Números 27

ARC · Chapter 27/36

1E chegaram as filhas de Selofad, filho de Hepher, filho de Gilead, filho de Machir, filho de Manasseh, entre as familias de Manasseh, filho de José: (e estes são os nomes de suas filhas: Machla, Noa, Hogla, Milca, e Tirza);

2E pozeram-se diante de Moysés, e diante de Eleazar, o sacerdote, e diante dos principes e de toda a congregação, á porta da tenda da congregação, dizendo:

3Nosso pae morreu no deserto, e não estava entre a congregação dos que se congregaram contra o Senhor na congregação de Coré: mas morreu no seu proprio peccado, e não teve filhos

4Porque se tiraria o nome de nosso pae do meio da sua familia, porquanto não teve filhos? Dános possessão entre os irmãos de nosso pae

5E Moysés levou a sua causa perante o Senhor.

6E fallou o Senhor a Moysés, dizendo:

7As filhas de Selofad fallam rectamente: certamente lhes darás possessão de herança entre os irmãos de seu pae; e a herança de seu pae farás passar a ellas

8E fallarás aos filhos de Israel, dizendo: Quando alguem morrer, e não tiver filho, então fareis passar a sua herança a sua filha.

9E, se não tiver filha, então a sua herança dareis a seus irmãos.

10Porém, se não tiver irmãos, então dareis a sua herança aos irmãos de seu pae.

11Se tambem seu pae não tiver irmãos, então a sua herança dareis a seu parente, áquelle que lhe fôr o mais chegado da sua familia, para que a possua: isto aos filhos de Israel será por estatuto de direito, como o Senhor ordenou a Moysés

12Depois disse o Senhor a Moysés: Sobe a este monte de Abarim, e vê a terra que tenho dado aos filhos de Israel.

13E, havendo-a visto, então serás recolhido aos teus povos, assim tu como foi recolhido teu irmão Aarão:

14Porquanto rebeldes fostes no deserto de Zin, na contenda da congregação, ao meu mandado de me sanctificar nas aguas diante dos seus olhos: (estas são as aguas de Meribah de Cades, no deserto de Zin.)

15Então fallou Moysés ao Senhor, dizendo:

16O Senhor, Deus dos espiritos de toda a carne, ponha um homem sobre esta congregação,

17Que saia diante d'elles, e que entre diante d'elles, e que os faça sair, e que os faça entrar: para que a congregação do Senhor não seja como ovelhas que não teem pastor.

18Então disse o Senhor a Moysés: Toma para ti a Josué, filho de Nun, homem em quem ha o espirito, e põe a tua mão sobre elle

19E apresenta-o perante Eleazar, o sacerdote, e perante toda a congregação, e dá-lhe mandamentos aos olhos d'elles.

20E põe sobre elle da tua gloria, para que obedeça toda a congregação dos filhos de Israel.

21E se porá perante Eleazar, o sacerdote, o qual por elle consultará, segundo o juizo de Urim, perante o Senhor: conforme ao seu dito sairão, e conforme ao seu dito entrarão, elle e todos os filhos de Israel com elle, e toda a congregação.

22E fez Moysés como o Senhor lhe ordenara: porque tomou a Josué, e apresentou-o perante Eleazar, o sacerdote, e perante toda a congregação:

23E sobre elle poz as suas mãos, e lhe deu mandamentos, como o Senhor ordenara pela mão de Moysés.

📖 Chapter study

Summary

The daughters of Zelophehad ask Moses for the right to inherit their father's land, since he died without sons — and God establishes a new law of inheritance in response. God also tells Moses that he will see the promised land from the top of a mountain but will not enter it, and Joshua is formally appointed as his successor.

Explanation

The case of Zelophehad's daughters is a remarkable example of how biblical law could develop in response to concrete situations brought by ordinary people — in this case, women who courageously brought their case before the entire leadership, and whose claim was judged just by God even though it went beyond the traditional patriarchal custom of inheritance. Joshua's public appointment, with the visible transfer of authority ('honor') before the whole congregation, ensured a clear succession of leadership without disputes, unlike what happened with Korah. It is touching that when Moses learns he will not enter the land, he does not think of himself but immediately asks God for a capable leader for the people — a model of leadership that considers the well-being of the community above its own interests.

