How Zelophehad’s Daughters and Joshua Filled the Gaps

Numbers 27 addresses two gaps: the inheritance of a family with no sons and the leadership of the congregation after Moses’ departure. God commanded that their father’s inheritance be given to Zelophehad’s daughters, and that Joshua be appointed to succeed Moses. Though these were different matters, the passage shows how neither vacancy was left unresolved. Each was addressed through a clear ruling and a public commissioning.

Zelophehad’s daughters raised the problem of their father’s name disappearing

Zelophehad’s five daughters—Mahlah, Noah, Hoglah, Milcah, and Tirzah—came to the entrance of the tent of meeting. They stood before Moses, Eleazar the priest, the leaders, and the entire congregation. Rather than voicing a private grievance in secret, they presented their case openly before the community.

The daughters explained that their father had died in the wilderness but had not belonged to Korah’s faction. They then pointed out that he had no sons. Their concern was clear: their father’s name should not disappear from his clan simply because he had no son.

They asked to be given property among their father’s brothers. After naming each of the five daughters, the passage carefully records where they stood, before whom they appeared, and what they requested. The ruling on inheritance began with a plea from people whose family name was in danger of disappearing.

One family’s request became the standard for Israel’s inheritance laws

Moses did not reach a conclusion based on his own judgment. He brought their case before the LORD. God declared that Zelophehad’s daughters were right and commanded that their father’s inheritance be transferred to them.

The ruling did not end with Zelophehad’s family. If a man died without a son, his inheritance was to pass to his daughter. If he had no daughter, it was to pass to his brothers. If he had no brothers, it was to go to his father’s brothers. If none of them remained, the inheritance was to be given to his nearest relative.

By repeatedly setting out each possible circumstance, the passage establishes a clear order for determining where an inheritance should go. A problem first raised by one family became a legal ordinance for the Israelites. A man’s lack of sons did not bring the matter of his inheritance to an end. Instead, a definite order of succession was established, beginning with his daughters and continuing to his nearest relative.

Moses first considered what would happen to the congregation after he was gone

God told Moses to climb one of the mountains of Abarim and look upon the land He had given to Israel. After seeing the land, Moses would be gathered to his people, just as Aaron had been. The reason given was that when the congregation quarreled in the Wilderness of Zin, Moses had rebelled against God’s command and failed to uphold His holiness at the waters of Meribah.

After hearing this, Moses did not ask God to change his own future. Instead, he asked Him to appoint someone over the congregation. He prayed for a person who would go out and come in before the people and lead them, so that the LORD’s congregation would not be like sheep without a shepherd.

God commanded Moses to take Joshua and lay his hand on him. Joshua was to stand before Eleazar the priest and the entire congregation, and Moses was to commission him and confer some of his authority on him in full view of everyone. From then on, Joshua and the whole congregation would go out and come in according to the judgment Eleazar received when he inquired before the LORD.

Moses did as he was commanded and brought Joshua forward. He had him stand before Eleazar and the entire congregation, laid his hands on him, and commissioned him. Moses did not merely leave behind a request. He presented the person God had chosen before the community and appointed him in the manner God had prescribed.

Each vacancy was resolved through a clear process

The inheritance issue raised by Zelophehad’s daughters resulted in a legal ordinance establishing how property would pass through the family. The question of what would happen after Moses’ departure was answered by the command to appoint and publicly commission Joshua. In one case, an order of succession was established so that a family’s name and inheritance would not disappear. In the other, a leader was appointed so that the congregation would not be left like sheep without a shepherd.

Choose one matter today that you find difficult to judge. Write down the facts you have confirmed and the outcome you hope for, one line each. Then, rather than rushing to a conclusion, read the relevant passage of Scripture for yourself. This is a practical way to follow the pattern set by Zelophehad’s daughters, who stated their case clearly, and by Moses, who brought it before the LORD.