Numbers 27:1-11

Laws of Inheritance

1 Then the daughters of Zelophehad, the son of Hepher, the son of Gilead, the son of Makir, the son of Manasseh, of the clan of Manasseh the son of Joseph, came near; and these [were] the names of his daughters: Mahlah, Noah, Hoglah, and Tirzah.
2 They stood before Moses and before Eleazar the priest and before the leaders of the entire community [at] the doorway of the tent of assembly, saying,
3 "Our father died in the desert; he was not in the midst of the company of those who banded together against Yahweh 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 disappear from the midst of his clan because he does not have a son? Give us property in the midst of the brothers of our father."
5 So Moses brought their case before Yahweh.
6 And Yahweh said to Moses, saying,
7 "{The statements of the daughters of Zelophehad are right}. You must surely give them [the] property of an inheritance in the midst of their father's brothers, and you must transfer the inheritance of their father to them.
8 And you must speak to the {Israelites}, saying, 'If a man dies and has no son, you must transfer his inheritance to his daughter.
9 And if he has no daughter, you must give his inheritance to his brothers.
10 If he has no brothers, then you must give his inheritance to his father's brothers.
11 If his father has no brothers, then you must give his inheritance to his nearest relative from his own clan, and he will take possession of it. It will be as a decree of stipulation for the {Israelites}, just as Yahweh commanded Moses.'"

Numbers 27:1-11 Meaning and Commentary

INTRODUCTION TO NUMBERS 27

This chapter relates, that, upon a petition of the daughters of Zelophehad, the affair of inheritances was settled; and it is directed that, in case of want of male issue, inheritances should pass to females, and in failure of them to the next of kin, whether father's brethren or any near kinsman, Nu 27:1-11, also an order to Moses to go up to the Mount Abarim, and take a view of the good land, and die; with the reason of it, Nu 27:12-14, upon which Moses desires a successor of him might be appointed, Nu 27:15-17, in answer to which Joshua is nominated, and being presented before the high priest and the people, was invested with his office, by imposition of hands, and had his charge given him, Nu 27:18-23.

Footnotes 4

  • [a]. Or "meeting"
  • [b]. Literally "Such as the daughters of Zelophehad [are] speaking"
  • [c]. Literally "sons/children of Israel"
  • [d]. Literally "sons/children of Israel"
Scripture quotations marked (LEB) are from the Lexham English Bible. Copyright 2012 Logos Bible Software. Lexham is a registered trademark of Logos Bible Software.