Fun facts

  • The question raised by Zelophehad's daughters was so significant that the new law of female inheritance established in response would be revised again in the last chapter of the book (Numbers 36), showing a rare biblical example of a legal issue being refined in two stages.
  • The 'judgment of Urim,' mentioned as the means by which Joshua would consult God through the priest (v. 21), refers to one of the sacred objects on the priestly breastplate (Exodus 28:30), whose exact function remains a mystery not fully explained in the biblical text.

Verse-by-verse explanation

  1. Números 27:1The five daughters of Zelophehad, who died without leaving any sons, ask Moses for the right to inherit their father’s land, so that his name would not disappear. It is a case that forces a change in the law of inheritance, shown in the rest of the chapter, allowing daughters to inherit when there are no sons.
  2. Números 27:2The five daughters of Zelophehad present themselves before Moses, Eleazar, the leaders, and the whole congregation, at the entrance of the tent, to lay out their case.
  3. Números 27:3They explain that their father died in the wilderness on his own account, without having taken part in Korah’s rebellion, and that he left no son.
  4. Números 27:4The daughters ask why their father’s name should disappear from the family just for lack of a son, and request a portion of land among his relatives.
  5. Números 27:5Moses, without a ready answer, brings the case directly before the LORD to decide.
  6. Números 27:6The LORD answers Moses, confirming that the request from Zelophehad’s daughters was just.
  7. Números 27:7God determines that they should indeed receive a portion of land among their father’s relatives, passing his inheritance directly on to the daughters.
  8. Números 27:8From this case, a new general rule is established: if a man dies without a son, his inheritance passes to his daughter.
  9. Números 27:9If there is no daughter either, the inheritance passes to the deceased man’s brothers.
  10. Números 27:10If there are also no brothers, the inheritance goes to the brothers of the deceased man’s father.
  11. Números 27:11And if the father has no brothers either, the inheritance stays with the nearest relative in the family — this becomes the official law of inheritance for the whole people of Israel.
  12. Números 27:12After settling this law, the LORD changes the subject and tells Moses to go up Mount Abarim to view the promised land from a distance.
  13. Números 27:13God warns that after seeing the land, Moses will also die, being gathered to his people, just as had already happened with Aaron.
  14. Números 27:14The reason given is the same as before, the episode at the waters of Meribah, when Moses failed to honor God’s holiness before the people by striking the rock instead of simply speaking to it.
  15. Números 27:15Facing this announcement of his approaching death, Moses answers the LORD with a request instead of a complaint.
  16. Números 27:16Moses asks that God, who knows every living being, choose a successor to lead the congregation after him.
  17. Números 27:17Moses asks for someone who knows how to lead the people out and bring them in, so that Israel would not be like sheep without a shepherd.
  18. Números 27:18Before he dies, Moses is instructed to publicly present Joshua as his successor, laying his hands on him in front of the priest and all the people. It was a way of transferring leadership authority visibly, recognized by everyone, avoiding any doubt about who would be in charge afterward.
  19. Números 27:19The instruction is to formally present Joshua before Eleazar and the whole congregation, giving him authority publicly in front of everyone.
  20. Números 27:20Moses was to transfer part of his own authority to Joshua, so that the whole people would begin to obey him.
  21. Números 27:21Unlike Moses, who spoke directly with God, Joshua would depend on Eleazar to consult the LORD’s will through the Urim, and in that way would guide the people in decisions about when to go out or stay put.
  22. Números 27:22Moses does exactly as instructed: he takes Joshua and presents him before Eleazar and the whole congregation.
  23. Números 27:23He lays his hands on Joshua and formally commissions him, exactly as the LORD had commanded.

Chapters

Our apps

Our apps →

Bible in Stories

The Bible told as a story, with audio and videos.

📱 Get the app

World in Stories

True stories of humanity that sound made up.

Feito! Pequenas Vitórias

A light daily routine for people who lose track of the day.