Reflections on Numbers 27

Numbers 27 (Contemporary English Version)

1. Zelophehad was from the Manasseh tribe, and he had five daughters, whose names were Mahlah, Noah, Hoglah, Milcah, and Tirzah.
   
2. One 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:
   
3. You know that our father died in the desert. But it was for something he did wrong, not for joining with Korah in rebelling against the LORD. Our father left no sons
   
4. to carry on his family name. But why should his name die out for that reason? Give us some land like the rest of his relatives in our clan, so our father's name can live on.
   
5. Moses asked the LORD what should be done,
   
6. and the LORD answered:
   
7. Zelophehad's daughters are right. They should each be given part of the land their father would have received.
   
8. Tell the Israelites that when a man dies without a son, his daughter will inherit his land.
   
9. If he has no daughter, his brothers will inherit the land.
   
10. But if he has no brothers, his father's brothers will inherit the land.
    
11. And if his father has no brothers, the land must be given to his nearest relative in the clan. This is my law, and the Israelites must obey it.
    
12. The 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.
    
13. After you have seen it, you will die, just like your brother Aaron,
    
14. because 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."
    
15. Moses 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.
    
17. Your people need someone to lead them into battle, or else they will be like sheep wandering around without a shepherd."
    
18. The 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.
    
19. Then go with him and have him stand in front of Eleazar the priest and the Israelites. Appoint Joshua as their new leader
    
20. and tell them they must now obey him, just as they obey you.
    
21. But Joshua must depend on Eleazar to find out from me what I want him to do as he leads Israel into battle."
    
22. Moses followed the LORD's instructions and took Joshua to Eleazar and the people,
    
23. then he placed his hands on Joshua and appointed him Israel's leader.
    
    

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    The first verses of chapter 27 are a follow up to chapter 26 which gives an account of the census taken of Israel in preparation of entering Canaan for the purpose of determining the size of land inheritance each tribe was to receive. This census and allocation of land, however, took into account only the sons. Zelophehad was a man who had died in the wilderness leaving five daughters and no sons. The daughters approached Moses requesting that their father's name not go into extinction by receiving no land. Though not mentioned, it would also leave them as dependents of extended family. They asked that they be given their father's inheritance among his brothers. Moses took the appeal before the Lord and the Lord said, "What Zelophehad's daughters say is correct. You are to give them hereditary property among their father's brothers and transfer their father's inheritance to them." (27:7) He added that such policy was to become "statutory ordinance" for the Israelites stating that the inheritance of a man who has no sons will not be dissolved. It will go to his daughters if he has any. "If he has no daughter, give his inheritance to his brothers. If he has no brothers, give his inheritance to his father's brothers. If his father has no brothers, give his inheritance to the nearest relative of his clan." (27:8-11)
    
    The remainder of the chapter is an account of God's announcement to Moses of his pending death. Because of Moses' sin at the waters of Meribah, he would not go into the land of Promise. (Num 20) At the appointed time, he would "Go up this mountain of the Abarim range and see the land that I have given the Israelites." (27:12) Having seen the new land without entering it, he would die. In Moses' response we see something of his character. As he had done on numerous occasions before, he appealed to God on behalf of the people. We might have expected an appeal to God to prolong his life and allow him to enter the land of Promise arguing his faithfulness with only the one exception. But that was not his concern. His concern was that the people would be left without a leader and would be "like sheep without a shepherd." (27:17) God answered his request by appointing Joshua as his successor.
    
    Leadership was duly conferred on Joshua before Eleazar the priest and the whole community as Moses "laid his hands on him, and commissioned him." (27:23) With this change of leadership was to come a new order. Under Moses' leadership, God had spoken through Moses, and Aaron, the priest had assisted. Under Joshua, the Lord would speak through Eleazar the priest. Joshua was to "stand before Eleazar who will consult the LORD for him with the decision of the Urim." (27:21) As leader of Israel, Joshua was merely the Lord's servant.