Numbers27
New American Standard
1Then 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, came forward; and these are the names of his daughters: Mahlah, Noah, Hoglah, Milcah, and Tirzah.
2They stood before Moses, before Eleazar the priest, before the leaders, and all the congregation at the entrance of the tent of meeting, saying,
3“Our father died in the wilderness, yet he was not among the group of those who gathered together against the Lord, in the group of Korah; but he died in his own sin, and he had no sons.
4Why should the name of our father be withdrawn from among his family simply because he had no son? Give us property among our father’s brothers.”
5So Moses brought their case before the Lord.
6Then the Lord said to Moses,
7“The daughters of Zelophehad are right about their statements. You shall certainly give them hereditary property among their father’s brothers, and you shall transfer the inheritance of their father to them.
8Further, you shall speak to the sons of Israel, saying, ‘If a man dies and has no son, then you shall transfer his inheritance to his daughter.
9And if he has no daughter, then you shall give his inheritance to his brothers.
10If he has no brothers, then you shall give his inheritance to his father’s brothers.
11And if his father has no brothers, then you shall give his inheritance to his nearest relative in his own family, and he shall take possession of it; and it shall be a statutory ordinance to the sons of Israel, just as the Lord has commanded Moses.’”
12Then the Lord said to Moses, “Go up to this mountain of Abarim, and see the land which I have given to the sons of Israel.
13When you have seen it, you too will be gathered to your people, just as Aaron your brother was;
14for in the wilderness of Zin, during the strife of the congregation, you rebelled against My command to treat Me as holy before their eyes at the water.” (These are the waters of Meribah of Kadesh in the wilderness of Zin.)
15Then Moses spoke to the Lord, saying,
16“May the Lord, the God of the spirits of humanity, appoint a man over the congregation,
17who will go out and come in before them, and lead them out and bring them in, so that the congregation of the Lord will not be like sheep that have no shepherd.”
18So the Lord said to Moses, “Take Joshua the son of Nun, a man in whom is the Spirit, and lay your hand on him;
19and have him stand before Eleazar the priest and before all the congregation, and commission him in their sight.
20And you shall put some of your authority on him, so that all the congregation of the sons of Israel will obey him.
21Moreover, he shall stand before Eleazar the priest, who shall inquire for him by the judgment of the Urim before the Lord. At his command they shall go out, and at his command they shall come in, both he and all the sons of Israel with him, all the congregation.”
22Then Moses did just as the Lord commanded him; he took Joshua and had him stand before Eleazar the priest and before all the congregation.
23Then he laid his hands on him and commissioned him, just as the Lord had spoken through Moses.
Study Guide
Public-domain commentary and original-language notes for Numbers 27.
Chapter Summary
In this chapter: The daughters of Zelophehad apply for an inheritance, The law of inheritances. (1–11). Moses warned of his death. (12–14). Joshua appointed to succeed Moses. (15–23).
vv1-11
The five daughters of Zelophehad considered themselves as left destitute, having neither father nor brother to inherit any land. Their believing expectation that the word of the Lord would be performed in due season, and their desire of an interest in the promised inheritance; and the modest, candid manner in which they asked, without secret murmurs or discontents, are a good example. They ask for a possession in the land of Canaan. Herein they discovered, 1. Strong faith in the power and promise of God, concerning the giving of the land of Canaan to Israel. 2. And earnest desire of a place and name in the land of promise, which was a type of heaven. 3. Respect and honour for their father, whose name was dear to them now he was gone. He never had done any thing that might bar his children's claim. It is a comfort to parents when they come to die, if though they have smarted for their own sin, yet they are not conscious of any of those iniquities which God will visit on their children. God himself gives judgment. He takes notice of the affairs, not only of nations, but of private families, and orders them according to his will. The petition is granted. Those who seek an inheritance in the land of promise, shall have what they seek for, and other things shall be added to them.
