Numbers 27

King James Version

Full text for Numbers Chapter 27

1¶ 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.

2And 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,

3Our 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.

4Why 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.

5And Moses brought their cause before the LORD.

6And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying,

7The 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.

8And 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.

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

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

11And 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.

12¶ 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.

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

14For 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.

15¶ And Moses spake unto the LORD, saying,

16Let the LORD, the God of the spirits of all flesh, set a man over the congregation,

17Which 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.

18And 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;

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

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

21And 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.

22And Moses did as the LORD commanded him: and he took Joshua, and set him before Eleazar the priest, and before all the congregation:

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

AI Analysis

AI Summaries

Short Summary

The chapter begins with the daughters of Zelophehad petitioning Moses for an inheritance, as their father died without sons. The Lord affirms their request, establishing a new law of inheritance allowing daughters to inherit in the absence of male heirs. Subsequently, the Lord informs Moses of his impending death and commands him to appoint Joshua as his successor, publicly transferring authority to him before the congregation and Eleazar.

Medium Summary

The five daughters of Zelophehad approach Moses, Eleazar, and the congregation, seeking an inheritance in the land, as their father died in the wilderness without sons. Moses brings their plea before the Lord, who declares their request just and establishes a statute: if a man dies without a son, his inheritance passes to his daughters, then to his brethren, his father's brethren, or the nearest kinsman. Following this, the Lord instructs Moses to ascend Mount Abarim to view the promised land before his death, recalling his rebellion at Meribah. Moses then prays for a new leader to guide the congregation, and God designates Joshua, commanding Moses to lay hands on him and publicly impart some of his honour. Moses faithfully commissions Joshua as commanded.

Long Summary

Numbers 27 opens with the five daughters of Zelophehad—Mahlah, Noah, Hoglah, Milcah, and Tirzah—presenting their case before Moses, Eleazar the priest, and the entire congregation at the Tabernacle door. They explain that their father died in the wilderness, not among Korah's rebellion, but without sons, and they argue that his name should not be lost from his family's inheritance. Moses, seeking divine counsel, brings their petition directly before the Lord. The Lord affirms their request, declaring that they should indeed receive an inheritance among their father's brethren. Furthermore, God establishes a general statute of judgment for all Israel: if a man dies without a son, his inheritance passes to his daughter; if no daughter, to his brethren; if no brethren, to his father's brethren; and if none of these, to the nearest kinsman. This divine ruling sets a new precedent for land distribution in the promised land. Following this, the Lord instructs Moses to ascend Mount Abarim to view the land of Canaan, informing him that he will soon die, just as his brother Aaron did, due to their rebellion at the waters of Meribah. Moses, concerned for the spiritual welfare of the congregation, prays that the Lord, the God of the spirits of all flesh, would appoint a leader to guide the people, preventing them from being like "sheep which have no shepherd." The Lord responds by choosing Joshua, the son of Nun, a man "in whom is the spirit." Moses is commanded to publicly lay his hand upon Joshua, set him before Eleazar and the congregation, and impart some of his authority to him, ensuring the people's obedience. Eleazar is also designated to consult the Urim for Joshua's guidance. Moses faithfully executes these commands, publicly commissioning Joshua as the new leader, thus ensuring a smooth transition of authority for the children of Israel.

Core Concepts

  • Inheritance Rights for DaughtersThe daughters of Zelophehad successfully petition for the right to inherit their father's land in the absence of male heirs, establishing a new legal precedent for land distribution in Israel.
  • Divine Law and SuccessionGod directly intervenes to establish a comprehensive statute of judgment regarding inheritance, outlining the order of succession from daughters to various male relatives, ensuring family names and land are preserved.
  • Moses' Impending DeathThe Lord informs Moses that his time to enter the promised land is past, and he will soon die, a consequence of his disobedience at the waters of Meribah.
  • Leadership SuccessionMoses, recognizing his approaching death, petitions God for a new leader to guide the congregation, demonstrating his concern for the people's future.
  • Commissioning of JoshuaGod designates Joshua, a man "in whom is the spirit," to succeed Moses, commanding a public transfer of authority and honour before Eleazar and the entire congregation.
  • Guidance by UrimJoshua's future leadership is to be guided by Eleazar the priest, who will consult the Urim before the Lord for divine counsel, ensuring God's continued direction for the nation.