1Then the daughters of Zelophehad approached. He was the son of Hepher, son of Gilead, son of Machir, son of Manasseh, from the families of Manasseh, son of Joseph. The names of his daughters were Mahlah, Noah, Hoglah, Milcah, and Tirzah.
2They stood before Moses, Eleazar the priest, the leaders, and all the community at the entrance of the Meeting Tent and said,
3"Our father died in the wilderness. He was not part of the group that rebelled against Yahweh with Korah, but he died because of his own sin. He had no sons.
4Why should our father's name be removed from his family simply because he had no son? Give us a property among our father's relatives."
5Moses presented their case to Yahweh.
6Yahweh said to Moses,
7"Zelophehad's daughters are right. You must certainly give them an inheritance among their father's relatives. You must transfer their father's inheritance to them.
8Tell the Israelites: 'If a man dies and has no son, then you must transfer his inheritance to his daughter.
9If he has no daughter, then you must give his inheritance to his brothers.
10If he has no brothers, then you must give his inheritance to his father's brothers.'
11If his father has no brothers, then you must give his inheritance to his closest relative in the family, and that person will own it. This will be a permanent rule and regulation for the people of Israel, just as Yahweh commanded Moses.'
12Yahweh told Moses, 'Go up this Abarim mountain and look at the land I have given to the people of Israel.'
13After you have seen it, you will also die and join your ancestors, just as your brother Aaron died;
14because you rebelled against my command in the Zin Wilderness during the dispute with the community. You failed to honor me as holy in front of them at the waters. (These are the waters of Meribah in Kadesh, in the Zin Wilderness.)
15Moses said to Yahweh,
16'May Yahweh, the God who gives life to all living things, appoint a leader over this community, ponder
17someone who can lead them in and out, so that Yahweh's community won't be like sheep without a shepherd.'
18Yahweh told Moses, 'Take Joshua son of Nun, a man who has my Spirit, and place your hand on him.'
19Present him to Eleazar the priest and to the whole community, and officially appoint him in their presence.
20You must give him some of your authority, so that the entire community of Israel will obey him.
21He is to stand before Eleazar the priest, who will consult the Urim before Yahweh to get guidance for him. At Joshua's command, they will go out, and at his command, they will come in—he and all the people of Israel with him, the entire community.'
22Moses did exactly as Yahweh commanded him. He took Joshua and presented him to Eleazar the priest and to the whole community.
23He laid his hands on him and officially appointed him, just as Yahweh had spoken through Moses.