1The daughters of Zelophehad came to present their case. ⁵¹Their father Zelophehad was the son of Hepher, son of Gilead, son of Machir, son of Manasseh, and was from the tribe of Manasseh, son of Joseph. The names of his daughters were Mahlah, Noah, Hoglah, Milcah, and Tirzah. They came

2and stood before Moses, Eleazar the priest, the leaders, and all the Israelites at the entrance to the Tent of Meeting. They said,

3“Our father died in the desert, but he wasn't one of Korah's followers who joined together to rebel against the Lord. No, he died from his own sins, and he didn't have any sons.

4Why should our family name be lost simply because he didn't have a son? Give us land to own alongside our uncles.”

5Moses took their case before the Lord.

6The Lord gave him this answer,

7“What the daughters of Zelophehad are saying is right. You really must give them land to own alongside their uncles—give to them what would have been allocated to their father.

8In addition, tell the Israelites, ‘If a man dies and doesn't have a son, give his property to his daughter.

9If he doesn't have a daughter, give his property to his brothers.

10If he doesn't have brothers, give his property to his father's brothers.

11If his father doesn't have any brothers, give his property to his family's next of kin so that they can own it. This is a legal regulation for the Israelites, given as an order by the Lord to Moses.’”

12The Lord told Moses, “Go up into the Abarim mountains so you can see the land that I have given the Israelites.

13After you have seen it, you will also join your forefathers in death, just as your brother Aaron did,

14because when the Israelites complained in the Desert of Zin, you both rebelled against my instructions to show my holiness before them in regard to providing water.” (These were the waters of Meribah in Kadesh, in the Desert of Zin.)

15Then Moses pleaded with the Lord,

16“May the Lord, the God who gives life to all living beings, choose a man to lead the Israelites

17who will tell them what to do and show them where to go, so that the people of the Lord won't be like sheep without a shepherd.”

18The Lord told Moses, “Call for Joshua, son of Nun, a man who has the Spirit in him, and place your hands on him.

19Make him stand in front of Eleazar the priest and all the Israelites, and dedicate him while they watch.

20Hand over some of your authority to him so that all the Israelites will obey him.

21When he needs instructions, he is to go before Eleazar the priest who will ask the Lord on his behalf and find out the decision using the Urim. ⁵²Joshua will give orders to all the Israelites concerning everything they are to do.”

22Moses followed the Lord's instructions. He had Joshua come and stand in front of Eleazar the priest and all the Israelites.

23Moses placed his hands on Joshua and dedicated him, just as the Lord had told him to do.