Chapter 27
Themes, discussion questions, Christ connections, and denomination lenses.
Just read this chapter →Scripture
KJV1Then 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, and Hoglah, and Milcah, and Tirzah.
2And 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,
3Our 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.
4Why 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.
5And Moses brought their cause before the LORD.
6And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying,
7The 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.
8And 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.
9And if he have no daughter, then ye shall give his inheritance unto his brethren.
10And if he have no brethren, then ye shall give his inheritance unto his father’s brethren.
11And 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.
12And 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.
13And when thou hast seen it, thou also shalt be gathered unto thy people, as Aaron thy brother was gathered.
14For 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.
15And Moses spake unto the LORD, saying,
16Let the LORD, the God of the spirits of all flesh, set a man over the congregation,
17Which 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.
18And 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;
19And set him before Eleazar the priest, and before all the congregation; and give him a charge in their sight.
20And thou shalt put some of thine honour upon him, that all the congregation of the children of Israel may be obedient.
21And 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.
22And Moses did as the LORD commanded him: and he took Joshua, and set him before Eleazar the priest, and before all the congregation:
23And he laid his hands upon him, and gave him a charge, as the LORD commanded by the hand of Moses.
“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.”
Overview
The daughters of Zelophehad — Mahlah, Noah, Hoglah, Milcah, and Tirzah — come before Moses to request their deceased father's inheritance, since he had no sons. God rules in their favor, establishing the precedent that daughters may inherit when there are no sons. God then tells Moses to ascend Mount Abarim to view the Promised Land before he dies. Moses asks God to appoint his successor, and God chooses Joshua the son of Nun, upon whom Moses lays his hands.
Key Themes
Justice for Women in Inheritance
God's ruling in favor of Zelophehad's daughters establishes that women have standing before God and that His law makes provision for just treatment regardless of gender.
Moses Sees but Cannot Enter
Moses may see the Promised Land from the mountain but cannot enter it — a poignant consequence of his sin at Meribah and a picture of the law's limitation: it can point to the promise but cannot bring you in.
The Commissioning of Joshua
Joshua is chosen and publicly commissioned as Moses' successor, ensuring continuity of leadership and reminding Israel that God's work is not dependent on any one individual.
Study Questions
What does God's ruling in favor of Zelophehad's daughters reveal about His character and His concern for justice?
How does Moses' gracious response to being told he cannot enter the land — immediately asking God to appoint a successor — demonstrate his selfless leadership?
Why is Joshua chosen as Moses' successor, and what qualities had he already demonstrated that prepared him for this role?
What does Moses' inability to enter the Promised Land teach about the limitations of the law he represents?
How does the laying on of hands in Joshua's commissioning establish a pattern of leadership succession in God's community?
Connection to Christ
Moses, representing the law, can bring Israel to the border but not into the land. Joshua (whose name means 'the LORD saves' — the same name as Jesus) leads the people in. This pictures the truth that the law cannot save, but Jesus — the true Joshua — leads His people into the promised rest (Hebrews 4:8-9).
Personal Reflection
Take time to journal or meditate on what God is teaching you through Numbers 27. How can these truths transform your thinking and actions today?