Bible Glide

Numbers 27

Numbers 27 Summary, Context, and Full Chapter

Numbers 27 brings two important moments together: a request about family inheritance and the public appointment of Joshua. The chapter shows God answering a just appeal, giving guidance for future cases, and preparing Israel for life beyond Moses. It highlights both fairness in the camp and steady leadership for the journey ahead.

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What happens in Numbers 27?

The daughters of Zelophehad come before Moses and the leaders to ask for their father's name and share in the land, since he died without sons. Moses brings the matter to the LORD, who confirms their claim and establishes a lasting inheritance rule for such cases. The chapter then turns to Moses himself, who is told he will not enter the land because of his earlier disobedience at Meribah. Moses asks God to appoint a shepherd for the people, and the LORD sets apart Joshua, instructing Moses to commission him publicly.

This chapter follows the census and land arrangements of Numbers 26 and begins to prepare Israel for the transition from wilderness wandering to life in the land. It also moves the story toward the end of Moses' leadership. Numbers 27 connects legal order, family inheritance, and leadership succession as Israel nears the next stage of its calling.

Themes to notice

  • Inheritance justiceGod gives a fair ruling so a family line is not lost when there are no sons.
  • Faithful leadershipMoses asks for a leader who can guide the people well, and God provides Joshua.
  • Public commissioningJoshua is set apart before the congregation so Israel knows who will lead them next.

Questions for Numbers 27

  • Why do the daughters of Zelophehad bring their case directly to Moses and the leaders?
  • What does this chapter show about how God handles both justice and order among His people?
  • Why is Joshua chosen, and what stands out about the way Moses commissions him?

Read the full text of Numbers 27 below, then open it in the reader to highlight, take notes, or ask follow-up Bible questions. No account is required to read.

Numbers 27

The Daughters of Zelophehad

1Now the daughters of Zelophehad son of Hepher, the son of Gilead, the son of Machir, the son of Manasseh, belonged to the clans of Manasseh son of Joseph. These were the names of his daughters: Mahlah, Noah, Hoglah, Milcah, and Tirzah. They approached2the entrance to the Tent of Meeting, stood before Moses, Eleazar the priest, the leaders, and the whole congregation, and said,3“Our father died in the wilderness, but he was not among the followers of Korah who gathered together against the LORD. Instead, he died because of his own sin, and he had no sons.4Why should the name of our father disappear from his clan because he had no sons? Give us property among our father’s brothers.”

5So Moses brought their case before the LORD,6and the LORD answered him,7“The daughters of Zelophehad speak correctly. You certainly must give them property as an inheritance among their father’s brothers, and transfer their father’s inheritance to them.8Furthermore, you shall say to the Israelites, ‘If a man dies and leaves no son, you are to transfer his inheritance to his daughter.9If he has no daughter, give his inheritance to his brothers.10If he has no brothers, give his inheritance to his father’s brothers.11And if his father has no brothers, give his inheritance to the next of kin from his clan, that he may take possession of it. This is to be a statutory ordinance for the Israelites, as the LORD has commanded Moses.’”

Moses Requests a Successor

12Then the LORD said to Moses, “Go up this mountain of the Abarim range and see the land that I have given the Israelites.13After you have seen it, you too will be gathered to your people, as your brother Aaron was;14for when the congregation contended in the Wilderness of Zin, both of you rebelled against My command to show My holiness in their sight regarding the waters.” Those were the waters of Meribah in Kadesh, in the Wilderness of Zin.

15So Moses appealed to the LORD,16“May the LORD, the God of the spirits of all flesh, appoint a man over the congregation17who will go out and come in before them, and who will lead them out and bring them in, so that the congregation of the LORD will not be like sheep without a shepherd.”

Joshua to Succeed Moses

18And the LORD replied to Moses, “Take Joshua son of Nun, a man with the Spirit in him, and lay your hands on him.19Have him stand before Eleazar the priest and the whole congregation, and commission him in their sight.20Confer on him some of your authority, so that the whole congregation of Israel will obey him.21He shall stand before Eleazar the priest, who will seek counsel for him before the LORD by the judgment of the Urim. At his command, he and all the Israelites with him—the entire congregation—will go out and come in.”

22Moses did as the LORD had commanded him. He took Joshua, had him stand before Eleazar the priest and the whole congregation,23and laid his hands on him and commissioned him, as the LORD had instructed through Moses.

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