1 T hen 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.

Then 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, came near; and these are the names of his daughters: Mahlah, Noah and Hoglah and Milcah and Tirzah.

2 T hey 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,

They stood before Moses and before Eleazar the priest and before the leaders and all the congregation, at the doorway of the tent of meeting, saying,

3 “ 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.

“Our father died in the wilderness, yet he was not among the company of those who gathered themselves together against the Lord in the company of Korah; but he died in his own sin, and he had no sons.

4 W hy 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.”

Why should the name of our father be withdrawn from among his family because he had no son?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

5 M oses asked the Lord what should be done.

So Moses brought their case before the Lord.

6 T hen the Lord said to Moses,

Then the Lord spoke to Moses, saying,

7 “ 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.

“ The daughters of Zelophehad are right in their statements. You shall surely give them a hereditary possession among their father’s brothers, and you shall transfer the inheritance of their father to them.

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

Further, you shall speak to the sons of Israel, saying, ‘If a man dies and has no son, then you shall transfer his inheritance to his daughter.

9 I f he has no daughter, then give what belongs to him to his brothers.

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

10 I f he has no brothers, give what belongs to him to his father’s brothers.

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

11 A nd 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

If his father has no brothers, then you shall give his inheritance to his nearest relative in his own family, and he shall possess it; and it shall be a statutory ordinance to the sons of Israel, just as the Lord commanded Moses.’”

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

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

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

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

14 F or 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.)

for in the wilderness of Zin, during the strife of the congregation, you rebelled against My command to treat Me as holy before their eyes at the water.” (These are the waters of Meribah of Kadesh in the wilderness of Zin.) Joshua to Succeed Moses

15 M oses said to the Lord,

Then Moses spoke to the Lord, saying,

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

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

17 L et 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.”

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 which have no shepherd.”

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

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

19 H ave 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.

and have him stand before Eleazar the priest and before all the congregation, and commission him in their sight.

20 G ive some of your power to him so all the people of Israel will obey him.

You shall put some of your authority on him, in order that all the congregation of the sons of Israel may obey him.

21 H e 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.”

Moreover, he shall stand before Eleazar the priest, who shall inquire for him by the judgment of the Urim before the Lord. At his command they shall go out and at his command they shall come in, both he and the sons of Israel with him, even all the congregation.”

22 M oses 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.

Moses did just as the Lord commanded him; and he took Joshua and set him before Eleazar the priest and before all the congregation.

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

Then he laid his hands on him and commissioned him, just as the Lord had spoken through Moses.