Numbers 27

NEW JERUSALEM	NEW AMERICAN BIBLE
1 There then came forward the daughters of Zelophehad son of Hepher, son of Gilead, son of Machir,son of Manasseh; he belonged to the clans of Manasseh son of Joseph. His daughters' names were Mahlah,Noah, Hoglah, Milcah and Tirzah.	1 Zelophehad, son of Hepher, son of Gilead, son of Machir, son of Manasseh, son of Joseph, had daughters named Mahlah, Noah, Hoglah, Milcah and Tirzah. They came forward,
2 They appeared before Moses, the priest Eleazar, the leaders and the whole community, at theentrance to the Tent of Meeting, and said,	2 and standing in the presence of Moses, the priest Eleazar, the princes, and the whole community at the entrance of the meeting tent, said:
3 'Our father died in the desert. He was not a member of the party who banded together againstYahweh, Korah's party; it was for his own sin that he died without sons.	3 "Our father died in the desert. Although he did not join those who banded together against the LORD (in Korah's band), he died for his own sin without leaving any sons.
4 Why should our father's name be lost to his clan? Since he had no son, give us some property likeour father's kinsmen.'	4 But why should our father's name be withdrawn from his clan merely because he had no son? Let us, therefore, have property among our father's kinsmen."
5 Moses took their case before Yahweh,	5 When Moses laid their case before the LORD,
6 and Yahweh spoke to Moses and said,	6 the LORD said to him,
7 'Zelophehad's daughters are right in what they say. You will indeed give them a property to be theirheritage among their father's kinsmen; see that their father's heritage is passed on to them.	7 "The plea of Zelophehad's daughters is just; you shall give them hereditary property among their father's kinsmen, letting their father's heritage pass on to them.
8 Then speak to the Israelites and say, "If a man dies without sons, his heritage wil pass to hisdaughter.	8 Therefore, tell the Israelites: If a man dies without leaving a son, you shall let his heritage pass on to his daughter;
9 If he has no daughter, the heritage will go to his brothers.	9 if he has no daughter, you shall give his heritage to his brothers;
10 If he has no brothers, his heritage wil go to his father's brothers.	10 if he has no brothers, you shall give his heritage to his father's brothers;
11 If his father has no brothers, his heritage wil go to the member of his clan who is most nearlyrelated; it wil become his property. This will be a legal rule for the Israelites, as Yahweh has ordered Moses." '	11 if his father had no brothers, you shall give his heritage to his nearest relative in his clan, who shall then take possession of it." This is the legal norm for the Israelites, as the LORD commanded Moses.
12 Yahweh said to Moses, 'Climb this mountain of the Abarim range, and look at the country which Ihave given to the Israelites.	12 The LORD said to Moses, "Go up here into the Abarim Mountains and view the land that I am giving to the Israelites.
13 After you have seen it, you will be gathered to your people, as Aaron your brother was.	13 When you have viewed it, you too shall be taken to your people, as was your brother Aaron,
14 For you both rebel ed in the desert of Zin when the community disputed with me and when I orderedyou to assert my holiness before their eyes by means of the water.' (These were the Waters of Meribah ofKadesh, in the desert of Zin.)	14 because in the rebellion of the community in the desert of Zin you both rebelled against my order to manifest my sanctity to them by means of the water." (This is the water of Meribah of Kadesh in the desert of Zin.)
15 Moses then said to Yahweh,	15 Then Moses said to the LORD,
16 'May it please Yahweh, God of the spirits that give life to al living creatures, to appoint a leader forthis community,	16 "May the LORD, the God of the spirits of all mankind, set over the community a man
17 to be at their head in all their undertakings, a man who wil lead them out and bring them in, so thatYahweh's community wil not be like sheep without a shepherd.'	17 who shall act as their leader in all things, to guide them in all their actions; that the LORD'S community may not be like sheep without a shepherd."
18 Yahweh then said to Moses, 'Take Joshua son of Nun, a man in whom the spirit dwel s, and lay yourhand on him.	18 And the LORD replied to Moses, "Take Joshua, son of Nun, a man of spirit, and lay your hand upon him.
19 Bring him before the priest Eleazar and the whole community and give him your orders in theirpresence,	19 Have him stand in the presence of the priest Eleazar and of the whole community, and commission him before their eyes.
20 conferring some of your own authority on him, so that the whole community of Israelites wil obeyhim.	20 Invest him with some of your own dignity, that the whole Israelite community may obey him.
21 He wil present himself to the priest Eleazar who wil consult Yahweh on his behalf by means of therite of the urim; at his command, they wil go out and, at his command, they will come in, he and all the Israeliteswith him, the whole community.'	21 He shall present himself to the priest Eleazar, to have him seek out for him the decisions of the Urim in the LORD'S presence; and as he directs, Joshua, all the Israelites with him, and the community as a whole shall perform all their actions."
22 Moses did as Yahweh had ordered. He took Joshua, brought him before the priest Eleazar and thewhole community,	22 Moses did as the LORD had commanded him. Taking Joshua and having him stand in the presence of the priest Eleazar and of the whole community,
23 laid his hands on him and gave him his orders, as Yahweh had directed through Moses.	23 he laid his hands on him and gave him his commission, as the LORD had directed through Moses.