The Message Bible MSG
King James Version KJV
1 The daughters of Zelophehad showed up. Their father was the son of Hepher son of Gilead son of Makir son of Manasseh, belonging to the clans of Manasseh son of Joseph. The daughters were Mahlah, Noah, Hoglah, Milcah, and Tirzah.
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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 They came to the entrance of the Tent of Meeting. They stood before Moses and Eleazar the priest and before the leaders and the congregation and said,
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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. He wasn't part of Korah's rebel anti-God gang. He died for his own sins. And he left no sons.
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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 But why should our father's name die out from his clan just because he had no sons? So give us an inheritance among our father's relatives."
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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 Moses brought their case to God.
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And Moses brought their cause before the LORD.
6 God ruled:
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And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying,
7 "Zelophehad's daughters are right. Give them land as an inheritance among their father's relatives. Give them their father's inheritance.
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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 "Then tell the People of Israel, If a man dies and leaves no son, give his inheritance to his daughter.
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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 If he has no daughter, give it to his brothers.
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And if he have no daughter, then ye shall give his inheritance unto his brethren.
10 If he has no brothers, give it to his father's brothers.
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And if he have no brethren, then ye shall give his inheritance unto his father's brethren.
11 If his father had no brothers, give it to the nearest relative so that the inheritance stays in the family. This is the standard procedure for the People of Israel, as commanded by God through Moses." Joshua
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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 God said to Moses, "Climb up into the Abarim Mountains and look over at the land that I am giving to the People of Israel.
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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 When you've had a good look you'll be joined to your ancestors in the grave - yes, you also along with Aaron your brother.
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And when thou hast seen it, thou also shalt be gathered unto thy people, as Aaron thy brother was gathered.
14 This goes back to the day when the congregation quarreled in the Wilderness of Zin and you didn't honor me in holy reverence before them in the matter of the waters, the Waters of Meribah (Quarreling) at Kadesh in the Wilderness of Zin."
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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 Moses responded to God:
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And Moses spake unto the LORD, saying,
16 "Let God, the God of the spirits of everyone living, set a man over this community
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Let the LORD, the God of the spirits of all flesh, set a man over the congregation,
17 to lead them, to show the way ahead and bring them back home so God's community will not be like sheep without a shepherd."
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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 God said to Moses, "Take Joshua the son of Nun - the Spirit is in him! - and place your hand on him.
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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 Stand him before Eleazar the priest in front of the entire congregation and commission him with everyone watching.
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And set him before Eleazar the priest, and before all the congregation; and give him a charge in their sight.
20 Pass your magisterial authority over to him so that the whole congregation of the People of Israel will listen obediently to him.
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And thou shalt put some of thine honour upon him, that all the congregation of the children of Israel may be obedient.
21 He is to consult with Eleazar the priest who, using the oracle-Urim, will prayerfully advise him in the presence of God. He will command the People of Israel, the entire community, in all their comings and goings."
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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 Moses followed God's orders. He took Joshua and stood him before Eleazar the priest in front of the entire community.
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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 He laid his hands on him and commissioned him, following the procedures God had given Moses.
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And he laid his hands upon him, and gave him a charge, as the LORD commanded by the hand of Moses.
Published by permission. Originally published by NavPress in English as THE MESSAGE: The Bible in Contemporary Language copyright 2002 by Eugene Peterson. All rights reserved.
The King James Version is in the public domain.