1那時，若瑟的兒子默納協家族內，責羅斐哈得的女兒們前來，──責羅斐哈得是赫斐爾的兒子，赫斐爾是基肋阿得的兒子，基肋阿得是瑪基爾的兒子，瑪基爾是默納協的兒子；她們的名字是瑪赫拉、諾阿、曷革拉、米耳加和提爾匝。 1Then came the daughters of Salphaad, the son of Hepher, the son of Galaad, the son of Machir, the son of Manasses, who was the son of Joseph: and their names are Maala, and Noa, and Hegla, and Melcha, and Thersa.
2她們站在梅瑟、大司祭厄肋阿匝爾、眾領袖和全會眾前，即會幕門口說： 2And they stood before Moses and Eleazar the priest, and all the princes of the people at the door of the tabernacle of the covenant, and said:
3「我們的父親死在曠野，但他並不是科辣黑黨派中，結黨反抗上主的黨徒，他只是因自己的罪死了，沒有留下兒子。 3Our father died in the desert, and was not in the sedition, that was raised against the Lord under Core, but he died in his own sin: and he had no male children. Why is his name taken away out of his family, because he had no son? Give us a possession among the kinsmen of our father.
4為什麼讓我們父親的名字，因為沒有兒子，就由本族中消滅？讓我們在我們父親的兄弟中，也分得一份產業。」 4And Moses referred their cause to the judgment of the Lord.
5梅瑟就將她們的案件呈到上主面前； 5And the Lord said to him:
6上主訓示梅瑟說： 6The daughters of Salphaad demand a just thing: Give them a possession among their father's kindred, and let them succeed him in his inheritance.
7「責羅斐哈得的女兒們說得有理；你應在她們的父親兄弟中分給她們一份產業，將她們父親的產業轉讓給她們。 7And to the children of Israel thou shalt speak these things:
8並且你應訓示以色列子民說：一個人死了，若沒有兒子，你們應將他的產業轉讓給他的女兒； 8When a man dieth without a son, his inheritance shall pass to his daughter.
9如果連女兒也沒有，應將他的產業分給他的兄弟們。 9If he have no daughter, his brethren shall succeed him.
10如果連一個兄弟也沒有，應將他的產業分給他父親的兄弟們。 10And if he have no brethren, you shall give the inheritance to his father's brethren.
11如果他的父親也沒有兄弟，應將他的產業分給他家族中與他最近的親屬，他應繼承遺產：這是以色列子民當守的法令，如上主對梅瑟所吩咐的。」 11But if he have no uncles by the father, the inheritance shall be given to them that are the next akin. And this shall be to the children of Israel sacred by a perpetual law, as the Lord hath commanded Moses.
12上主對梅瑟說：「你上這座阿巴陵山上去，看一看我賜給以色列子民的地方。 12The Lord also said to Moses: Go up into this mountain Abarim, and view from thence the land which I will give to the children of Israel.
13你看了以後，你也要歸到你親屬那裡去，如你哥哥亞郎歸去一樣。 13And when thou shalt have seen it, thou also shalt go to thy people, as thy brother Aaron is gone:
14因為在親曠野裡，當會眾反叛時，我命你們在他們眼前以取水顯我為聖時，你們違背了我的命令。」【這是指在親曠野中，在卡德士的默黎巴取水的事。】 14Because you offended me in the desert of Sin in the contradiction of the multitude, neither would you sanctify me before them at the waters. These are the waters of contradiction in Cades of the desert of Sin.
15梅瑟向上主說： 15And Moses answered him:
16「望上主，賜給一切血肉氣息的天主，委派一人管理會眾， 16May the Lord the God of the spirits of all flesh provide a man, that may be over this multitude:
17叫他處理他們的事件，領導他們出入，免得上主的會眾如無牧之羊。」 17And may go out and in before them, and may lead them out, or bring them in: lest the people of the Lord be as sheep without a shepherd.
18上主對梅瑟說：「你應選用農的兒子若蘇厄，他是個有精神的人，按手在他身上， 18And the Lord said to him: Take Josue the son of Nun, a man in whom is the Spirit, and put thy hand upon him.
19叫他站在大司祭厄肋阿匝爾和全會眾前，當著他們的面委派他， 19And he shall stand before Eleazar the priest and all the multitude:
20將你的一些威權授給他，好叫以色列子民全會眾聽從他。 20And thou shalt give him precepts in the sight of all, and part of thy glory, that all the congregation of the children of Israel may hear him.
21但他應到大司祭厄肋阿匝爾面前，請司祭為他在上主面前咨詢「烏陵」的決斷，他和一切以色列子民及全會眾，應依照指示去行事。」 21If any thing be to be done, Eleazar the priest shall consult the Lord for him. He and all the children of Israel with him, and the rest of the multitude shall go out and go in at his word.
22梅瑟就照上主吩咐他的做了；選用了若蘇厄，叫他站在大司祭厄肋阿匝爾和全會眾面前， 22Moses did as the Lord had commanded. And when he had taken Josue, he set him before Eleazar the priest, and all the assembly of the people,
23按手在他身上，委派了他，全照上主藉著梅瑟所吩咐的。 23And laying his hands on his head, he repeated all things that the Lord had commanded.
27:1-11
由本段的记述，可知以色列的民法如何产生：多因某种特殊案件，求上主的指示後，立定为他们的常法。关於本段所记的事，参见肋25:10；苏17:8-10。
27:12-23
关於在默黎巴取水的事，见20:12-13。关於「乌陵」，见出28:30。关於若苏厄，见13:16; 14:6,30,38；出17:9; 24:13; 32:17；申31:23; 34:9。