Numbers 27 - ESV - Bible Reading / Study Notes

Numbers 27

The Daughters of Zelophehad

27:1 Then drew near the daughters of Zelophehad the son of Hepher, son of Gilead, son of Machir, son of Manasseh, from the clans of Manasseh the son of Joseph. The names of his daughters were: Mahlah, Noah, Hoglah, Milcah, and Tirzah. 2 And they stood before Moses and before Eleazar the priest and before the chiefs and all the congregation, at the entrance 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 the LORD in the company of Korah, but died for his own sin. And he had no sons. 4 Why should the name of our father be taken away from his clan because he had no son? Give to us a possession among our father’s brothers.”

5 Moses brought their case before the LORD. 6 And the LORD said to Moses, 7 “The daughters of Zelophehad are right. You shall give them possession of an inheritance among their father’s brothers and transfer the inheritance of their father to them. 8 And you shall speak to the people of Israel, saying, ‘If a man dies and has no son, then you shall transfer his inheritance to his daughter. 9 And if he has no daughter, then you shall give his inheritance to his brothers. 10 And if he has no brothers, then you shall give his inheritance to his father’s brothers. 11 And if his father has no brothers, then you shall give his inheritance to the nearest kinsman of his clan, and he shall possess it. And it shall be for the people of Israel a statute and rule, as the LORD commanded Moses.’”

Joshua to Succeed Moses

12 The LORD said to Moses, “Go up into this mountain of Abarim and see the land that I have given to the people of Israel. 13 When you have seen it, you also shall be gathered to your people, as your brother Aaron was, 14 because you rebelled against my word in the wilderness of Zin when the congregation quarreled, failing to uphold 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 the LORD, saying, 16 “Let the LORD, the God of the spirits of all flesh, appoint a man over the congregation 17 who shall go out before them and come in before them, who shall lead them out and bring them in, that the congregation of the LORD may not be as sheep that have no shepherd.” 18 So the LORD said to Moses, “Take Joshua the son of Nun, a man in whom is the Spirit, and lay your hand on him. 19 Make him stand before Eleazar the priest and all the congregation, and you shall commission him in their sight. 20 You shall invest him with some of your authority, that all the congregation of the people 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 the LORD. At his word they shall go out, and at his word they shall come in, both he and all the people of Israel with him, the whole congregation.” 22 And Moses did as the LORD commanded him. He took Joshua and made him stand before Eleazar the priest and the whole congregation, 23 and he laid his hands on him and commissioned him as the LORD directed through Moses.

Commentary

v1: The previous genealogy, in 26.9-10, listed the genealogy of Dathan and Abiram, the leaders of the rebellion. Here the list is of a family seeking God's fairness and grace.

v2-4: The problem, where Zelophehad left daughters, but had no sons.

v7: The Lord did not despise the claim of Zelophehad's daughters. He said that they should have an inheritance in the land.

v8-11: The laws of inheritance, reflecting God's heart, were that a daughter would inherit before a brother.

v12-14: Moses' rebellion at Meribah had meant that he could not enter the promised land. But God had planned that he should see it. If we cannot lead God's people into great blessing, we can at least prepare them for it.

v15-17: Moses' prayer and concern for the people. The necessity was for a new leader. Without such a man, the people would be like sheep without a shepherd; this phrase used in 1 Kings 22.17; and Mark 6.34.

v18: Joshua was the man already chosen. God had set him apart, and had given him the Spirit of God.

v19: Moses' responsibility was to publicly acknowledge Joshua as the leader.

v20: The leader had to encourage obedience; he therefore had to have authority. It was necessary that all the people obey him. In this way he pictures the Lord Jesus Christ, whom all who are Christians are obliged to obey.

v21: Joshua was just a man, and needed to seek God's mind. Eleazar, the priest, was therefore to assist him. Once God's mind was revealed, the people simply had to obey, going out and coming in. The Lord Jesus used similar words in John 10.9. He is present with His people by His Spirit.

v22-23: The appointing of Joshua was before all the people. No one would have any doubt who was the right leader. The issue of leadership had become an area of dispute (ch 12; 16), so it was important that the issue be made clear. Once a man is set apart as God's choice, the people must show proper respect.