Numbers 27: Inheritance and a Successor
The daughters of Zelophehad win a just inheritance, and God appoints Joshua to shepherd Israel after Moses.
Numbers 27 (WEB)
1 Then drew near 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. These are the names of his daughters: Mahlah, Noah, and Hoglah, and Milcah, and Tirzah.
2 They stood before Moses, and before Eleazar the priest, and before the princes and all the congregation, at the door of the Tent of Meeting, saying,
3 “Our father died in the wilderness. He was not among the company of those who gathered themselves together against Yahweh in the company of Korah, but he died in his own sin. He had no sons.
4 Why should the name of our father be taken away from among his family, because he had no son? Give to us a possession among the brothers of our father.”
5 Moses brought their cause before Yahweh.
6 Yahweh spoke to Moses, saying,
7 “The daughters of Zelophehad speak right. You shall surely give them a possession of an inheritance among their father’s brothers. You shall cause the inheritance of their father to pass to them.
8 You shall speak to the children of Israel, saying, ‘If a man dies, and has no son, then you shall cause his inheritance to pass to his daughter.
9 If he has no daughter, then you shall give his inheritance to his brothers.
10 If he has no brothers, then you shall give his inheritance to his father’s brothers.
11 If his father has no brothers, then you shall give his inheritance to his kinsman who is next to him of his family, and he shall possess it. This shall be a statute and ordinance for the children of Israel, as Yahweh commanded Moses.’”
12 Yahweh said to Moses, “Go up into this mountain of Abarim, and see the land which I have given to the children of Israel.
13 When you have seen it, you also shall be gathered to your people, as Aaron your brother was gathered;
14 because in the strife of the congregation, you rebelled against my word in the wilderness of Zin, to honor me as holy at the waters before their eyes.” (These are the waters of Meribah of Kadesh in the wilderness of Zin.)
15 Moses spoke to Yahweh, saying,
16 “Let Yahweh, the God of the spirits of all flesh, appoint a man over the congregation,
17 who may go out before them, and who may come in before them, and who may lead them out, and who may bring them in; that the congregation of Yahweh not be as sheep which have no shepherd.”
18 Yahweh said to Moses, “Take Joshua the son of Nun, a man in whom is the Spirit, and lay your hand on him.
19 Set him before Eleazar the priest, and before all the congregation; and commission him in their sight.
20 You shall give authority to him, that all the congregation of the children of Israel may obey.
21 He shall stand before Eleazar the priest, who shall inquire for him by the judgment of the Urim before Yahweh. At his word they shall go out, and at his word they shall come in, both he, and all the children of Israel with him, even all the congregation.”
22 Moses did as Yahweh commanded him. He took Joshua, and set him before Eleazar the priest, and before all the congregation.
23 He laid his hands on him, and commissioned him, as Yahweh spoke by Moses.
Numbers 27 (KJV)
1 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.
2 And 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,
3 Our 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.
4 Why 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.
5 And Moses brought their cause before the Lord.
6 And the Lord spake unto Moses, saying,
7 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.
8 And 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.
9 And if he have no daughter, then ye shall give his inheritance unto his brethren.
10 And if he have no brethren, then ye shall give his inheritance unto his father’s brethren.
11 And 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.
12 And 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.
13 And when thou hast seen it, thou also shalt be gathered unto thy people, as Aaron thy brother was gathered.
14 For 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.
15 And Moses spake unto the Lord, saying,
16 Let the Lord, the God of the spirits of all flesh, set a man over the congregation,
17 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.
18 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;
19 And set him before Eleazar the priest, and before all the congregation; and give him a charge in their sight.
20 And thou shalt put some of thine honour upon him, that all the congregation of the children of Israel may be obedient.
21 And 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.
22 And Moses did as the Lord commanded him: and he took Joshua, and set him before Eleazar the priest, and before all the congregation:
23 And he laid his hands upon him, and gave him a charge, as the Lord commanded by the hand of Moses.
Numbers 27 (ASV)
1 Then drew near 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.
2 And they stood before Moses, and before Eleazar the priest, and before the princes and all the congregation, at the door of the tent of meeting, saying,
3 Our father died in the wilderness, and he was not among the company of them that gathered themselves together against Jehovah in the company of Korah: but he died in his own sin; and he had no sons.
4 Why should the name of our father be taken away from among his family, because he had no son? Give unto us a possession among the brethren of our father.
5 And Moses brought their cause before Jehovah.
6 And Jehovah spake unto Moses, saying,
7 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.
8 And 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.
9 And if he have no daughter, then ye shall give his inheritance unto his brethren.
10 And if he have no brethren, then ye shall give his inheritance unto his father’s brethren.
11 And 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 and ordinance, as Jehovah commanded Moses.
12 And Jehovah said unto Moses, Get thee up into this mountain of Abarim, and behold the land which I have given unto the children of Israel.
13 And when thou hast seen it, thou also shalt be gathered unto thy people, as Aaron thy brother was gathered;
14 because ye rebelled against my word in the wilderness of Zin, in the strife of the congregation, to sanctify me at the waters before their eyes. (These are the waters of Meribah of Kadesh in the wilderness of Zin.)
15 And Moses spake unto Jehovah, saying,
16 Let Jehovah, the God of the spirits of all flesh, appoint a man over the congregation,
17 who may go out before them, and who may come in before them, and who may lead them out, and who may bring them in; that the congregation of Jehovah be not as sheep which have no shepherd.
