Numbers 27
1 The daughters of Zelophehad, son of Hepher, son of Gilead, son of Machir, son of Manasseh, from the clans of Manasseh son of Joseph, came forward. These were the names of his daughters: Mahlah, Noah, Hoglah, Milcah, and Tirzah.
2 They stood before Moses, before Eleazar the priest, before the leaders, and before the whole community at the entrance to the tent of meeting, and said:
3 “Our father died in the wilderness. He was not among the group who gathered against the LORD, the group of Korah, but died for his own sin. He had no sons.
4 Why should our father’s name be taken away from his clan because he had no son? Give us a holding among our father’s brothers.”
5 Moses brought their case before the LORD.
6 The LORD said to Moses:
7 “The daughters of Zelophehad are right. You must give them a hereditary holding among their father’s brothers, and transfer their father’s inheritance to them.
8 And tell the Israelites: ‘When a man dies and has no son, you shall transfer his inheritance to his daughter.
9 If he has no daughter, you shall give his inheritance to his brothers.
10 If he has no brothers, you shall give his inheritance to his father’s brothers.
11 If his father has no brothers, you shall give his inheritance to his nearest relative from his clan, and that person shall possess it. This shall be a legal decree for the Israelites, as the LORD commanded Moses.’”
12 The LORD said to Moses, “Climb this mountain of Abarim and look at the land I have given to the Israelites.
13 After you have seen it, you too will be gathered to your people, as your brother Aaron was gathered.
14 For you rebelled against my command in the wilderness of Zin, during the community’s dispute, when you were to honor me as holy before them through the water.” These are the waters of Meribah-kadesh, in the wilderness of Zin.
15 Moses said to the LORD:
16 “May the LORD, the God of the spirits of all flesh, appoint a man over the community,
17 a man who will go out before them and come in before them, who will lead them out and bring them in, so that the LORD’s community will not be like sheep without a shepherd.”
18 The LORD said to Moses, “Take Joshua son of Nun, a man in whom there is spirit, and lay your hand on him.
19 Have him stand before Eleazar the priest and before the whole community, and give him his charge in their sight.
20 Place some of your authority on him, so that the whole community of the Israelites will obey him.
21 He shall stand before Eleazar the priest, who will seek for him the decision of the Urim before the LORD. At his command they shall go out, and at his command they shall come in—he and all the Israelites with him, the whole community.”
22 Moses did as the LORD had commanded him. He took Joshua and had him stand before Eleazar the priest and before the whole community.
23 He laid his hands on him and gave him his charge, as the LORD had spoken through Moses.
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