Numbers 27

1 Now the daughters [female children, women] of Zelophehad [descendant of Gilead] son of Hepher, the son of Gilead, the son of Machir, the son of Manasseh, belonged to the clans [families, tribes] of Manasseh son of Joseph. These were the names [identities, designations] of his daughters: Mahlah, Noah, Hoglah, Milcah, and Tirzah [women of faith, inheritors]. They approached [drew near, came forward] word study 2 the entrance to the Tent of Meeting, stood before [before the presence of, in the face of] Moses, Eleazar [God has helped, the high priest] the priest [one who serves God and leads others in worship], the leaders [high-ranking officials, captains], and the whole congregation [a gathering of people, the community of Israel], and said [to speak, to command, to promise], word study 3 “Our father [a paternal figure] died [passed away, met his end] in the wilderness [a desert, a desolate place], but he was not among the followers [congregation, assembly] of Korah [a rebellious leader] who gathered together [assembled, met] against the LORD [Yehovah, the supreme God]. Instead, he died [perished, came to an end] because of his own sin [transgression, rebellion], and he had no sons [male children, descendants]. word study 4 Why should the name [identity, reputation] of our father disappear [be taken away, lost] from his clan [family, tribe] because he had no sons [male heirs, descendants]? Give us property [a possession, inheritance] among our father’s brothers [relatives, kin].” word study 5 So Moses [the Israelite leader, God’s chosen mediator] brought their case [justice, their cause, or request] before [into the presence of, to appear before] the LORD [Yehovah, the self-existent God], word study 6 and the LORD [Yehovah, The covenant Name of God] answered [spoke, commanded] him [Moses, the Israelite leader], word study 7 “The daughters [female children, women] of Zelophehad speak correctly [rightly, justly, so or thus]. You certainly must give them property [a possession, land to own] as an inheritance [something passed down, a family heirloom] among their father’s brothers [male relatives, uncles], and transfer [cause to pass over, to cross over] their father’s [a male parent, ancestor] inheritance [a legacy, a heritage] to them. word study 8 Furthermore, you shall say to the Israelites [children of the covenant], ‘If a man [male person, individual] dies [passes away, ceases to exist] and leaves no son [male descendant, heir], you are to transfer [cause to pass over, give] his inheritance [property, heritage] to his daughter [female child, heir]. word study 9 If [in the event that, whether or not] he has no [lacking, without] daughter [female child, woman], give [assign, bestow upon] his inheritance [property, heritage, legacy] to [unto, for the benefit of] his brothers [male siblings, relatives, kin]. word study 10 If [in the event that, whether] he has no [none, not any] brothers [male siblings, close relatives], give [assign, bestow upon] his inheritance [property, heritage, legacy] to his father’s [paternal, ancestral] brothers [male relatives, kin]. word study 11 And if his father [has no male siblings, is without brothers] has no brothers, give his inheritance [property, heritage, or legacy] to the next of kin [closest relative, nearest family member] from his clan [family, tribe, or nation], that he may take possession of it [occupy, inherit, or claim as his own]. This is to be a statutory ordinance [law, decree, or commandment] for the Israelites [God’s chosen people, the descendants of Jacob], as the LORD [Yehovah, the supreme God] has commanded [given orders, instructed, or appointed] Moses [the leader, prophet, and mediator].’” word study 12 Then the LORD [Yehovah, The covenant Name of God] said to Moses, “Go up [ascend, climb] this mountain [hill] of the Abarim [mountain range east of the Jordan River] range and see [behold, look after] the land [earth, territory] that I have given [provided, put] the Israelites [children of Israel, descendants of Jacob]. word study 13 After you have seen [beheld, looked upon] it, you too will be gathered [collected, brought together] to your people [nation, community], as your brother [male sibling, close relative] Aaron was [had been, in like manner]; word study 14 for when the congregation [gathering of people, assembly] contended [rebelled, quarreled] in the Wilderness [desert, open field] of Zin, both of you rebelled [disobeyed, resisted] against My command [instruction, word] to show [demonstrate, display] My holiness [set-apartness, sacredness] in their sight [before their eyes, in their presence] regarding the waters [source of refreshment, liquid].” Those were the waters [source of strife, Meribah] of Meribah [place of quarrel, contention] in Kadesh [holy place, city], in the Wilderness [desert, open field] of Zin. word study 15 So Moses [the Israelite leader, a servant of God] appealed [pleaded, spoke unto] to the LORD [Yehovah, the covenant God], word study 16 “May the LORD [Yehovah, the God of Israel], the God [Elohim, the supreme God] of the spirits [breath of life, the wind, or a person’s mind and emotions] of all [everything, every person] flesh [the body, living things, or animals], appoint [set, choose, or designate] a man [a male person, individual, or leader] over [upon, above, or in charge of] the congregation [a gathering of people, crowd, or community] word study 17 who will go out [and come before them, leading the way] and come in [to their presence, guiding them] before them, and who will lead them out [to battle, to victory] and bring them in [to rest, to safety], so that the congregation [gathering, assembly] of the LORD [Yehovah, the Lord God] will not be like sheep [a flock, without guidance] without a shepherd [one who cares for, tends, and protects].” word study 18 And the LORD [Yehovah, the self-existent God] replied to Moses, “Take [choose, select] Joshua [a leader, having God’s Spirit] son of Nun, a man [a person, an individual] with the Spirit [the divine breath] in him, and lay [place, rest] your hands on him. word study 19 Have him [cause him to] stand [in a strong sense, firmly established] before Eleazar [God has helped] the priest [one who serves God and leads others in worship] and the whole [all, everything] congregation [a gathering of people], and commission [give a charge, appoint, or ordain] him in their sight [before their eyes, in their presence]. word study 20 Confer [hand over, give] on him some of your authority [splendor, glory], so that the whole [all, entire] congregation [gathering, assembly] of Israel [God’s chosen people] will obey [hear and listen, be obedient to] him. word study 21 He shall stand [before the presence of] before Eleazar the priest [who serves as a mediator between God and man], who will seek counsel [ask for guidance, inquire] for him before the LORD [Yehovah, the self-existent God] by the judgment [decision, verdict] of the Urim. At his command [word, authority], he and all the Israelites [the descendants of Jacob, God’s chosen people] with him—the entire congregation [a gathering of people, the community of faith]—will go out [depart, proceed] and come in [return, enter].” word study 22 Moses did as the LORD [Yehovah, The covenant Name of God] had commanded [given orders, appointed] him. He took [received, got] Joshua, had him stand [present, be established] before Eleazar [God has helped] the priest [one who serves God and leads others in worship] and the whole congregation [all the people, the gathering], word study 23 and laid his hands [upon him] on him and commissioned [gave a charge, appointed] him, as the LORD [Yehovah, The covenant Name of God] had instructed [spoken, commanded] through Moses [the Israelite leader, God’s chosen vessel]. word study