TORAH
FIVE BOOKS OF MOSES
NEVI'IM
PROPHETS
KETUVIM
WRITINGS

Chapter 27

Translation and Transliteration of 

1The daughters of Tzelofchad, of Manassite family—son of Hepher son of Gilad son of Machir son of Menashe son of Yosef—came forward. The names of the daughters were Machla, Noa, Chagla, Milka, and Tirtza.

va-tik-RAV-nah b'-not tze-lof-KHAD ben-KHE-fer ben-gil-AHD ben-ma-KHEER ben-me-na-SHEH l'-mish-pe-KHOT me-na-SHEH ben-yo-SEF, v'-AY-leh sh'-MOT b'-no-TAV ma-KHA-lah no-AH u-KHOG-lah u-mil-KAH v'-tir-TZAH

אוַתִּקְרַ֜בְנָה בְּנ֣וֹת צְלׇפְחָ֗ד בֶּן־חֵ֤פֶר בֶּן־גִּלְעָד֙ בֶּן־מָכִ֣יר בֶּן־מְנַשֶּׁ֔ה לְמִשְׁפְּחֹ֖ת מְנַשֶּׁ֣ה בֶן־יוֹסֵ֑ף וְאֵ֙לֶּה֙ שְׁמ֣וֹת בְּנֹתָ֔יו מַחְלָ֣ה נֹעָ֔ה וְחׇגְלָ֥ה וּמִלְכָּ֖ה וְתִרְצָֽה׃

2They stood before Moshe, Elazar the Kohen, the chieftains, and the whole assembly, at the entrance of the Tent of Meeting, and they said,

va-ta-a-MO-d'-NA li-f'-NAY mo-SHEH v'-li-f'-NAY el-a-ZAR ha-ko-HAYN v'-li-f'-NAY ha-ne-shee-IM v'-kol-ha-e-DAH pe-TAKH o-hel-mo-EYD lay-MOR

בוַֽתַּעֲמֹ֜דְנָה לִפְנֵ֣י מֹשֶׁ֗ה וְלִפְנֵי֙ אֶלְעָזָ֣ר הַכֹּהֵ֔ן וְלִפְנֵ֥י הַנְּשִׂיאִ֖ם וְכׇל־הָעֵדָ֑ה פֶּ֥תַח אֹֽהֶל־מוֹעֵ֖ד לֵאמֹֽר׃

3“Our father died in the wilderness. He was not one of the faction, Korach's faction, which banded together against Hashem, but died for his own sin; and he has left no sons.

a-vee-NU met ba-mid-BAR, v'-HU lo-ha-YA b'-toch ha-e-da, ha-no-a-DIM al a-do-NAI ba-a-dat-KO-rakh, kee b'-khet-o met, u-va-NEEM lo-ha-YU lo

גאָבִ֘ינוּ֮ מֵ֣ת בַּמִּדְבָּר֒ וְה֨וּא לֹא־הָיָ֜ה בְּת֣וֹךְ הָעֵדָ֗ה הַנּוֹעָדִ֛ים עַל־יְהֹוָ֖ה בַּעֲדַת־קֹ֑רַח כִּֽי־בְחֶטְא֣וֹ מֵ֔ת וּבָנִ֖ים לֹא־הָ֥יוּ לֽוֹ׃

4Let not our father's name be lost to his clan just because he had no son! Give us a holding among our father's kinsmen!”

LA-mah yi-ga-RA shaym a-VEE-nu mi-TOKH mish-pakh-TO KEE AYN LO BAYN t'-NAH LA-nu a-khu-ZAH b'-TOKH a-KHAY a-VEE-nu

דלָ֣מָּה יִגָּרַ֤ע שֵׁם־אָבִ֙ינוּ֙ מִתּ֣וֹךְ מִשְׁפַּחְתּ֔וֹ כִּ֛י אֵ֥ין ל֖וֹ בֵּ֑ן תְּנָה־לָּ֣נוּ אֲחֻזָּ֔ה בְּת֖וֹךְ אֲחֵ֥י אָבִֽינוּ׃

 27:4 Give us a holding among our father’s kinsmen

After it is determined among whom Eretz Yisrael will be divided, the daughters of a deceased man named Tzelofchad approach Moshe with a complaint. The rule of inheritance is that a father’s land is inherited by his sons, but the late Tzelofchad had no sons who could inherit his portion. Moved by a deep love for the Land of Israel, Tzelofchad’s daughters complain that if nothing is done, their family will forever lose its portion of land. Rashi points out that it is no coincidence that the verse traces their lineage back to their forefather Yosef, who served as a model of love for the Promised Land when he made his brothers promise that they would take his remains with them out of Egypt, for burial in Eretz Yisrael. The women are relieved when Hashem clarifies to Moshe that in the absence of sons, a man’s land is to be inherited by his daughters. The passion for Israel exhibited by the daughters of Tzelofchad serves as a model for the special role that women have always played in settling Eretz Yisrael.

