Numbers 27 explained: Five Sisters and a New Leader

Five sisters ask for land (vv. 1-4)

The land was about to be shared out by family, counted through the men, so a father with only daughters would get no share and his name would vanish. The sisters stress that he was not part of Korah's group that rose up against the LORD (Numbers 16), likely so no one could claim his family had lost its right; he died for his own sin, probably meaning the ordinary failings of his generation rather than a special crime.

The LORD rules in their favor (vv. 5-11)

Moses does not decide on his own but brings the case to the LORD, who says the sisters are right. Their case becomes a lasting rule: with no son, land passes to daughters, then to brothers, uncles, or the nearest relative, so it stays in the family.

Moses will see but not enter (vv. 12-14)

Moses is told to climb a mountain east of the Jordan, look at the promised land, and then die, "gathered to his people" as his brother Aaron was. The reason given is Meribah, where he struck a rock for water and failed to honor God as holy before the people (Numbers 20).

Moses asks for a successor (vv. 15-17)

Rather than plead for himself, Moses asks God, the giver of life to all, to appoint someone to lead the people in everything they do, which is what "go out and come in" means, so they will not be left like a flock with no one to tend it. Christians later read Jesus' pity for crowds who seemed to have no shepherd (Matthew 9, Mark 6) as echoing this prayer.

Joshua is commissioned (vv. 18-23)

Moses lays hands on Joshua in front of everyone, a sign of authority being passed on, and shares his standing so the people will follow him. Unlike Moses, Joshua will receive God's guidance through the priest Eleazar, who used the Urim, a sacred object for seeking God's decisions whose exact form and use are no longer known.

Key verse: Numbers 27:7

Something to think about

When a rule leaves someone out, what do you think it takes for them to speak up, and for those in charge to actually listen?