Numbers Chapter 27
Inheritance and the Next Leader
A. The Case of Zelophehad’s Daughters
1. (Numbers 27:1–5) The request of Zelophehad’s daughters.
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, Hoglah, Milcah, and Tirzah. 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, 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. 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. And Moses brought their cause before the Lord.
— Numbers 27:1–5 (KJV)
The daughters of Zelophehad came forward to make a request that was both personal and of great legal significance in Israel’s inheritance system. Their father had died in the wilderness without any sons, and by normal custom, his inheritance would be transferred to the nearest male relative. These women, Mahlah, Noah, Hoglah, Milcah, and Tirzah, stood before Moses and the leaders of Israel with a bold and reasoned plea that their father’s name not be lost from among his tribe simply because he had no male heirs. Their faith in God’s promise to give Israel the land of Canaan is striking, as they were already thinking ahead to how the land would be distributed even though the nation had not yet entered it.
Normally, the inheritance of land in Israel was passed from father to son, maintaining tribal boundaries and preserving the father’s name through his descendants. However, in this case, there were no sons to inherit. Their question presented an important legal and moral issue: should their father’s name and portion vanish, or could his inheritance continue through his daughters? The implication was clear — if the daughters were denied, their family line would effectively disappear from the records of inheritance.
In ancient Israel, women were not entirely left without provision. They received dowries at marriage, which served as a form of security in case of widowhood or abandonment. These dowries often consisted of money, livestock, clothing, or valuables, but they were not equivalent to an inheritance of land, which represented one’s enduring stake in God’s covenant promises. The daughters’ request, therefore, was more than financial — it was theological. It reflected a desire to see their father’s portion remain within the covenant community and his name perpetuated among the tribes of Israel.
Moses’ response was exemplary. Instead of rendering judgment on his own, he brought their case before the Lord. This reflects Moses’ humility and dependence upon divine guidance. When faced with a new or complex situation for which there was no existing precedent, Moses sought the Lord’s direction. The leadership principle here is timeless — true spiritual leadership requires seeking God’s will rather than relying on human wisdom or tradition alone.
2. (Numbers 27:6–11) The settlement.
And the Lord spake unto Moses, saying, 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. 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. And if he have no daughter, then ye shall give his inheritance unto his brethren. And if he have no brethren, then ye shall give his inheritance unto his father’s brethren. 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.
— Numbers 27:6–11 (KJV)
The Lord’s response was clear and favorable. He declared, “The daughters of Zelophehad speak right.” Their request was just and aligned with divine equity. God commanded that they should receive an inheritance among their father’s brothers, thereby preserving their father’s name and portion within the tribe of Manasseh. This divine ruling not only addressed their immediate concern but also established a new legal precedent in Israel for future generations.
This moment is remarkable for several reasons. First, it demonstrates that God is attentive to justice, even in the details of social law. The daughters’ case led to a formal statute — a “statute of judgment” — ensuring that in the absence of a son, the inheritance would pass to the daughter. If no daughter existed, it would then go to the father’s brothers, then to the nearest kinsman, maintaining order and fairness in the line of inheritance. This hierarchy of succession ensured that the land remained within the tribe and the extended family, preserving the integrity of Israel’s tribal allotments.
This statute was also an expression of faith. It was given before Israel had yet entered Canaan. The people had no land in their possession, yet God gave them laws for dividing it. This foresight demonstrates that God viewed the inheritance as certain, and those who believed His promises — like the daughters of Zelophehad — shared that faith. Their concern for future inheritance before possessing the land reveals their deep trust in God’s covenant and their understanding that His word regarding the Promised Land was as good as fulfilled.
As later clarified in Numbers chapter 36, this ruling required additional safeguards. Heiresses who inherited land were to marry within their own tribe to prevent land from passing from one tribe to another. This ensured that each tribe’s allotted inheritance remained distinct, preserving God’s order for Israel’s national structure.
In summary, the case of Zelophehad’s daughters is a profound example of faith, justice, and divine responsiveness. These women demonstrated courage and wisdom, appealing to God’s justice rather than cultural convention. God, in turn, honored their faith and established through them a permanent legal provision for all generations of Israel. Their story underscores that God values fairness and that He is a God who hears the righteous and honors those who seek Him in faith.
B. The Passing of Moses and the Appointment of a New Leader
1. (Numbers 27:12–14) God tells Moses of his coming death.
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. And when thou hast seen it, thou also shalt be gathered unto thy people, as Aaron thy brother was gathered. 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.
— Numbers 27:12–14 (KJV)
The Lord called Moses to ascend Mount Abarim, which overlooks the Promised Land, so that he might see with his own eyes the inheritance given to the people of Israel. However, Moses was told that he would not enter that land himself. God reminded him of the sin at Meribah, where Moses failed to sanctify the Lord before the people by striking the rock in disobedience rather than speaking to it as commanded. Because of this act, which misrepresented God’s holiness, Moses was not permitted to lead the people into Canaan.
