The daughters of Zelophehad—Mahlah, Noah, Hoglah, Milcah, and Tirzah—stepped forward with courage. They belonged to the tribe of Manasseh, descendants of Joseph. One day, they stood at the entrance of the Tent of Meeting before Moses, Eleazar the priest, the leaders, and all the people. Their voices were steady as they spoke.
"Our father died in the desert," they said. "He was not among those who followed Korah in rebellion against the Lord, but he died for his own sin. He left no sons. Why should our father's name vanish from his clan simply because he had no son? Give us property among our father's relatives."
Moses listened carefully and brought their request before the Lord.
Then the Lord spoke to Moses, saying, "What Zelophehad's daughters are saying is right. You must certainly give them property among their father's relatives and turn his inheritance over to them."
The Lord continued, "Say to the Israelites: if a man dies and leaves no son, pass his inheritance to his daughter. If he has no daughter, give it to his brothers. If he has no brothers, give it to his father's brothers. And if his father had no brothers, give it to the nearest relative in his clan. This will be a lasting legal requirement for Israel, just as I have commanded."
Later, the Lord said to Moses, "Go up the mountain of Abarim and see the land I have given to the Israelites. After you have seen it, you will be gathered to your people, just as Aaron your brother was. For at the waters of Meribah in the Desert of Zin, you disobeyed My command to honor Me as holy before the people."
Moses, hearing these words, prayed earnestly, "O Lord, God of the spirits of all mankind, appoint someone to lead this community—someone who will go out and come in before them, to lead them so that Your people will not be like sheep without a shepherd."
The Lord answered, "Take Joshua son of Nun, a man in whom is the spirit. Lay your hand upon him. Have him stand before Eleazar the priest and the entire assembly, and commission him before them. Give him some of your authority so that all the Israelites will obey him. He will stand before Eleazar, who will seek decisions for him by consulting the Urim before the Lord. At his command, the people will go out and come in."
Moses obeyed. He brought Joshua before Eleazar and the assembly, laid his hands upon him, and commissioned him—just as the Lord had instructed.