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The daughters of Zelophehad son of Hepher, the son of Gilead,
the son of Makir, the son of Manasseh, belonged to the clans of
Manasseh son of Joseph. The names of the daughters were
Mahlah, Noah, Hoglah, Milcah and Tirzah. They approached
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the entrance to the Tent of Meeting and stood before Moses,
Eleazar the priest, the leaders and the whole assembly, and said,
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"Our father died in the desert. He was not among Korah's followers,
who banded together against the LORD,
but he died for this own sin and left no sons.
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Why should our father's name disappear from his clan
because he had no son? Give us property among our fathers's relatives."
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So Moses brought their case befroe the LORD
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and the LORD said to him,
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"What Zelophehad's daughters are saying is right.
You must certainly give them property as an inheritance among
their father's relatives and turn their father's inheirtance over to them.
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"Say to the Iseraelites, 'If a man dies and leaves no son,
turn his inheritance over to his daughter.
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If he has no daughter, give his inheritance to his brothers.
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If he has no brothers, give his inheritance to his father's brothers.
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If his father had no brothers, give his inheritance to the nearest
relative in his clan, that he may possess it. This is to be a legal requirement
for the Israelites, as the LORD commanded Moses.' "
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Then the LORD said to Moses, "Go up this mountain in the Abarim range
and see the land I have given the Israelties.
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After you have seen it, you too will be gathered to your people,
as your brother Aaron was,
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for when the community rebelled at the waters in the Desert of Zin,
both of you disobeyed my command to honor me as holy before their eyes."
(These were the waters of Meribah Kadesh, in the Desert of Zin.)
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Moses said to the LORD,
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"May the LORD, the God of the spirits of all mankind,
appoint a man over this community
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to go out and come in before them, one who will lead them out
and bring them in, so the LORD's people will not be like sheep without a shepherd."
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So the LORD said to Moses, "Take Joshua son of Nun,
a man in whom is the spirit, and lay your hand on him.
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Have him stand before Eleazar the priest and the entrie assembly
and commission him in their presence.
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Give him some of your authority so the whole Israelite community will obey him.
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He is to stand before Eleazar the priest, who will obtain decisions
for him by inquiring of the Urim before the LORD.
At his command he and the entire community of the Israelites will go out,
and at his command they will come in."
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Moses did as the LORD commanded him.
He took Joshua and had him stand before
Eleazar the priest and the whole assembly.
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Then he laid his hands on him and commissioned him,
as the LORD instructed through Moses.
"Our father died in the desert. He was not among Korah's followers,
who banded together against the LORD,
but he died for this own sin and left no sons.
* 3
“Died for his own sin” means that he died a natural death.
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"Say to the Iseraelites, 'If a man dies and leaves no son,
turn his inheritance over to his daughter.
21
He is to stand before Eleazar the priest, who will obtain decisions
for him by inquiring of the Urim before the LORD.
At his command he and the entire community of the Israelites will go out,
and at his command they will come in."