Numbers 27 Summary: A Concise Overview in 5 Minutes

Numbers 27 Summary - A Quick Overview

WHEN:

• These events occurred towards the end of the Israelites’ 40 years of wandering in the wilderness.

• The Israelites were in the wilderness from approximately 1490-1450 B.C.

CHARACTERS:

• Moses – God selected Moses to lead the Israelites out of slavery in Egypt and guide them to the land of Canaan.

• Eleazar – The High Priest of Israel. He became High Priest after the death of his father, Aaron.

• Joshua – Also known as Hoshea. He was Moses’ assistant and one of the 12 spies who spied out the land of Canaan (Numbers 13). God’s Spirit was with Joshua (27:18).

WHERE:

• The Israelites were camped on the border of the Amorites and Moabites near Pisgah at a place called Shittim (21:20; 23:14, 25:1).

OUTLINE:

• THE DAUGHTERS OF ZELOPHEHAD (27:1-11):

  • Zelophehad, a man from the tribe of Manasseh, had 5 daughters but no sons (26:33).

  • His daughters approached Moses and Eleazar and asked to receive a portion of the Canaan land as their inheritance and to carry on their father’s name.  

  • Moses consulted the Lord on the matter and God approved the request.

  • God gave further instructions for how land was to pass down through families in the event a man had no sons.  

  • If a man died without a male heir, his land was to be given to his daughters. If he had no daughters, the land went to his brother. If he had no brothers, the land was given to his closest relative.

• JOSHUA IS CHOSEN TO REPLACE MOSES (27:12-23):

  • God told Moses to go up into the mountain and overlook the land of Canaan before he died.

  • Moses was not allowed to enter Canaan because of the mistake he made at the waters of Meribah in the wilderness of Zin (20:12).

  • Moses asked God to appoint a man to lead the Israelites in his place.

  • God appointed Joshua, Moses’ long-time assistant, to lead the people alongside Eleazar the High Priest.

  • Moses brought Joshua before all the congregation of Israel, laid his hands on him, and commissioned him as God’s appointed leader.
    

APPLICATION:

• Many critics of Christ like to characterize the Bible as a book that promotes misogamy.

• They want to frame the Bible as a book that oppresses women.

• But many of those same people refuse to acknowledge passages like these.  

• The rights afforded to the daughters of Zelophehad were probably revolutionary for the time.

• Many ancient cultures didn’t permit women to inherit land or own property.

• When you think about it, it is ignorant to suggest the God who created women loves to oppress them.

• Just because God’s views regarding women doesn’t align with modern feminist views, doesn’t make God an oppressor. In fact, the opposite is true, those who want to push women out of the role God created them for are the oppressors. 

• The same is true for those who oppose God’s roles for men. 

DIAGRAM OF THE CAMP OF ISRAEL:

DIAGRAM OF THE TABERNACLE: