Numbers27

The chapter begins with the daughters of Zelophehad petitioning Moses for an inheritance, as their father died without sons. The Lord affirms their request, establishing a new law of inheritance allowing daughters to inherit in the absence of male heirs. Subsequently, the Lord informs Moses of his impending death and commands him to appoint Joshua as his successor, publicly transferring authority to him before the congregation and Eleazar.

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The Daughters of Zelophehad Seek Justice

Now the daughters of Zelophehad son of Hepher, the son of Gilead, the son of Machir, the son of Manasseh, belonged to the clans of Manasseh son of Joseph. These were the names of his daughters: Mahlah, Noah, Hoglah, Milcah, and Tirzah. They approached

the entrance to the Tent of Meeting, stood before Moses, Eleazar the priest, the leaders, and the whole congregation, and said,

“Our father died in the wilderness, but he was not among the followers of Korah who gathered together against the LORD. Instead, he died because of his own sin, and he had no sons.

Why should the name of our father disappear from his clan because he had no sons? Give us property among our father’s brothers.”

So Moses brought their case before the LORD,

and the LORD answered him,

“The daughters of Zelophehad speak correctly. You certainly must give them property as an inheritance among their father’s brothers, and transfer their father’s inheritance to them.

Furthermore, you shall say to the Israelites, ‘If a man dies and leaves no son, you are to transfer his inheritance to his daughter.

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

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

And if his father has no brothers, give his inheritance to the next of kin from his clan, that he may take possession of it. This is to be a statutory ordinance for the Israelites, as the LORD has commanded Moses.’”

Moses Is Told of His Death

Then the LORD said to Moses, “Go up this mountain of the Abarim range and see the land that I have given the Israelites.

After you have seen it, you too will be gathered to your people, as your brother Aaron was;

for when the congregation contended in the Wilderness of Zin, both of you rebelled against My command to show My holiness in their sight regarding the waters.” Those were the waters of Meribah in Kadesh, in the Wilderness of Zin.

The Appointment of Joshua as Successor

So Moses appealed to the LORD,

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

who will go out and come in before them, and who will lead them out and bring them in, so that the congregation of the LORD will not be like sheep without a shepherd.”

And the LORD replied to Moses, “Take Joshua son of Nun, a man with the Spirit in him, and lay your hands on him.

Have him stand before Eleazar the priest and the whole congregation, and commission him in their sight.

Confer on him some of your authority, so that the whole congregation of Israel will obey him.

He shall stand before Eleazar the priest, who will seek counsel for him before the LORD by the judgment of the Urim. At his command, he and all the Israelites with him—the entire congregation—will go out and come in.”

Moses did as the LORD had commanded him. He took Joshua, had him stand before Eleazar the priest and the whole congregation,

and laid his hands on him and commissioned him, as the LORD had instructed through Moses.

Study Notes for Numbers 27

Verse 1

These five sisters are named because their case establishes a crucial legal precedent regarding inheritance and property rights within the Israelite system.

Verse 3

They carefully distinguish their father’s death (due to natural causes or general wilderness mortality, 'his own sin') from the crimes of the rebels (like Korah), thereby affirming his eligibility for an inheritance in the Promised Land.

Verse 4

In ancient Israel, inheritance was tied to the preservation of the family name and tribal land allotment. If the name died out, the land would eventually pass to another clan, undermining the system of permanent tribal holdings.

Verse 5

Since the existing law did not cover this contingency, Moses acts as an intermediary judge, bringing the difficult case directly before the Lord for divine clarification and legal precedent.

Verse 7

God affirms their request, establishing a groundbreaking law that protected the rights of women to inherit property when no male heir existed, ensuring the continuity of the family line and the land allotment.

Verse 8

Verses 8–11 codify the new law of succession, creating a systematic hierarchy for inheritance (daughter, then brother, then uncle, then nearest kinsman) to keep property within the immediate family and tribe.

Verse 12

Mount Abarim is a mountain range in Moab, likely including Mount Nebo (Deut 34:1), from which Moses would get his final, restricted view of the Promised Land.

Verse 14

This refers to the incident at Meribah (Num 20:10-13) where Moses struck the rock instead of speaking to it, failing to properly sanctify God before the people and incurring the penalty of not entering Canaan.

Verse 16

Moses demonstrates selfless leadership by immediately prioritizing the welfare of the people over his own impending death. The title 'God of the spirits of all flesh' affirms God’s sovereignty over human life and destiny.

Verse 17

The imagery of ‘sheep which have no shepherd’ emphasizes the vital need for divinely sanctioned leadership to guide the challenging conquest and settlement of the Promised Land.

Verse 18

Joshua is chosen because he is a man 'in whom is the spirit' (Ruach), indicating divine empowerment, wisdom, and fitness for leadership, building on his previous faithfulness as Moses' servant.

Verse 20

To 'put some of thine honour' (Heb. *hod*) upon Joshua signifies the public and ceremonial transfer of Moses' authority and majesty, ensuring the congregation would respect and obey their new leader.

Verse 21

Joshua’s leadership is restricted; he must consult Eleazar, who uses the Urim (objects used for divine counsel via the High Priest’s breastplate). This makes the military and political leadership subordinate to God’s direct command.

Verse 23

The laying on of hands formalized the commissioning, transferring authority, and conferring blessing upon Joshua in the sight of the entire community, confirming him as the divinely chosen successor.

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Numbers27

The Daughters of Zelophehad Seek Justice

Moses Is Told of His Death

The Appointment of Joshua as Successor

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