Numbers 27
(1) Sisters with no Brother Request Land
Zelophehad had some daughters named Mahlah, Noah, Hoglah, Milcah, and Tirzah.
Zelophehad’s daughters came to the doorway of God’s meeting tent and stood in front of Moses, Priest Eleazar, and the Israeli leaders, to say,
“Our dad died in the desert, but he wasn’t a part of Korah’s group who protested against the Existing One. He passed away with his own shortcomings, but he didn’t leave behind any sons. Why should his name be forgotten just because he didn’t have a son? Please, give us some property too, like our dad’s brothers got.”
So Moses brought their case to the Existing One.
(6) God Gives Land to Sisters
And the Existing One told Moses,
“Zelophehad’s daughters make a valid claim. Give them some property to inherit like their father’s brothers. Go ahead and transfer their father’s inheritance to them.
“And tell the Israelites that if a man dies without having any sons, his property will be transferred to his daughter. If he doesn’t have any daughters, then it will go to his brothers. And if he doesn’t have any brothers, you can give it to his closest relative. Tell Israel that this will be a rule from now on.”
(12) Moses Not Allowed to Enter Promised Land
Then the Existing One told Moses,
“Climb the Abarim mountain, and look at the land I’m giving to Israel’s descendants. After you see it, you’ll be reunited with your ancestors like your brother Aaron was. You won’t be able to step foot in it, because you didn’t follow my instructions when the population was rebelling in the Zin desert. At the water there, I told you to set Me apart for the Israelites to see, but you didn’t do that.” (Numbers 20:12)
(15) Moses Appoints Joshua as Leader
Then Moses told the Existing One,
“You are the God of the spiritual and the physical. Appoint someone new to oversee the population—someone to lead them out and back in so the Existing One’s people don’t end up like sheep without a shepherd.
So the Existing One told Moses,
“Take Joshua, (Nun’s son). He’s a man who has the Spirit in him. Place your hand on him, and have him stand in front of Priest Eleazar and the rest of the population, then commission him in front of all of them. Impart your splendor to him so the population will listen to him. As he’s standing there, have Priest Eleazar inquire about him using the Urim.* Then the entire Israeli population will be obliged to go out at Joshua’s command and come in at his command, and he will be obliged go with them.”
So Moses followed the Existing One’s instructions and had Joshua stand in front of Priest Eleazar and the rest of the population. Then Moses put his hand on him and commissioned him, just like the Existing One had told him to do.
*The Urim were stones kept in the high priest’s breastplate, used for determining God’s desires.