5Moshe brought their case before Hashem.

vai-YAK-rayv mo-SHEH et mish-PA-tan lif-NAY a-do-NAI.

הוַיַּקְרֵ֥ב מֹשֶׁ֛ה אֶת־מִשְׁפָּטָ֖ן לִפְנֵ֥י יְהֹוָֽה׃

6And Hashem said to Moshe,

va-YO-mer a-do-NAI el mo-SHEH lay-MOR

ווַיֹּ֥אמֶר יְהֹוָ֖ה אֶל־מֹשֶׁ֥ה לֵּאמֹֽר׃

7“The plea of Tzelofchad's daughters is just: you should give them a hereditary holding among their father's kinsmen; transfer their father's share to them.

KEN b'-NOT tzel-f'-KHAD DO-v'-ROT na-TON ti-TEN la-HEM a-KHU-ZAT na-KHA-LAH b'-TOKH a-KHEI a-ve-HEM v'-ha-a-va-RA-ta et-na-KHA-lat a-ve-HEN la-HEN

זכֵּ֗ן בְּנ֣וֹת צְלׇפְחָד֮ דֹּבְרֹת֒ נָתֹ֨ן תִּתֵּ֤ן לָהֶם֙ אֲחֻזַּ֣ת נַחֲלָ֔ה בְּת֖וֹךְ אֲחֵ֣י אֲבִיהֶ֑ם וְהַֽעֲבַרְתָּ֛ אֶת־נַחֲלַ֥ת אֲבִיהֶ֖ן לָהֶֽן׃

8“Further, speak to B'nei Yisrael as follows: ‘If a man dies without leaving a son, you shall transfer his property to his daughter.

v'-el b'-NAY yis-ra-AYL t'-da-BAYR lay-MOR: eesh KEE-ya-MUT u-VAYN AYN LO v'-ha-a-var-TEM et-na-kha-LA-to l'-bi-TO

חוְאֶל־בְּנֵ֥י יִשְׂרָאֵ֖ל תְּדַבֵּ֣ר לֵאמֹ֑ר אִ֣ישׁ כִּֽי־יָמ֗וּת וּבֵן֙ אֵ֣ין ל֔וֹ וְהַֽעֲבַרְתֶּ֥ם אֶת־נַחֲלָת֖וֹ לְבִתּֽוֹ׃

9If he has no daughter, you shall assign his property to his brothers.

v'-im-EIN LO BAT u-ne-ta-TEM et-na-kha-LA-to l'-e-KHA-yav

טוְאִם־אֵ֥ין ל֖וֹ בַּ֑ת וּנְתַתֶּ֥ם אֶת־נַחֲלָת֖וֹ לְאֶחָֽיו׃

10If he has no brothers, you shall assign his property to his father's brothers.

v'-im-AYN LO a-KHEEM u-ne-ta-TEM et-na-kha-LA-to la-a-KHEI a-VEEV

יוְאִם־אֵ֥ין ל֖וֹ אַחִ֑ים וּנְתַתֶּ֥ם אֶת־נַחֲלָת֖וֹ לַאֲחֵ֥י אָבִֽיו׃

11If his father had no brothers, you shall assign his property to his nearest relative in his own clan, and he shall inherit it.' This shall be the law of procedure for the Israelites, in accordance with Hashem's command to Moshe.”

v'-im-AYN a-KHEEM l'-a-VEEV, u-ne-ta-TEM et-na-kha-LA-to lish-a-RO ha-ka-ROV ay-LAV mi-mish-pa-KHA-to, v'-ya-RASH o-TAH, v'-ha-Y'-ta l'-nay yis-ra-AYL l'-khuk-KAT mish-PAHT ka-a-SHER tzi-VA a-do-NAI et-mo-SHEH. Pe

