The big picture
Five daughters of Zelophehad, an Israelite who died without sons, bring a claim. They ask Moses, Israel's leader, for their father's share of land. Eleazar, the priest, and the people hear their request. God answers through Moses and gives a rule for future cases. Then Moses learns that his own death is near. He asks God to choose a new leader. A family needs a place in the land, and the people need someone to lead them there.
In this chapter
- Five Daughters Bring Their Claim Numbers 27:1-5
Mahlah, Noah, Hoglah, Milcah and Tirzah stand before Moses, Eleazar and the leaders at the meeting tent.
- God Gives Daughters a Right to Inherit Numbers 27:6-11
God accepts the daughters' claim and orders Moses to give them land.
- A Successor Is Needed Numbers 27:12-17
Moses must climb a mountain in Abarim and look at the promised land.
- Joshua Receives a Public Commission Numbers 27:18-23
Joshua, son of Nun, is God's choice because the spirit is in him.
Central truth
God grants an inheritance to daughters without brothers and appoints Joshua so the people will have leadership after Moses dies.
Scripture beside the summary
Numbers · King James Version · 23Numbers 27:1-5
Five Daughters Bring Their Claim
Mahlah, Noah, Hoglah, Milcah and Tirzah stand before Moses, Eleazar and the leaders at the meeting tent. They are daughters of Zelophehad from Manasseh, one of Israel's tribes. Their father died in the desert and had no sons. They explain that he did not join Korah's rebellion, though he died in his own sin. They ask why his family name should lose its place because no son survives. Moses takes their case to God instead of rejecting their claim himself.
In everyday life
Five sisters place their father's papers on an inheritance adviser's desk and ask why a form assumes only a son can continue his holding. They explain the family facts and request a share under his name. The adviser refers the unresolved case for a decision. These sisters receive their ruling directly through God's answer to Moses.
Notice
Numbers 27:4 The daughters connect land with preserving their father's place among his relatives. Their request concerns the family's continuing inheritance, not only a personal gift of property.
Numbers 27:1-5
King James Version1Then 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.
Numbers 27:6-11
God Gives Daughters a Right to Inherit
God accepts the daughters' claim and orders Moses to give them land. They are to hold the share that belonged to their father. He then sets out who inherits when a son is lacking. A daughter comes next in line. Without a daughter, the dead man's brothers receive the land. His father's brothers follow them, then his nearest kin. This case leads to a law for all Israel. The daughters' lack of a brother must not cost their family its place.
In everyday life
A chess league organiser revises the entry rules after an appeal panel upholds one player's claim to join. She writes a clear order of eligibility on the clubhouse noticeboard so later applicants do not face the same gap. One case produces a rule others can use. God's command governs family land rights, not entry to a competition.
Notice
Numbers 27:7 God says the daughters have spoken rightly and grants their claim. Their father's share passes to them before the rules for other cases are given.
Numbers 27:6-11
King James Version6And 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.
Numbers 27:12-17
A Successor Is Needed
Moses must climb a mountain in Abarim and look at the promised land. Then he will die, as his brother Aaron died. God recalls their revolt at Meribah, the waters near Kadesh in Zin. They failed to honour him before the people during that dispute. Moses asks God to choose a leader for those who remain. He wants someone to guide them out and bring them home. Without such care, they would be like sheep left with no shepherd.
In everyday life
An outgoing hospice director learns she cannot return to work and asks the board to appoint someone who knows the patients' needs. Her first concern is that the staff and families will not be left without guidance. The work must continue after her departure. Moses' death also carries God's stated judgement for his earlier rebellion.
Notice
Numbers 27:17 A successor must go before the people and bring them back. The role requires active care and guidance, rather than only holding a title.
Numbers 27:12-17
King James Version12And 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.
15And 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.
Numbers 27:18-23
Joshua Receives a Public Commission
Joshua, son of Nun, is God's choice because the spirit is in him. Moses must place his hand on him before Eleazar and the people. Some of Moses' honour will pass to Joshua so they will obey him. For direction, Joshua must go to Eleazar. The priest will ask God by means of the Urim. How these work is not stated here. Moses carries out the order and gives Joshua his charge in public. The people see who will lead them next.
In everyday life
The departing expedition captain places the route book in her successor's hands before the assembled team. She explains the new leader's authority and names the specialist he must consult before major departures. The team sees who will guide them next. Joshua is chosen by God and seeks direction through the priest.
Notice
Numbers 27:21 Joshua must consult God through Eleazar. His leadership is publicly authorised, but he does not receive unlimited freedom to set the people's movements by himself.
Numbers 27:18-23
King James Version18And 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.
Details worth noticing
The opening image
Numbers 27:1 begins with “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…”
Where the chapter turns
Numbers 27:4 forms a natural hinge: “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…”
The final note
Numbers 27:23 leaves the reader with “And he laid his hands upon him, and gave him a charge, as the LORD commanded by the hand of Moses.”
A word trail through the chapter
The words LORD, congregation, Moses, brethren, inheritance, children help reveal the chapter’s repeated concerns.
KJV words made clear
- unto
- to
- thee
- you
- thou
- you
- thy
- your
- hath
- has
Music and video connected to the passage
Related media appears when its Scripture reference overlaps this study. Music and video can illuminate a theme while the biblical text remains the foundation.
