The Daughters of Zelophehad Are Given Land

¹Zelophehad was from the Manasseh tribe, and he had five daughters, whose names were Mahlah, Noah, Hoglah, Milcah, and Tirzah.[#27.1 Hebrew “Zelophehad son of Hepher son of Gilead son of Machir son of Manasseh son of Joseph.” See also 26.28-34; 36.1-12.]

²One day his daughters went to the sacred tent, where they met with Moses, Eleazar, and some other leaders of Israel, as well as a large crowd of Israelites. The young women said:

⁵Moses asked the Lord what should be done,

⁶and the Lord answered:

Joshua Is Appointed Israel's Leader

¹²The Lord said to Moses, “One day you will go up into the Abarim Mountains, and from there you will see the land I am giving the Israelites.[#Dt 3.23-27; 32.48-52.]

¹³After you have seen it, you will die, just like your brother Aaron,[#27.12,13 The story of Moses' death is in Deuteronomy 34.1-8.]

¹⁴because both of you disobeyed me at Meribah near the town of Kadesh in the Zin Desert. When the Israelites insulted me there, you didn't believe in my holy power.”[#27.14 See 20.1-13.]

¹⁵Moses replied,

¹⁶“You are the Lord God, and you know what is in everyone's heart. So I ask you to appoint a leader for Israel.

¹⁷Your people need someone to lead them into battle, or else they will be like sheep wandering around without a shepherd.”[#1 K 22.17; Ez 34.5; Mt 9.36; Mk 6.34.]

¹⁸The Lord answered, “Joshua son of Nun can do the job. Place your hands on him to show that he is the one to take your place.[#Ex 24.13.]

¹⁹Then go with him and tell him to stand in front of Eleazar the priest and the Israelites. Appoint Joshua as their new leader

²⁰and tell them they must now obey him, just as they obey you.

²¹But Joshua must depend on Eleazar to find out from me what I want him to do as he leads Israel into battle.”[#Ex 28.30; 1 S 14.41; 28.6.; #27.21 The Hebrew text has “by the urim,” something used by the priests to get answers from the .]

²²Moses followed the Lord 's instructions and took Joshua to Eleazar and the people,

²³then he placed his hands on Joshua and appointed him Israel's leader.[#Dt 31.23.]