יאוְאִם־אֵ֣ין אַחִים֮ לְאָבִיו֒ וּנְתַתֶּ֣ם אֶת־נַחֲלָת֗וֹ לִשְׁאֵר֞וֹ הַקָּרֹ֥ב אֵלָ֛יו מִמִּשְׁפַּחְתּ֖וֹ וְיָרַ֣שׁ אֹתָ֑הּ וְֽהָ֨יְתָ֜ה לִבְנֵ֤י יִשְׂרָאֵל֙ לְחֻקַּ֣ת מִשְׁפָּ֔ט כַּאֲשֶׁ֛ר צִוָּ֥ה יְהֹוָ֖ה אֶת־מֹשֶֽׁה׃

12Hashem said to Moshe, “Ascend these heights of Avarim and view the land that I have given to B'nei Yisrael.

va-YO-mer a-do-NAI el mo-SHEH a-LAY el HAR ha-a-va-REEM ha-ZEH ur-AY et ha-A-RETZ a-SHER na-TA-tee liv-NAY yis-ra-AYL

יבוַיֹּ֤אמֶר יְהֹוָה֙ אֶל־מֹשֶׁ֔ה עֲלֵ֛ה אֶל־הַ֥ר הָעֲבָרִ֖ים הַזֶּ֑ה וּרְאֵה֙ אֶת־הָאָ֔רֶץ אֲשֶׁ֥ר נָתַ֖תִּי לִבְנֵ֥י יִשְׂרָאֵֽל׃

27:12 And view the land

Though Moshe was not allowed to enter the Land of Israel, he is given an opportunity to see the land from atop the mountain of Avarim. In verse 12, Hashem tells him to go up to the mountain and “view the land”, and in verse 13 He repeats “when you have seen it.” The double language reflects the notion that Moshe saw beyond the land’s physical beauty. In addition, he was able to perceive its spiritual grandeur as well.

13When you have seen it, you too shall be gathered to your kin, just as your brother Aharon was.

v'-ra-EE-ta O-tah v'-ne-e-SAFTA el a-ME-kha gam a-TAH ka-a-SHER ne-e-SAFA a-ha-ROn a-KHE-kha

יגוְרָאִ֣יתָה אֹתָ֔הּ וְנֶאֱסַפְתָּ֥ אֶל־עַמֶּ֖יךָ גַּם־אָ֑תָּה כַּאֲשֶׁ֥ר נֶאֱסַ֖ף אַהֲרֹ֥ן אָחִֽיךָ׃

14For, in the wilderness of Zin, when the community was contentious, you disobeyed My command to uphold My sanctity in their sight by means of the water.” Those are the Waters of Meribath-kadesh, in the wilderness of Zin.

ka-a-SHER m'-ree-TEM PEE b'-mid-BAR tzin b'-m'-ree-BAT ha-e-DAH l'-hak-di-SHE-ni va-MA-yim l'-ay-NAY-hem HEM may-m'-m'-ree-BAT ka-DAYSH mid-BAR tzin.

ידכַּאֲשֶׁר֩ מְרִיתֶ֨ם פִּ֜י בְּמִדְבַּר־צִ֗ן בִּמְרִיבַת֙ הָֽעֵדָ֔ה לְהַקְדִּישֵׁ֥נִי בַמַּ֖יִם לְעֵינֵיהֶ֑ם הֵ֛ם מֵֽי־מְרִיבַ֥ת קָדֵ֖שׁ מִדְבַּר־צִֽן׃

15Moshe spoke to Hashem, saying,

vai-da-BAYR mo-SHEH el a-do-NAI lay-MOR

טווַיְדַבֵּ֣ר מֹשֶׁ֔ה אֶל־יְהֹוָ֖ה לֵאמֹֽר׃

16“Let Hashem, Source of the breath of all flesh, appoint someone over the community

YIF-kod a-do-NAI e-lo-HAY ha-ru-KHOT l'-kol ba-SAR, EESH al ha-e-DAH.

