Numbers 27:1-23
Q.1. For what reason did the daughters of Zelophehad visit Moses and Eleazar? How was the family’s allotment in the Promised Land to be preserved? – (Num.27:1-11)
Zelophehad from the tribe of Manasseh had died in the wilderness without leaving a son to keep the family inheritance. His daughters stated that although he was a sinner, he had not been a rebel. They claimed that he deserved to maintain his name in Israel when the Promised Land was divided among the tribes and families of Israel (Num.27:3-4). Their boldness, and faith in the promises of God, led to a ruling that the inheritance would be passed on to the daughters or the nearest relative, should no son survive (Num.27:6-11). After the conquest of the Promised Land the daughters of Zelophehad claimed and received their father’s inheritance (Josh.17:3-6).
Q.2. Why was Moses commanded to climb to the top of Mount Nebo? Would Moses enter the Promised Land? – (Num.27:12-14)
As with Aaron, Moses was also told that he would soon die. He was allowed to survey the Promised Land from Mount Abarim (Num.27:12 c.f. Dt.34:1). God reminded Moses why he would not lead the people into the Promised Land – for in the wilderness of Zin, during the strife of the congregation, you rebelled against My command to treat Me as holy before their eyes at the water (Num.27:14).
Q.3. How did Moses reveal his shepherd’s heart to the very end? – (Num.27:15-17)
Moses was clear about the circumstances under which God forbad him from entering the Promised Land – The Lord was angry with me on your account … (Dt.1:37). However, like the wonderful shepherd of people he had become, he showed his care for God’s people and asked the Lord – 16 May the Lord, the God of the spirits of all flesh, appoint a man over the congregation, 17 who will go out and come in before them, and who will lead them out and bring them in, so that the congregation of the Lord will not be like sheep which have no shepherd (Num.27:16-17). Jesus would see Himself as our Shepherd. He called on leaders to shepherd the flock who were under their charge (c.f. Mt.9:36; Acts 20:28-32).
Q.4. Why was the public succession of Joshua crucial? What would change in the way in which God would lead His people? – (Num.27:18-23)
There would be no prophet like Moses, whom the Lord knew face to face (Dt.34:10). It was crucial that the changeover from Moses to Joshua was endorsed by God. If Moses had just died with no endorsement of his successor from God, it would have made his succession more difficult. God told Moses – 18 … Take Joshua the son of Nun, a man in whom is the Spirit, and lay your hand on him; 19 and have him stand before Eleazar the priest and before all the congregation, and commission him in their sight. 20 You shall put some of your authority on him, in order that all the congregation of the sons of Israel may obey him (Num.27:18-20). The appointment of Joshua was clearly from God, and ratified by Moses and the new high priest, Eleazar. God would also lead Israel and its new leader differently from the past. It would be through a combination of the High Priest and Joshua, by means of the Urim that they would consult for direction (Num.27:21). This foreshadowed the plurality of leaders as with the eldership of the New Testament (c.f. Titus 1:5).