1 T hen came 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: and these are the names of his daughters; Mahlah, Noah, and Hoglah, and Milcah, and Tirzah.

Then came the daughters of Zelophehad the son of Hepher, the son of Gilead, the son of Machir, the son of Manasseh, from the families of Manasseh the son of Joseph. The names of his daughters were Mahlah, Noah, Hoglah, Milcah and Tirzah.

2 A nd they stood before Moses, and before Eleazar the priest, and before the princes and all the congregation, by the door of the tabernacle of the congregation, saying,

They stood in front of Moses and Eleazar the religious leader, and the leaders, and all the people at the door of the meeting tent. The daughters said,

3 O ur father died in the wilderness, and he was not in the company of them that gathered themselves together against the Lord in the company of Korah; but died in his own sin, and had no sons.

“Our father died in the desert. He was not one of those who gathered together with Korah against the Lord. But he died for his own sin, and he had no sons.

4 W hy should the name of our father be done away from among his family, because he hath no son? Give unto us therefore a possession among the brethren of our father.

Why should the name of our father be taken away from his family because he had no son? Give us land among our father’s brothers.”

5 A nd Moses brought their cause before the Lord.

Moses asked the Lord what should be done.

6 A nd the Lord spake unto Moses, saying,

Then the Lord said to Moses,

7 T he daughters of Zelophehad speak right: thou shalt surely give them a possession of an inheritance among their father's brethren; and thou shalt cause the inheritance of their father to pass unto them.

“The daughters of Zelophehad are right in what they say. Be sure to give them their own land among their father’s brothers. Give them what would have been given to their father.

8 A nd thou shalt speak unto the children of Israel, saying, If a man die, and have no son, then ye shall cause his inheritance to pass unto his daughter.

And say to the people of Israel, ‘If a man dies and has no son, then give what belongs to him to his daughter.

9 A nd if he have no daughter, then ye shall give his inheritance unto his brethren.

If he has no daughter, then give what belongs to him to his brothers.

10 A nd if he have no brethren, then ye shall give his inheritance unto his father's brethren.

If he has no brothers, give what belongs to him to his father’s brothers.

11 A nd if his father have no brethren, then ye shall give his inheritance unto his kinsman that is next to him of his family, and he shall possess it: and it shall be unto the children of Israel a statute of judgment, as the Lord commanded Moses.

And if his father has no brothers, then you must give what belongs to him to the nearest person in his own family and it will be his. This will be a Law to the people of Israel, just as the Lord told Moses.’” Joshua Takes over from Moses

12 A nd the Lord said unto Moses, Get thee up into this mount Abarim, and see the land which I have given unto the children of Israel.

Then the Lord said to Moses, “Go up to this mountain of Abarim, and see the land I have given to the people of Israel.

13 A nd when thou hast seen it, thou also shalt be gathered unto thy people, as Aaron thy brother was gathered.

When you have seen it, you will be buried with your people as Aaron your brother was.

14 F or ye rebelled against my commandment in the desert of Zin, in the strife of the congregation, to sanctify me at the water before their eyes: that is the water of Meribah in Kadesh in the wilderness of Zin.

For you went against My Word when the people complained in the Desert of Zin. You should have honored Me as holy at the waters in front of their eyes.” (These are the waters of Meribah of Kadesh in the Desert of Zin.)

15 A nd Moses spake unto the Lord, saying,

Moses said to the Lord,

16 L et the Lord, the God of the spirits of all flesh, set a man over the congregation,

“May the Lord, the God of the spirits of all flesh, choose a man to lead the people.

17 W hich may go out before them, and which may go in before them, and which may lead them out, and which may bring them in; that the congregation of the Lord be not as sheep which have no shepherd.

Let this man go out and come in before them. Let him lead them out and bring them in. Then the people of the Lord may not be like sheep which have no shepherd.”

18 A nd the Lord said unto Moses, Take thee Joshua the son of Nun, a man in whom is the spirit, and lay thine hand upon him;

So the Lord said to Moses, “Take Joshua the son of Nun, in whom is the Spirit, and lay your hand on him.

19 A nd set him before Eleazar the priest, and before all the congregation; and give him a charge in their sight.

Have him stand in front of Eleazar the religious leader and in front of all the people. Let them see you give him the work he must do.

20 A nd thou shalt put some of thine honour upon him, that all the congregation of the children of Israel may be obedient.

Give some of your power to him so all the people of Israel will obey him.

21 A nd he shall stand before Eleazar the priest, who shall ask counsel for him after the judgment of Urim before the Lord: at his word shall they go out, and at his word they shall come in, both he, and all the children of Israel with him, even all the congregation.

He will stand in front of Eleazar the religious leader, who will learn My will for him by using the Urim. At his word, both he and all the people of Israel will go out and at his word, they will come in.”

22 A nd Moses did as the Lord commanded him: and he took Joshua, and set him before Eleazar the priest, and before all the congregation:

Moses did just as the Lord told him. He took Joshua and had him stand in front of Eleazar the religious leader, and in front of all the people.

23 A nd he laid his hands upon him, and gave him a charge, as the Lord commanded by the hand of Moses.

Then he laid his hands on him and gave him the work he must do, just as the Lord had said through Moses.