Sheep with a Shepherd

The daughters of Zelophehad, Mahlah, Noah, Hoglah, Milcah, and Tirzah, came near and stood before Moses, Eleazar, the princes, and all the congregation at the door of the Tent of Meeting. They explained that their father died in the wilderness for his own sin but was not among Korah's company. Why should the name of our father be taken away from among his family, because he had no son? Give to us a possession among the brothers of our father.

Moses brought their cause before Yahweh. God answered, The daughters of Zelophehad speak right. God then set out an order of inheritance: to a son, then a daughter, then brothers, then father's brothers, then the nearest kinsman. Their faith is striking. They wanted a share in land Israel did not yet possess, because they trusted God's promise. Numbers 36 and Joshua 17:3-6 show the promise kept.

God told Moses to go up the mountain of Abarim to see the land, since he would be gathered to his people like Aaron, because of Meribah. Moses responded with a shepherd's heart: Let Yahweh, the God of the spirits of all flesh, appoint a man over the congregation, that the congregation of Yahweh may not be as sheep which have no shepherd. God chose Joshua son of Nun, a man in whom is the Spirit. Moses laid his hands on him before Eleazar. The name Joshua comes from the same Hebrew name as Jesus. Jesus saw crowds like sheep without a shepherd and had compassion on them (Matthew 9:36).