vv12-14
Moses must die, but he shall have the satisfaction of seeing the land of promise. This sight of Canaan signified his believing prospect of the better country, that is, the heavenly. Moses must die, but death does not cut him off; it only brings him to rest with the holy patriarchs. It is but to die as they died, having lived as they lived; and as their end was peace, why should we fear any evil in the passage of that dark valley? (Nu 27:15-23)
vv15-23
Envious spirits do not love their successors; but Moses was not one of these. We should concern ourselves, both in our prayers and in our endeavours, for the rising generation, that religion may be maintained and advanced, when we are in our graves. God appoints a successor, even Joshua; who had signalized himself by his courage in fighting Amalek, his humility in ministering to Moses, and his faith and sincerity in witnessing against the report of the evil spies. This man God appoints to succeed Moses; a man in whom is the Spirit, the Spirit of grace. He is a good man, fearing God and hating covetousness, and acting from principle. He has the spirit of government; he is fit to do the work and discharge the trusts of his place. He has a spirit of conduct and courage; he had also the Spirit of prophecy. That man is not fully qualified for any service in the church of Christ, who is destitute of the graces and gifts of the Holy Spirit, whatever human abilities he may possess. And in Joshua's succession we are reminded “that the law was given by Moses,” who by reason of our transgression could not bring us to heaven; but “grace and truth came by Jesus Christ,” for the salvation of every believer.
Key Words
קָרַב: to approach (causatively, bring near) for whatever purpose
בַּת: a daughter (used in the same wide sense as other terms of relationship, literally and figuratively)
צְלׇפְחָד: Tselophchad, an Israelite
בֵּן: a son (as a builder of the family name), in the widest sense (of literal and figurative relationship, including grandson, subject, nation, quality or condition, etc., (like father or brother), etc.)
חֵפֶר: Chepher, a place in Palestine; also the name of three Israelites
גִּלְעָד: Gilad, a region East of the Jordan; also the name of three Israelites
מָכִיר: Makir, an Israelite
מְנַשֶּׁה: Menashsheh, a grandson of Jacob, also the tribe descended from him, and its territory
מִשְׁפָּחָה: a family, i.e. circle of relatives; figuratively, a class (of persons), a species (of animals) or sort (of things); by extension a tribe or people
יוֹסֵף: Joseph, the name of seven Israelites
Cross References
Numbers 27Direct execution and fulfillment of the petition of Zelophehad's daughters for their inheritance.
Supported by Matthew Poole, John Calvin, JFB
Subsequent regulatory law requiring heiresses to marry within their own tribe to preserve patrimony.
Supported by Matthew Poole, JFB
The historical account of Moses and Aaron's sin at the waters of Meribah.
Supported by Matthew Henry, Matthew Poole, JFB
Moses uses the exact same unique title 'God of the spirits of all flesh'.
Supported by Matthew Poole, JFB
Micaiah's prophetic echo of Israel being scattered like sheep without a shepherd.
Supported by Matthew Henry, JFB
Jesus sees the crowds with compassion as sheep without a shepherd, echoing Moses' concern.
Supported by Matthew Henry
Contrasts Zelophehad's death with the rebellious group of Korah who lost their family heritage.
Supported by Matthew Poole, JFB
Fulfillment of God's command for Moses to ascend Mount Abarim/Nebo and view Canaan.
Supported by Matthew Henry, JFB
Details the Urim and Thummim, by which Eleazar would ask counsel for Joshua.
Supported by Matthew Poole, JFB
Another instance of Moses delaying judgment to bring a difficult inquiry before the Lord.
Supported by Matthew Poole, John Calvin
Reaffirms that the daughters of Zelophehad have spoken and demanded what is right.
Supported by John Calvin, JFB
God's explicit command to Moses to charge, encourage, and strengthen Joshua as his successor.
Supported by Matthew Henry
Spiritual parallel showing women share equally with men in the heavenly inheritance.
Supported by Matthew Poole
Reiterates Moses and Aaron's failure to sanctify God at the waters of Meribah-Kadesh.
Supported by Matthew Henry
New Testament parallel of the laying on of hands to confer spiritual gifts and office.
Supported by JFB