses did as the Lord commanded him. He took Joshua and had him stand before Eleazar the priest and the whole assembly.

23 Then he laid his hands on him and commissioned him, as the Lord instructed through Moses.

NUMBERS 27

The Daughters of Zelophehad //Are Given Land

1 Zelophehadt was from the Manasseh tribe, and he had five daughters, whose names were Mahlah, Noah, Hoglah, Milcah, and Tirzah.

2 One day his daughters went to the sacred tent, where they met with Moses, Eleazar, and some other leaders of Israel, as well as a large crowd of Israelites. The young women said:

3 You know that our father died in the desert. But it was for something he did wrong, not for joining with Korah in rebelling against the [Lord].
Our father left no sons

4 to carry on his family name. But why should his name die out for that reason? Give us some land like the rest of his relatives in our clan, so our father's name can live on.
5 Moses asked the [Lord] what should be done,

6 and the [Lord] answered:

7  t Zelophehad's daughters are right. They should each be given part of the land their father would have received.
8 Tell the Israelites that when a man dies without a son, his daughter will inherit his land. 9 If he has no daughter, his brothers will inherit the land. 10 But if he has no brothers, his father's brothers will inherit the land.

11 And if his father has no brothers, the land must be given to his nearest relative in the clan. This is my law, and the Israelites must obey it.

Joshua Is Appointed //Israel's Leader

(Deuteronomy 31.1-8)

14 because both of you disobeyed me at Meribah near the town of Kadesh in the Zin Desert. When the Israelites insulted me there, you didn't believe in my holy power.”t
15 Moses replied, 16 “You are the [Lord] God, and you know what is in everyone's heart. So I ask you to appoint a leader for Israel.

17 t Your people need someone to lead them into battle, or else they will be like sheep wandering around without a shepherd.”
18  t The [Lord] answered, “Joshua son of Nun can do the job. Place your hands on him to show that he is the one to take your place. 19 Then go with him and tell him to stand in front of Eleazar the priest and the Israelites. Appoint Joshua as their new leader 20 and tell them they must now obey him, just as they obey you.

21 t But Joshua must depend on Eleazar to find out from met what I want him to do as he leads Israel into battle.”
22 Moses followed the [Lord]'s instructions and took Joshua to Eleazar and the people, 23 t then he placed his hands on Joshua and appointed him Israel's leader.