NUMBERS LESSON 34


     We will begin this lesson in Numbers 27:1 "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."

     There was a mention of these daughters in the last lesson. They
would have been in the eighth generation from Jacob. It seems that
Zelophehad had no sons.

     Numbers 27:2 "And they stood before Moses, and before Eleazar the
priest, and before the princes and all the congregation, [by] the door
of the tabernacle of the congregation, saying,"

     They have gone to those who speak for God in their nation. They
stood by the door of the tabernacle to catch Moses and Eleazar, so
they could have an audience.

     Numbers 27:3 "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."

     They explain that their father was not of the 250 leaders who
came against Moses out in the wilderness. It seems, he died as all
natural men do. He had no sons, so that would have left their family
without any land to live on. There seems to be a problem for women to
receive land with the others, and these daughters are here to speak of
the injustice of that. Notice, they do not come in protest. They come
to petition God.

     Numbers 27:4 "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."

     This is a legitimate request. They are as much a family of Jacob
as all the rest. Their father's name should not be left out of the
division of land, just because he had no son. They are asking for the
land, that would have been allotted to their father, to be allotted to
them.

     Numbers 27:5 "And Moses brought their cause before the LORD."

     The wonderful thing about Moses is the fact that he goes to the
LORD, with things he has never faced before. Moses wants to be fair,
but he, also, wants to do it, as God would have him do it. Let God
settle this matter, and Moses execute it.

     Numbers 27:6  "And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying,"

     God never tired of Moses coming to him. We see that the LORD is
right there with the answer.

     Numbers 27:7 "The daughters of Zelophehad speak right: thou shalt
surely give them a possession of an inheritance among their father's
brethren; and thou shalt cause the inheritance of their father to pass
unto them."

     This speaks volumes of the fairness of God for them. It, also,
shows that God is no respecter of persons. Males and females have the
same opportunity with Him. They are all to receive of the inheritance.

     Numbers 27:8 "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."

     Each time a problem arises that was not covered in the Mosaic law
in Leviticus, God settles the question, and sets a precedent for
future decisions on this same matter. This is an additional law to add
to the law of Leviticus. These daughters won the inheritance for
themselves in this matter, but, also, won for future generations of
women facing this same problem.

     Numbers 27:9 "And if he have no daughter, then ye shall give his
inheritance unto his brethren."

     Just because the man that dies has no children, does not mean
that his inheritance would be overlooked. The next in line to receive
his inheritance would be his brother.

     Numbers 27:10 "And if he have no brethren, then ye shall give his
inheritance unto his father's brethren."

     This is speaking of his uncle. Inheritance laws in our land
should use this law in Numbers, when there is no will left.

     Numbers 27:11 "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 statute of judgment, as the LORD commanded Moses."

     Near kinsman would be the next inheritor. God has judged this to
be fair. The man's inheritance is not to be overlooked, but dealt with
in this manner. This is a commandment, the same as the law of Moses in
Leviticus.

     Numbers 27:12  "And the LORD said unto Moses, Get thee up into
this mount Abarim, and see the land which I have given unto the
children of Israel."

     This will be Moses' first actual view of the promised land. We
must realize this land is a gift from God to His chosen people.

     Numbers 27:13 "And when thou hast seen it, thou also shalt be
gathered unto thy people, as Aaron thy brother was gathered."
     It is time for Moses to go and be with the LORD. God will allow
Moses to see the promised land, but not to go into the land. Moses
disobeyed God at the Rock, when he struck the Rock, instead of
speaking to it. Deuteronomy 31:2 'And he said unto them, I [am] an
hundred and twenty years old this day; I can no more go out and come
in: also the LORD hath said unto me, Thou shalt not go over this
Jordan."

     Numbers 27:14 "For ye rebelled against my commandment in the
desert of Zin, in the strife of the congregation, to sanctify me at
the water before their eyes: that [is] the water of Meribah in Kadesh
in the wilderness of Zin."

     We remember, that Moses was angry with the people. At a previous
time, God told Moses to strike the Rock and the water came forth. At
this particular time, He told Moses to speak to the Rock. Moses, in
his anger at the people, struck the Rock. We discovered that this Rock
symbolized Jesus. He was crucified once for our sin. To strike the
Rock the second time, was like crucifying the Lord Jesus the second
time. When we ask in the name of Jesus, miracles happen. This is the
principle Moses was to set here.  His anger keeps him out of the
promised land.

