Numbers 27

Joshua to replace Moses

Five women with no land

1Daughters of Zelophehad stepped forward: Mahlah, Noah, Hoglah, Milcah, and Tirzah. They were from Manasseh’s tribe, descended from Jacob’s son Joseph. Their grandfather was Gilead, and their great-grandfather was Machir. 2The stood near the entrance into the Meeting Tent. All the people were gathered there, with Moses, Eleazar the priest, and the Israelite leaders.

3They said, “Our father died in the desert. He wasn’t part of Korah’s group that rebelled against the LORD, but he died for other sins in his life. He didn’t have any sons. 4Don’t let our father’s name die out. Give us some land in our father’s name, among our relatives.” 5Moses took the request to the LORD.

6The LORD said, 7“Zelophehad’s daughters are right. Give them their father’s share of land, near their relatives. 8I also want you to give this message to the people of Israel, ‘If a man dies without a son, let his daughter inherit the family estate. 9If he doesn’t have a daughter, give the estate to his brothers. 10If he doesn’t have any brothers, give it to his uncles—his father’s brothers. 11If his father didn’t have any brothers, give it to his closest relative. This will be a legal and binding law among the people of Israel. The LORD has ordered Moses to declare it a law.”

Moses won’t reach Canaan

12The LORD told Moses, “Take a walk up into the Abarim mountain range. [1] Then look over into the land I’m giving to the Israelite people. 13After you see it, you’ll join your ancestors, just as your brother Aaron did. 14You didn’t follow the instructions I gave you in the Zin Desert. When the people started criticizing me, you didn’t believe in me enough to do as I said. And you didn’t do anything to show the people that I’m holy.” [2] This took place at “Complainer’s Spring” [3] at Kadesh, in the Zin Desert.

Joshua promoted to number one

15Moses told the LORD, 16“LORD, you bring us to life with the breath you put into us. Only you can do that. I’m asking now that you select one man to lead these people. 17They need someone to show them what to do and when to do it—so they won’t be like sheep lost without their shepherd.”

18The LORD told Moses, “I want you to put your hand on Joshua, who is Nun’s son. The Spirit is alive inside him. 19Call the people together and have him stand in front them, and beside Eleazar the priest. Give him the job of leading the people. 20Begin transferring your authority to him, so the people can start to get used to taking orders from him. 21He also needs to present himself to Eleazar the priest, so Eleazar can do his priestly duty of consulting the “Lights” [4] in this important matter, to confirm the LORD’s judgment.”

22Moses did what the LORD told him to do. Moses stood Joshua in front of the people and Eleazar the priest. 23Moses placed his hands on Joshua and gave him the job of leading the people, just as the LORD had told him to do.

Footnotes

Intro Notes for Numbers

127:12

Mountains east of the Jordan River. It includes Mount Nebo and extends south.

227:14

Numbers 20:12.

327:14

Literally “the waters of Meribah.” Meribah means to fight, argue, complain, rebel. The story, as reported in Exodus, says Moses named the site “Pushy Complainers,” or literally in the Hebrew name, “Massah Meribah.” Massah means to test or to get pushy.

427:32

In Hebrew: Urim. Probably short for Urim and Thummim. The Urim and Thummin, meaning “lights” and “perfection” were two objects the high priest used to answer questions with a “yes” or “no” or “wait.” They are never described in the Bible. They might have been stones, marked or colored in different ways. It might have worked a bit like tossing two coins in the air and seeing how they land. Two heads for “yes.” Two tails for “no.” One of each for “wait.” It might seem foolish to make an important decision that way, such as who takes over after Moses and whether to go to war. But the people of Israel seemed to believe that God controlled the objects the priests used. That doesn’t mean the Bible endorses making decisions that way today. As in, two heads up for a four-wheeler or two tails up for retirement savings.