Bible Study Numbers 27
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Numbers 27 · WEB

Zelophehad's Daughters and Joshua's Appointment

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Then 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 near. These are the names of his daughters: Mahlah, Noah, Hoglah, Milcah, and Tirzah.
2They stood before Moses, before Eleazar the priest, before the princes, and before 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; and he had no sons.
4Why 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."
5Moses brought their case before Yahweh.
6Yahweh 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; and you shall cause the inheritance of their father to pass to them.
8You 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.
9If 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.
11If 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. It shall be a statute and ordinance to the children of Israel, as Yahweh commanded Moses.' "
12Yahweh said to Moses, "Go up into this mountain of Abarim, and see the land which I have given to the children of Israel.
13When you have seen it, you also shall be gathered to your people, as Aaron your brother was gathered;
14because you rebelled against my word in the wilderness of Zin, in the strife of the congregation, to sanctify me at the water before their eyes." (These are the waters of Meribah of Kadesh in the wilderness of Zin.)
15Moses spoke to Yahweh, saying,
16"Let Yahweh, the God of the spirits of all flesh, appoint a man over the congregation,
17who 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 may not be as sheep which have no shepherd."
18Yahweh said to Moses, "Take Joshua the son of Nun, a man in whom is the Spirit, and lay your hand on him.
19Set him before Eleazar the priest and before all the congregation, and commission him in their sight.
20You shall put some of your honor on him, that all the congregation of the children of Israel may obey.
21He shall stand before Eleazar the priest, who shall inquire for him by the judgment of the Urim before Yahweh. 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."
22Moses did as Yahweh commanded him; and he took Joshua and set him before Eleazar the priest and before all the congregation.
23He laid his hands on him and commissioned him, as Yahweh spoke by Moses.
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Summary

Five sisters — the daughters of Zelophehad — bring a bold legal case before Moses, Eleazar, and all Israel: their father died without sons, and they argue they deserve an inheritance in Canaan to preserve their father's name. Moses brings the case to God, who affirms that the daughters are right and establishes a permanent law of female inheritance when no male heir exists. God then tells Moses to climb the mountain to view Canaan before his death and appoint Joshua as his successor. Moses immediately prays for the people's welfare and lays hands on Joshua, commissioning him in front of all Israel.

Themes

  • Justice and legal advocacy — bringing legitimate grievances to God
  • God's responsiveness to faithful petitions
  • Women as active participants in Israel's covenant life
  • Servant leadership — Moses's first concern at the news of his death is for the people's care
  • Succession and the continuity of God's mission beyond any single leader

Key verses

  • Num 27:16-17 — “Let Yahweh, the God of the spirits of all flesh, appoint a man over the congregation, 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 may not be as sheep which have no shepherd.”
  • Num 27:4 — “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.”
  • Num 27:7 — “The daughters of Zelophehad speak right. You shall surely give them a possession of an inheritance among their father's brothers.”

Context & background

This episode takes place in the plains of Moab (modern central Jordan). Zelophehad's daughters' case was a genuine legal innovation — ancient Near Eastern custom typically limited inheritance to male heirs. God's ruling in their favor created enduring precedent and reflects his concern for those who might otherwise be marginalized by legal systems. The mountain of Abarim is the Abarim range in modern Jordan, which includes Mount Nebo (Deut 34), from which Moses would view Canaan (modern Israel/Palestine) before his death. The appointment of Joshua — described as a man "in whom is the Spirit" — marks the formal transition of authority from the Exodus generation to the conquest generation. Moses's prayer for a shepherd for the people is one of the most pastoral moments in the entire Pentateuch.

Cross-references

  • Acts 6:6 — The laying on of hands for commissioning ministry echoes Joshua's commissioning here
  • Deut 34:1-8 — Moses views the land and dies on Mount Nebo, fulfilling what God announced here
  • Heb 13:20 — "The God of peace... through the blood of the eternal covenant, brought back from the dead our Lord Jesus... that great shepherd of the sheep"
  • John 10:11 — Jesus describes himself as "the good shepherd" — the ultimate answer to Moses's prayer for a shepherd for Israel
  • Josh 17:3-6 — Zelophehad's daughters claim their inheritance when the land is actually divided, citing the ruling made here

Check your reading

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  1. Observe

    What was Zelophehad's daughters' legal argument (v. 4)?

  2. Observe

    What was Moses's first concern when told of his coming death (vv. 16-17)?

  3. Interpret

    What does God's affirmation of Zelophehad's daughters reveal about his justice?

  4. Interpret

    What leadership qualities does the "shepherd" metaphor emphasize (vv. 16-17)?

  5. Apply

    Is there a legitimate grievance or unmet need you have not yet brought before God?

  6. Apply

    What legacy are you building that will outlast you?

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