Numbers 27:1-11

Expanded Bible

Zelophehad’s Daughters

27 Then the daughters of Zelophehad came near. Zelophehad was the son of Hepher, the son of Gilead, the son of Makir, the son of Manasseh. Zelophehad’s daughters belonged to the ·family groups [clans] of Manasseh son of Joseph [26:29–34]. The daughters’ names were Mahlah, Noah, Hoglah, Milcah, and Tirzah. ² They went to the entrance of the Meeting Tent and stood before Moses, Eleazar the priest, the leaders, and all the ·people [community; congregation; assembly]. They said, ³ “Our father died in the ·desert [wilderness]. He was not ·one of Korah’s followers [^Lin the community/congregation/assembly of Korah] who came together against the Lord [16:1–50], but he died because of his own sin, and he had no sons. ⁴ ·Our father’s name will [^LWhy should our father’s name…?] die out because he had no sons. Give us ·property [a possession] among our father’s relatives [36:1–13; Josh. 17:3–6].”

⁵ So Moses brought their case to the Lord, ⁶ and the Lord said to him, ⁷ “The daughters of Zelophehad are right; they should certainly get ·what their father owned [^La possession of the inheritance in the midst of the relatives of their father]. ·Give [^LPass on to] them ·property among their father’s relatives [^Lthe inheritance of their father].

⁸ “Tell the ·Israelites [^Lsons/^Tchildren of Israel], ‘If a man dies and has no son, then ·everything he owned should go [^Lpass on his inheritance] to his daughter. ⁹ If he has no daughter, then ·everything he owned should go [^Lyou should give his inheritance] to his brothers. ¹⁰ If he has no brothers, then ·everything he owned should go [^Lyou should give his inheritance] to his father’s brothers. ¹¹ And if his father had no brothers, then ·everything he owned should go [^Lyou should give his inheritance] to the nearest relative in his ·family group [clan]. This should be a ·rule [statute; ordinance; requirement] among the ·people [^Lsons; ^Tchildren] of Israel, as the Lord has given this command to Moses.’”