The Law · Chapter 27 of 36

Numbers 27

The daughters of Zelophehad, whose father died leaving no sons, ask Moses for their father's inheritance so his name will not disappear. God affirms their cause and establishes a law of inheritance for daughters. God then tells Moses to view the promised land from Mount Abarim before he dies. Moses asks for a successor, and God appoints Joshua as shepherd, commissioned before Eleazar and the congregation.

What happens in Numbers 27

Five sisters, the daughters of Zelophehad, come before Moses, Eleazar, and the congregation with a respectful petition. Their father died in the wilderness without sons, and they ask why his name should vanish from his clan for lack of a male heir; they request a possession among their father's relatives. Moses brings their case before the LORD, who declares they speak rightly, grants them the inheritance, and establishes a lasting statute: if a man dies without a son, his inheritance passes to his daughter.

God then tells Moses to climb Mount Abarim to see the land he will not enter, for he too will be gathered to his people because of the rebellion at Meribah. Moses, thinking of the people rather than himself, asks God to appoint a leader so they will not be like sheep without a shepherd. God chooses Joshua, a man in whom is the Spirit, and has Moses lay hands on him before Eleazar and all the congregation.

Numbers 27 in context

In a patrilineal society, inheritance normally passed through sons, so the daughters' request raised a genuine legal question about preserving a family line. Their case, revisited in Numbers 36, shaped Israelite inheritance law.

The chapter also marks the beginning of the leadership transition from Moses to Joshua. Mount Abarim, including Pisgah and Nebo, overlooks the land from the east; from there Moses would later view Canaan before his death.

Main themes of Numbers 27

Numbers 27 (KJV)

1Then 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. 6And 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. 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. 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. 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; 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.

Verses to carry from Numbers 27

“The 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.”Numbers 27:7

“Which 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 27:17

“And 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;”Numbers 27:18

Reflection

Whom do I overlook when I think about who deserves a place at the table? God changed the law to include five forgotten women. And in facing my own limits, do I, like Moses, care more that others are shepherded than that I am remembered? Pray for both justice and a shepherd's heart.

A prayer from Numbers 27