The Daughters of Zelophehad
Study note
In ancient Israel, land was normally passed down from father to son. Zelophehad had died in the wilderness without any sons, only five daughters. These women came forward publicly to ask Moses for the right to inherit their father's land so his name and legacy would not be lost. God told Moses that the daughters were right, and he established a new rule: if a man dies without sons, his daughters may inherit. This was an important step in protecting the rights of women in Israel.
1 The daughters of Zelophehad stepped forward to make their case. Zelophehad was a descendant of Hepher, Gilead, Machir, and Manasseh from the tribe of Joseph. His five daughters were named Mahlah, Noah, Hoglah, 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, 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.
2 They stood before Moses and Eleazar the priest. They also stood before the tribal leaders and the whole group. They were at the tent of meeting door. They said, And 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,
3 "Our father died in the wilderness. He was not part of Korah's group that rebelled against the Lord. He died for his own sins, and he left no sons." Our 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.
4 "Why should our father's name be lost from his family because he had no son? Give us property among our father's relatives." Why 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.
5 Moses took their case to the Lord. And Moses brought their cause before the LORD.
6 The Lord told Moses, And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying,
7 "Zelophehad's daughters are right. You must give them property as an inheritance among their father's relatives. Transfer their father's share to them." The 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.
8 "And announce this to all Israel: If a man dies without a son, his inheritance goes to his daughter." And 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.
9 "If he has no daughter, give his inheritance to his brothers." And if he have no daughter, then ye shall give his inheritance unto his brethren.
10 "If he has no brothers, give it to his father's brothers." And if he have no brethren, then ye shall give his inheritance unto his father's brethren.
11 "If his father had no brothers, give the property to the nearest relative in the family. That person takes ownership. This becomes a lasting legal rule for the people of Israel, just as the Lord told Moses." And 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.
Moses Learns He Will Not Enter the Land
Study note
God told Moses to climb Mount Abarim and look at the Promised Land from a distance. Moses would not be allowed to enter it because of the time he disobeyed God at Meribah, when he struck the rock instead of speaking to it. This was a painful consequence, but Moses accepted it with grace.
12 The Lord told Moses, "Climb up into the Abarim mountain range and look out at the land I am giving to the Israelites." And 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.
13 "After you have seen it, you will die and be gathered to your ancestors, just like your brother Aaron." And when thou hast seen it, thou also shalt be gathered unto thy people, as Aaron thy brother was gathered.
14 "This is because both of you disobeyed me in the wilderness of Zin. When the people demanded water, you did not honor me as holy in front of them. That happened at the waters of Meribah at Kadesh, in the wilderness of Zin." For 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.
Joshua Is Chosen as the New Leader
Study note
Rather than complain about his fate, Moses asked God to choose a good leader for the people so they would not be like sheep without a shepherd. God chose Joshua son of Nun, a man filled with the Spirit of God. Moses laid his hands on Joshua in front of the whole community, passing on his authority. Joshua would seek guidance from the Lord through Eleazar the priest and the Urim, which were special objects used to learn God's will.
15 Moses said to the Lord, And Moses spake unto the LORD, saying,
16 "Lord, you are the God who gives breath to every living person. Please appoint someone to lead this community." Let the LORD, the God of the spirits of all flesh, set a man over the congregation,
17 "Pick someone who will lead them into battle and bring them back safely. That way the Lord's people will not be like sheep with no shepherd." Which 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.
18 The Lord told Moses, "Take Joshua son of Nun, a man filled with the Spirit. Place your hand on him." And 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;
19 "Have him stand before Eleazar the priest and the whole community, and publicly commission him for his role." And set him before Eleazar the priest, and before all the congregation; and give him a charge in their sight.
20 "Give him some of your power. Then the whole Israelite group will follow his lead." And thou shalt put some of thine honour upon him, that all the congregation of the children of Israel may be obedient.
21 "Joshua must consult with Eleazar the priest, who will seek guidance from the Lord using the Urim. Based on Eleazar's direction, Joshua and all the Israelites will go out to battle and come home again." And 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.
22 Moses followed the Lord's instructions. He brought Joshua before Eleazar the priest and the entire community. And Moses did as the LORD commanded him: and he took Joshua, and set him before Eleazar the priest, and before all the congregation:
23 He placed his hands on Joshua and gave him the job, just as the Lord had told Moses to do. And he laid his hands upon him, and gave him a charge, as the LORD commanded by the hand of Moses.