The Lord told Moses that he would be “gathered unto his people,” the same phrase used of Aaron when he died. This Hebrew expression speaks not merely of physical death but of being united with one’s ancestors in the realm of the departed, a phrase full of hope and rest for the righteous. Moses was reminded of his mortality long before his death, which gave him time to prepare his heart and finish his work faithfully. God’s timing was merciful, allowing Moses to complete his leadership role, prepare Israel for the transition, and see the land he had long journeyed toward, even though he could not step into it.
The event also emphasizes divine justice and holiness. Even the greatest prophet of Israel was not exempt from the consequences of disobedience. Yet, God’s grace is evident — Moses was allowed to see the land, to die in peace, and later appear in glory upon the Mount of Transfiguration with Elijah, speaking with Christ about His coming sacrifice (Luke 9:30–31). Moses’ exclusion from Canaan serves as a solemn reminder that sin, even from God’s servants, carries real consequences, yet God’s mercy always triumphs in His redemptive plan.
2. (Numbers 27:15–17) Moses’ response to God’s announcement.
And Moses spake unto the Lord, saying, Let the Lord, the God of the spirits of all flesh, set a man over the congregation, 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.
— Numbers 27:15–17 (KJV)
Moses’ response to the announcement of his coming death is one of selfless concern. He does not plead for more time, nor does he attempt to negotiate his sentence as some might have done. Instead, his heart is fixed on the people he has led for forty years. His prayer reveals both pastoral care and spiritual maturity: he asks God to appoint a new leader for Israel so that the congregation of the Lord will not be like sheep without a shepherd.
Moses refers to God as “the God of the spirits of all flesh,” acknowledging that only the Lord truly knows the hearts, capabilities, and character of men. It was a recognition that leadership among God’s people is not a matter of charisma, talent, or ambition, but of divine calling and spiritual fitness.
The image of sheep without a shepherd evokes danger, vulnerability, and confusion. Without guidance, sheep wander into peril and lack provision. The same is true for God’s people without godly leadership. Moses’ prayer, therefore, reflects the heart of Christ Himself. Jesus used this same imagery when He saw the multitudes scattered and distressed, saying, “But when he saw the multitudes, he was moved with compassion on them, because they fainted, and were scattered abroad, as sheep having no shepherd.” (Matthew 9:36).
Ultimately, Moses’ concern foreshadowed the greater Shepherd to come, the Lord Jesus Christ. As Jesus said, “I am the good shepherd: the good shepherd giveth his life for the sheep.” (John 10:11). The Lord’s people in every age need faithful shepherds to lead, feed, and protect them. The New Testament draws this connection directly, as pastors are called shepherds (from the Greek poimēn), charged to “feed the flock of God which is among you.” (1 Peter 5:2). Yet above all human leaders stands Christ, “the chief Shepherd” (1 Peter 5:4), whose care for His sheep is perfect and eternal.
Moses’ prayer, therefore, was not merely administrative — it was profoundly spiritual. He desired that God Himself would appoint and equip a leader who would carry on the divine mission with wisdom, humility, and courage.
3. (Numbers 27:18–23) Joshua chosen and given authority.
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; and set him before Eleazar the priest, and before all the congregation; and give him a charge in their sight. And thou shalt put some of thine honour upon him, that all the congregation of the children of Israel may be obedient. 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. And Moses did as the Lord commanded him: and he took Joshua, and set him before Eleazar the priest, and before all the congregation: and he laid his hands upon him, and gave him a charge, as the Lord commanded by the hand of Moses.
— Numbers 27:18–23 (KJV)
God’s response to Moses’ prayer was immediate and specific. Joshua, the son of Nun, was chosen as Moses’ successor. God described him as “a man in whom is the Spirit,” signifying that Joshua was divinely empowered and spiritually prepared for the task. Joshua’s years of faithful service as Moses’ assistant, his courage as one of the two faithful spies (Numbers 14:6–9), and his steadfast loyalty to the Lord all prepared him for this moment. His apprenticeship under Moses was not wasted time but essential formation for leadership.
God instructed Moses to lay his hands upon Joshua in the presence of Eleazar the priest and before all the congregation. This act of laying on of hands symbolized the transfer of authority, blessing, and responsibility. By doing so publicly, God ensured that the entire nation would recognize Joshua as the divinely appointed leader and follow him in obedience. Moses was also to “put some of thine honour upon him,” meaning that Joshua was to share in Moses’ dignity and authority before the people.
The structure of Joshua’s leadership was distinct. Unlike Moses, who spoke to God face-to-face, Joshua would seek divine guidance through Eleazar the priest using the Urim — the sacred means of discerning the Lord’s will (Exodus 28:30). This maintained the priestly mediation between God and the nation, reminding Israel that no human leader could replace God’s direct sovereignty.
This orderly transfer of leadership demonstrated the stability and continuity of God’s plan. Moses’ ministry had been one of deliverance and lawgiving; Joshua’s would be one of conquest and settlement. Both roles were essential to the fulfillment of God’s covenant promises.
In this scene, Moses models the humility of a true servant-leader. He obeys God’s command without hesitation, publicly affirming Joshua and ensuring the people’s confidence in him. There is no jealousy, no reluctance, and no pride — only faithfulness to the end. This moment portrays not only a change of command but also the enduring principle that God’s work continues even when His servants pass away.
