Numbers 27

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.

1Five sisters came to Moses. Their father was Zelophehad. His father was Hepher. Before him came Gilead, then Machir, then Manasseh. Manasseh was a son of Joseph. So the sisters belonged to Manasseh's family. Their names were Mahlah, Noah, Hoglah, 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,

2They stood at the door of the tent where people met with God. They stood in front of Moses and Eleazar the priest. A priest was a man who served God at the tent. The leaders and all the people were there too. The sisters said:

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.

3"Our father died out in the desert. He was not with Korah's group, who turned against the LORD. He died because of his own sin. And he 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.

4Why should our father's name be lost from his family, just because he had no son? Please give us land, like our father's brothers get."

5And Moses brought their cause before the LORD.

5So Moses took their question to the LORD.

6And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying,

6And the LORD said to Moses:

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.

7"The daughters of Zelophehad are right. You must give them land of their own, among their father's brothers. Give them the land that would have gone to their father.

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.

8Tell the people of Israel this rule. If a man dies and has no son, give his land to his daughter.

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

9If he has no daughter, give his land to his brothers.

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

10If he has no brothers, give his land to his father's brothers.

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.

11If his father had no brothers, give the land to the closest relative in his family. That man will own it. This is a law for Israel, just as the LORD told Moses."

12And 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.

12Then the LORD said to Moses, "Climb up this mountain called Abarim. Look out at the land I am giving to the people of Israel.

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

13After you have seen it, you will die and join your family, the way your brother Aaron did.

Note"Be gathered unto thy people" is an old way of saying someone died and joined family members who died before them.

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.

14This is because you and Aaron did not obey me in the desert of Zin. The people were angry and arguing about water. I told you what to do, to show the people how holy I am. But you did not do it. That water is called the water of Meribah, at Kadesh, in the desert of Zin."

15And Moses spake unto the LORD, saying,

15Then Moses said to the LORD:

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

16"LORD, you are the God who gives life to every living person. Please choose a man to lead these people.

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.

17Let him go out in front of them and come back with them. Let him lead them out and bring them home. Then your people will not be like sheep with 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;

18The LORD said to Moses, "Take Joshua, the son of Nun. God's Spirit is in him. Put your hand on him.

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

19Have him stand in front of Eleazar the priest and all the people. There, where everyone can see, give him his new job.

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

20Give him some of your own power to lead. Then all the people of Israel will obey him.

NoteThe KJV says "put some of thine honour upon him." Here "honour" means the power and right to lead, not praise or fame.

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.

21Joshua will stand before Eleazar the priest. Eleazar will ask the LORD what Joshua should do. He will use the Urim to find out God's answer. When Eleazar gives the word, Joshua and all Israel will go out. When he gives the word, they will come back."

NoteThe Urim was a special object the high priest kept and used to ask God questions and learn his answer.

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

22Moses did what the LORD told him. He took Joshua and had him stand in front of Eleazar the priest and all the people.

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

23Moses put his hands on Joshua and gave him his new job. He did just what the LORD had said through him.