Old Testament Commentary - Numbers 27

by Don R. Hender

Scriptural Text [& Editorial]	Commentary & Explanation	Footnotes ~ References ~ JST
CHAPTER 27 Law of inheritances to sons and daughters and kinsmen set forth—Moses shall see but not enter promised land—Joshua called and set apart to lead Israel.
1 Then came the daughters of Zelophehad, the son of Hepher, the son of Gilead, the son of Machir, the son of Manasseh, of the families of Manasseh the son of Joseph: and these are the names of his daughters; Mahlah, Noah, and Hoglah, and Milcah, and Tirzah. 2 And they stood before Moses, and before Eleazar the priest, and before the ^aprinces and all the congregation, by the door of the ^btabernacle of the congregation, saying,		1^a Lev. 10:1 (1-2) 2^a Heb. 9:12 (7, 12, 24-25); Heb. 10:19 (19-22) ^b TG Veil ^c Ex. 25:22; Ex. 29:42 (42-43); Ex. 40:34 (34-35); D&C 97:16 (15-17); D&C 109:5 (5, 12-13); Abr. 2:19 (19-20)
3 Our father died in the wilderness, and he was not in the company of them that gathered themselves together against the LORD in the company of Korah; but died in his own sin, and had no sons. 4 Why should the name of our father be done away from among his family, because he hath no son? Give unto us therefore a possession among the brethren of our father. 5 And Moses brought their cause before the LORD.
6 ¶ And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying, 7 The daughters of Zelophehad speak right: thou shalt surely give them a possession of an ^ainheritance among their father's brethren; and thou shalt cause the inheritance of their father to pass unto them. 8 And thou shalt speak unto the children of Israel, saying, If a man die, and have no son, then ye shall cause his inheritance to pass unto his daughter.
9 And if he have no daughter, then ye shall give his inheritance unto his brethren. 10 And if he have no brethren, then ye shall give his inheritance unto his father's brethren. 11 And if his father have no brethren, then ye shall give his inheritance unto his kinsman that is next to him of his family, and he shall possess it: and it shall be unto the children of Israel a ^astatute of judgment, as the LORD commanded Moses.
12 ¶ And the LORD said unto Moses, Get thee up into this mount ^aAbarim, and see the ^bland which I have given unto the children of Israel. 13 And when thou hast seen it, thou also shalt be gathered unto thy people, as Aaron thy brother was gathered. 14 For ye rebelled against my commandment in the desert of Zin, in the ^astrife of the congregation, to sanctify me at the water before their eyes: that is the water of ^bMeribah in ^cKadesh in the wilderness of Zin.
15 ¶ And Moses spake unto the LORD, saying, 16 Let the LORD, the ^aGod of the ^bspirits of all flesh, ^cset a man over the congregation, 17 Which may go out before them, and which may go in before them, and which may lead them out, and which may bring them in; that the ^acongregation of the LORD be not as ^bsheep which have no ^cshepherd^a.	17^a that the congregation of the LORD be not as sheep which have no shepherd Just as our God Jehovah stand in the stead of the Father in all things, betwix us and Him as Mediator, Intercessor and Advocate, so is the position of the Prophet of God he who stands before men in the flesh as their leader, speaking and doing that which God commands him to do for the benefit and welfare of the people of the Lord. The Lord's true prophet is a shepherd unto the flock, leading them and guiding them in the ways of the Lord. And this that the congregation of the Lord be not wandering without immediate direction and purpose befoe God. Thus it is in our day, our Prophet Thomas S. Monson is our shepherd. His words guide us and he does lead us in the way that we are to go. And sheep that do not follow the shepherd leader of the Lord will become lost, wandering in stranges paths of sin and destruction, not coming unto the Lord's exaltation for them for having not followed the Prophet, they will know not where to find it. And just as Moses had so lead Israel out of captivity and in the wilderness according to God's commandments to him, so would Joshua now be commisioned to lead, direct and guide Israel into the land of promise and be their shepherd, their true prophet of God.
18 ¶ And the LORD said unto Moses, Take thee ^aJoshua the son of ^bNun, a man in whom is the ^cspirit, and ^dlay thine hand upon him; 19 And ^aset him before Eleazar the priest, and before all the congregation; and give him a charge in their sight. 20 And thou shalt ^aput some of thine ^bhonour upon him, that all the congregation of the children of Israel may be obedient.
21 And he shall stand before Eleazar the ^apriest, who shall ask ^bcounsel for him ^cafter the judgment of ^dUrim before the LORD: at his word shall they go out, and at his word they shall come in, both he, and all the children of Israel with him, even all the congregation. 22 And Moses did as the LORD commanded him: and he took Joshua, and set him before Eleazar the priest, and before all the congregation: 23 And he ^alaid his ^bhands upon him, and gave him a ^ccharge, as the LORD commanded by the hand of Moses.