18 And Jehovah said unto Moses, Take thee Joshua the son of Nun, a man in whom is the Spirit, and lay thy hand upon him;
19 and set him before Eleazar the priest, and before all the congregation; and give him a charge in their sight.
20 And thou shalt put of thine honor upon him, that all the congregation of the children of Israel may obey.
21 And he shall stand before Eleazar the priest, who shall inquire for him by the judgment of the Urim before Jehovah: 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.
22 And Moses did as Jehovah commanded him; and he took Joshua, and set him before Eleazar the priest, and before all the congregation:
23 and he laid his hands upon him, and gave him a charge, as Jehovah spake by Moses.
Summary
The five daughters of Zelophehad come forward and stand before Moses, Eleazar, the princes, and the whole congregation. Their father died in the wilderness for his own sin, not in Korah's rebellion, and left no sons; they ask why his name should be lost from his family and request a possession among their father's relatives. Moses brings their cause before Yahweh, who declares that they speak rightly and establishes a lasting statute that a man's inheritance passes to his daughters if he has no son, and then to his brothers, his uncles, or his nearest kinsman. The chapter then turns to Moses himself. God tells him to go up Mount Abarim to see the land he may not enter, because he and Aaron failed to honor God as holy at the waters of Meribah, and there he will be gathered to his people. Rather than grieving for himself, Moses asks the Lord, the God of the spirits of all flesh, to appoint a leader so the congregation will not be like sheep without a shepherd. God chooses Joshua, a man in whom is the Spirit, and instructs Moses to lay his hands on him, set him before Eleazar and the people, and give him authority. Moses obeys, commissioning Joshua in the sight of all Israel. The chapter shows God's care for justice, for the vulnerable, and for the orderly continuation of leadership among his people.
Main Characters
- The daughters of Zelophehad — Mahlah, Noah, Hoglah, Milcah, and Tirzah, who courageously and faithfully ask for an inheritance to preserve their father's name.
- Moses — Israel's leader who brings the women's cause to God, learns he will not enter the land, and selflessly prays for a faithful successor.
- Joshua — The son of Nun, a man in whom is the Spirit, commissioned by the laying on of hands to lead Israel into the Promised Land.
- Yahweh (the LORD) — The God of the spirits of all flesh who upholds justice for the daughters and appoints a shepherd for his people.
Key Verse
Numbers 27:17 (WEB)
who may go out before them, and who may come in before them, and who may lead them out, and who may bring them in; that the congregation of Yahweh not be as sheep which have no shepherd.”
Lessons Learned
- God hears the appeals of the vulnerable and upholds justice for those without standing or power.
- Faith expresses itself in bold yet reverent requests brought before the Lord.
- Godly leaders care more for the welfare of God's people than for their own honor or comfort.
- God provides continuity of leadership so his flock is never left without a shepherd.
- Spirit-filled leadership and the prayer for a shepherd point ahead to Jesus, the Good Shepherd.
- God defends the cause of the powerless. When the daughters appeal, God says, “The daughters of Zelophehad speak right” (Numbers 27:7, WEB). He hears those the world might overlook and secures justice for them.
- Faithful requests are brought to God. Moses “brought their cause before Yahweh” (Numbers 27:5, WEB). Rather than deciding alone, he seeks the Lord, modeling dependence in matters of justice.
- True leaders seek the flock's good. Facing his own death, Moses prays that Israel “not be as sheep which have no shepherd” (Numbers 27:17, WEB). Selfless concern for others marks godly leadership.
- God supplies Spirit-filled shepherds. God chooses Joshua, “a man in whom is the Spirit” (Numbers 27:18, WEB). He equips leaders by his Spirit and ultimately gives us the Good Shepherd, Jesus.
- What is admirable about how the daughters of Zelophehad present their request?
- Why does Moses bring their case to the Lord rather than ruling on it himself?
- How does Moses respond to the news that he will not enter the land, and what does that reveal about his heart?
- What qualities mark Joshua as the leader God chooses, and how is his commissioning carried out?
- Where might God be calling you to advocate for justice, or to put the good of others ahead of your own recognition?
- They come respectfully, stand before the proper authorities, and state their case clearly, grounding it in concern for their father's name and a desire for a rightful place among God's people (27:1-4). Their boldness is matched by reverence; they seek justice within God's order rather than around it.
- Moses does not presume to settle a new question on his own but brings it “before Yahweh” (27:5). He models humble leadership that seeks God's mind, especially where established law gives no clear precedent. Justice is grounded in God's will, not personal opinion.
- Told he will die outside the land, Moses does not protest or plead for himself but immediately asks God to provide a leader for the people (27:15-17). His first concern is the flock's welfare, revealing a shepherd's heart shaped by years of bearing the people before God.
- Joshua is “a man in whom is the Spirit” (27:18), and he is set apart by the laying on of Moses' hands before Eleazar and the whole congregation, given authority so the people will obey. Leadership is conferred publicly, by God's appointment and the Spirit's presence.
- This is a personal-application question. Invite members to consider those who lack a voice and how they might speak up for them, and to examine whether they pursue the good of others or their own recognition. As leader, point to Jesus, the Shepherd who laid down his life for the sheep.