Números 27

BLIVRE · Chapter 27/36

1E as filhas de Zelofeade, filho de Héfer, filho de Gileade, filho de Maquir, filho de Manassés, das famílias de Manassés, filho de José, os nomes das quais eram Maalá, e Noa, e Hogla, e Milca, e Tirza, chegaram;

2E apresentaram-se diante de Moisés, e diante do sacerdote Eleazar, e diante dos príncipes, e de toda a congregação, à porta do tabernáculo do testemunho, e disseram:

3Nosso pai morreu no deserto, o qual não esteve na junta que se reuniu contra o SENHOR na companhia de Coré: mas sim que em seu pecado morreu, e não teve filhos.

4Por que será tirado o nome de nosso pai dentre sua família, por não haver tido filho? Dá-nos herança entre os irmãos de nosso pai.

5E Moisés levou sua causa diante do SENHOR.

6E o SENHOR respondeu a Moisés, dizendo:

7Bem dizem as filhas de Zelofeade: hás de dar-lhes possessão de herança entre os irmãos de seu pai; e passarás a herança de seu pai a elas.

8E aos filhos de Israel falarás, dizendo: Quando alguém morrer sem filhos, passareis sua herança à sua filha:

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

10E se não tiver irmãos, dareis sua herança aos irmãos de seu pai.

11E se seu pai não tiver irmãos, dareis sua herança a seu parente mais próximo de sua linhagem, o qual a possuirá: e será aos filhos de Israel por estatuto de regulamento, como o SENHOR mandou a Moisés.

12E o SENHOR disse a Moisés: Sobe a este monte Abarim, e verás a terra que dei aos filhos de Israel.

13E depois que a houverdes visto, tu também serás recolhido ao teus povo, como foi reunido o teu irmão Arão;

14pois fostes rebeldes no deserto de Zim, no conflito da congregação, ao meu mandado de me santificar nas águas à vista deles. Essas são as águas do conflito de Cades no deserto de Zim.

15Então Moisés respondeu ao SENHOR:

16Que o SENHOR, Deus dos espíritos de toda carne, ponha um homem sobre a congregação,

17que saia diante deles, que entre diante deles, que os faça sair e os faça entrar; para que a congregação do SENHOR não seja como ovelhas sem pastor.

18E o SENHOR disse a Moisés: Toma a Josué filho de Num, homem no qual há espírito, e porás tua mão sobre ele;

19E o porás diante de Eleazar o sacerdote, e diante de toda a congregação; e lhe darás ordens em presença deles.

20E porás de tua dignidade sobre ele, para que toda a congregação dos filhos de Israel lhe obedeçam.

21E ele estará diante de Eleazar o sacerdote, e a ele perguntará pelo juízo do Urim diante do SENHOR: pelo dito dele sairão, e pelo dito dele entrarão, ele, e todos os filhos de Israel com ele, e toda a congregação.

22E Moisés fez como o SENHOR lhe havia mandado; que tomou a Josué, e lhe pôs diante de Eleazar o sacerdote, e de toda a congregação:

23E pôs sobre ele suas mãos, e deu-lhe ordens, como o SENHOR havia mandado por meio de Moisés.

📖 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.

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