     Numbers 27:15  "And Moses spake unto the LORD, saying,"

     Notice, Moses does not argue with the LORD's decision.

     Numbers 27:16 "Let the LORD, the God of the spirits of all flesh,
set a man over the congregation,"

     Moses is ready to go and be with the LORD. He recognizes the fact
that the LORD is the God of the spirits of all flesh. He asks God to
put his garment of authority on another.

     Numbers 27:17 "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 congregation of the LORD be not as sheep which have no
shepherd."

     Moses had been the deliverer of these people. He had led them as
the LORD directed him all these years. They need a leader. In some
ways, Moses had been a type and shadow of that great Deliverer {Jesus
Christ} who leads us to our promised land {heaven}. Moses had an
extremely hard task bringing such a rebellious people across the
wilderness. He had fought the good fight, and was ready to be gathered
to God. His thoughts were still of these people. He asked for God to
give them a shepherd to lead them.

     Numbers 27:18  "And the LORD said unto Moses, Take thee Joshua
the son of Nun, a man in whom [is] the spirit, and lay thine hand upon
him;"

     This Joshua, you remember, was one of the two who brought the
good report back, when they spied the promised land. He was full of
faith and the Spirit of God. Moses was to lay his hand upon him, and
tranfer his authority to Joshua.

     Numbers 27:19 "And set him before Eleazar the priest, and before
all the congregation; and give him a charge in their sight."

     This must be done publicly, so the people and Eleazar will accept
him in this position. The charge was instructions on what he was to
do, to bring them to their promised land.

     Numbers 27:20 "And thou shalt put [some] of thine honour upon
him, that all the congregation of the children of Israel may be
obedient."

     This is very similar to when Aaron removed his garment as high
priest, and put it upon Eleazar. The congregation must recognize
Joshua as their leader. Moses must shift some of his honour to Joshua.
They must recognize Joshua as the replacement for Moses, if they are
to follow him.

     Numbers 27:21 "And he shall stand before Eleazar the priest, who
shall ask [counsel] for him after the judgment of Urim 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."

     God will speak to Joshua and to Eleazar, as He had spoken to
Moses and Aaron. The camp will move under directions of God through
Joshua.  God will speak to the people through the Urim of the high
priest's garment. Just as Moses had been above the high priest, Joshua
would be above Eleazar.

     Numbers 27:22 "And Moses did as the LORD commanded him: and he
took Joshua, and set him before Eleazar the priest, and before all the
congregation:"

     This is just saying, that Moses dedicated Joshua for this
calling, just as God had commanded him to do.

     Numbers 27:23 "And he laid his hands upon him, and gave him a
charge, as the LORD commanded by the hand of Moses."

     In the following Scripture from the New Testament, we see that
the empowering to do the work God has called him to do, came from the
laying on of the hands. I Timothy 4:14 "Neglect not the gift that is
in thee, which was given thee by prophecy, with the laying on of the
hands of the presbytery."  The gift, given to Joshua, was the power to
lead the people into the promised land.






                        Numbers 34 Questions


1.  Who were these daughters that came to Moses?
2.  Where did they appear for an audience?
3.  What happened to their father?
4.  What injustice are the daughters here to speak of to Moses?
5.  What were they asking for?
6.  How did Moses settle this?
7.  What was God's answer to the daughters?
8.  What law is added to the Levitical law, here?
9.  When there is a problem not covered by the law, how is it handled?
10. Who does the inheritance belong to, if there is no son?
11. If there is no son or daughter, who inherits?
12. If there is no son, daughter, of brother, who inherits?
13. Where did God tell Moses to go?
14. What was Moses to see?
15. What will soon happen to Moses?
16. Why will Moses not be allowed to go into the promised land?
17. How old is Moses?
18. Moses' ________ keeps him out of the promised land.
19. Who does Moses call the LORD in verse 16?
20. What does Moses ask Him to do for the people?
21. Moses had been a type and shadow of whom?
22. Who does the LORD choose to replace Moses?
23. How is Moses to dedicate Joshua?
24. Why should Moses bring him before the people to dedicate him?
25. Quote Numbers chapter 27 verse 20.
26. God will speak to the people through the ________ of the high
    priest.
27. Quote 1 Timothy chapter 4 verse 14.