Numbers Chapter 27 — Inheritance Rights and a New Leader
The daughters of Zelophehad petition for their father's land, leading to new inheritance laws, while Joshua is commissioned to succeed Moses.
1Then 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. These are the names of his daughters: Mahlah, Noah, Hoglah, Milcah, and Tirzah.
2They stood before Moses, before Eleazar the priest, and before the princes and all the congregation, at the door of the Tent of Meeting, saying,
3“Our father died in the wilderness. 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. He had no sons.
4Why should the name of our father be taken away from among his family, because he had no son? Give to us a possession among the brothers of our father.”
5Moses brought their cause before the LORD.
6The LORD spoke to Moses, saying,
7“The daughters of Zelophehad speak right. You shall surely give them a possession of an inheritance among their father’s brothers. You shall cause the inheritance of their father to pass to them.
8You shall speak to the children of Israel, saying, ‘If a man dies, and has no son, then you shall cause his inheritance to pass to his daughter.
9If he has no daughter, then you shall give his inheritance to his brothers.
10If he has no brothers, then you shall give his inheritance to his father’s brothers.
11If his father has no brothers, then you shall give his inheritance to his kinsman who is next to him of his family, and he shall possess it. This shall be a statute and ordinance for the children of Israel, as the LORD commanded Moses.’ ”
12The LORD said to Moses, “Go up into this mountain of Abarim, and see the land which I have given to the children of Israel.
13When you have seen it, you also shall be gathered to your people, as Aaron your brother was gathered;
14because in the strife of the congregation, you rebelled against my word in the wilderness of Zin, to honor me as holy at the waters before their eyes.” (These are the waters of Meribah of Kadesh in the wilderness of Zin.)
15Moses spoke to the LORD, saying,
16“Let the LORD, the God of the spirits of all flesh, appoint a man over the congregation,
17who may go out before them, and who may come in before them, and who may lead them out, and who may bring them in, that the congregation of the LORD may not be as sheep which have no shepherd.”
18The LORD said to Moses, “Take Joshua the son of Nun, a man in whom is the Spirit, and lay your hand on him.
19Set him before Eleazar the priest, and before all the congregation; and commission him in their sight.
20You shall give authority to him, that all the congregation of the children of Israel may obey.
21He shall stand before Eleazar the priest, who shall inquire for him by the judgment of the Urim before the LORD. At his word they shall go out, and at his word they shall come in, both he and all the children of Israel with him, even all the congregation.”
22Moses did as the LORD commanded him. He took Joshua, and set him before Eleazar the priest and before all the congregation.
23He laid his hands on him and commissioned him, as the LORD spoke by Moses.
WEB Translation
Notable Verses
Numbers 27:7
“The daughters of Zelophehad speak right. You shall surely give them a possession of an inheritance among their father’s brothers. You shall cause the inheritance of their father to pass to them.”
This verse establishes a landmark legal precedent regarding property rights for women in Israel.
Numbers 27:17
“who may go out before them, and who may come in before them, and who may lead them out, and who may bring them in, that the congregation of the LORD may not be as sheep which have no shepherd.”
This verse highlights Moses' pastoral heart and his desire for the people to have strong, godly leadership.
Numbers 27:18
“The LORD said to Moses, “Take Joshua the son of Nun, a man in whom is the Spirit, and lay your hand on him.”
It marks the official transition of leadership from Moses to Joshua by God's command.
Chapter Summary
Numbers 27 addresses two critical issues for the Israelite community: property inheritance and leadership succession. First, the five daughters of Zelophehad approach Moses and the leaders, arguing that their father's name should not perish from his family just because he had no sons. God affirms their request, establishing a legal statute that allows daughters to inherit land when there is no male heir. This law further outlines a sequence of inheritance involving brothers and near kinsmen. Following this, God instructs Moses to ascend the mountain of Abarim to view the Promised Land, reminding him that he will not enter it due to his disobedience at the waters of Meribah. Moses asks God to provide a leader to guide the people so they are not like sheep without a shepherd. God designates Joshua, a man in whom is the Spirit, as Moses' successor. Moses then publicly commissions Joshua before the high priest and the assembly, transferring authority to ensure a stable transition for the nation.
Frequently Asked Questions
They requested land because their father died without having any sons. They argued that their father's name and portion of land should not be lost to his family simply because he lacked male heirs.
God commanded that if a man died without a son, his inheritance should pass to his daughter. If he had no daughter, it went to his brothers, then his father’s brothers, and finally his nearest kinsman.
God selected Joshua because he was a man 'in whom is the Spirit.' He was commissioned by Moses before the priest Eleazar and the whole congregation to ensure the people would obey his authority.
God told Moses to go up into the mountain of Abarim. From this vantage point, he could see the land God was giving to the Israelites before he was gathered to his people.
Study Note
The petition of Zelophehad's daughters is a rare biblical instance where a legal statute is clarified or expanded in response to a specific human inquiry.
Related Chapters
Numbers 20
Explains the incident at Meribah which is mentioned as the reason Moses cannot enter the land.
Numbers 36
Revisits the inheritance of Zelophehad's daughters regarding marriage laws within their tribe.
Deuteronomy 34
Records the fulfillment of God's word regarding Moses viewing the land before his death.
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