טזיִפְקֹ֣ד יְהֹוָ֔ה אֱלֹהֵ֥י הָרוּחֹ֖ת לְכׇל־בָּשָׂ֑ר אִ֖ישׁ עַל־הָעֵדָֽה׃

17who shall go out before them and come in before them, and who shall take them out and bring them in, so that Hashem's community may not be like sheep that have no shepherd.”

a-SHER y'-TZE l'-fe-NAY-hem va-a-SHER ya-VO l'-fe-NAY-hem va-a-SHER yo-tzee-EM va-a-SHER y'-vee-EM v'-LO tih-YEH a-DAT a-do-NAI ka-tzo-AN a-SHER AYN-la-HEM ro-EH

יזאֲשֶׁר־יֵצֵ֣א לִפְנֵיהֶ֗ם וַאֲשֶׁ֤ר יָבֹא֙ לִפְנֵיהֶ֔ם וַאֲשֶׁ֥ר יוֹצִיאֵ֖ם וַאֲשֶׁ֣ר יְבִיאֵ֑ם וְלֹ֤א תִהְיֶה֙ עֲדַ֣ת יְהֹוָ֔ה כַּצֹּ֕אן אֲשֶׁ֥ר אֵין־לָהֶ֖ם רֹעֶֽה׃

18And Hashem answered Moshe, “Single out Yehoshua son of Nun, an inspired man, and lay your hand upon him.

vai-YO-mer a-do-NAI el mo-SHEH, kakh-l'-KHA et y'-ho-SHU-a ben-NUUN, eesh a-SHER ru-akh BO, v'-sa-MAKH-ta et ya-d'-KHA a-LA-yav

יחוַיֹּ֨אמֶר יְהֹוָ֜ה אֶל־מֹשֶׁ֗ה קַח־לְךָ֙ אֶת־יְהוֹשֻׁ֣עַ בִּן־נ֔וּן אִ֖ישׁ אֲשֶׁר־ר֣וּחַ בּ֑וֹ וְסָמַכְתָּ֥ אֶת־יָדְךָ֖ עָלָֽיו׃

19Have him stand before Elazar the Kohen and before the whole community, and commission him in their sight.

v'-ha-a-mad-TA o-TO li-f'-NAY el-a-ZAR ha-ko-HAYN v'-li-f'-NAY kol-ha-e-DAH v'-tzi-vi-TA o-TO l'-ei-NE-hem

יטוְהַֽעֲמַדְתָּ֣ אֹת֗וֹ לִפְנֵי֙ אֶלְעָזָ֣ר הַכֹּהֵ֔ן וְלִפְנֵ֖י כׇּל־הָעֵדָ֑ה וְצִוִּיתָ֥ה אֹת֖וֹ לְעֵינֵיהֶֽם׃

20Invest him with some of your authority, so that the whole Israelite community may obey.

v'-na-ta-TAH me-ho-d'-KHA a-LA-yu l'-ma-an yish-m'-U kol a-dat b'-nay yis-ra-AYL

כוְנָתַתָּ֥ה מֵהֽוֹדְךָ֖ עָלָ֑יו לְמַ֣עַן יִשְׁמְע֔וּ כׇּל־עֲדַ֖ת בְּנֵ֥י יִשְׂרָאֵֽל׃

21But he shall present himself to Elazar the Kohen, who shall on his behalf seek the decision of the Urim before Hashem. By such instruction they shall go out and by such instruction they shall come in, he and all the Israelites, the whole community.”

v'-lif-NAY el-a-ZAR ha-ko-HAYN ya-a-MOD v'-sha-AL LO b'-mish-PAT ha-u-REEM lif-NAY a-do-NAI al-PI-yav yay-t'-ZU v'-al-PI-yav ya-VO-u HU v'-kol b'-NAY yis-ra-AYL i-TO v'-kol ha-e-da

כאוְלִפְנֵ֨י אֶלְעָזָ֤ר הַכֹּהֵן֙ יַעֲמֹ֔ד וְשָׁ֥אַל ל֛וֹ בְּמִשְׁפַּ֥ט הָאוּרִ֖ים לִפְנֵ֣י יְהֹוָ֑ה עַל־פִּ֨יו יֵצְא֜וּ וְעַל־פִּ֣יו יָבֹ֗אוּ ה֛וּא וְכׇל־בְּנֵי־יִשְׂרָאֵ֥ל אִתּ֖וֹ וְכׇל־הָעֵדָֽה׃

22Moshe did as Hashem commanded him. He took Yehoshua and had him stand before Elazar the Kohen and before the whole community.

vai-YA-as mo-SHEH ka-a-SHER tzi-VA a-do-NAI o-TO, vai-yi-KACH et y'-ho-SHU-a, vai-ya-a-MI-de-HU li-f'-NAY el-a-ZAR ha-ko-HAYN, v'-li-f'-NAY kol ha-e-da.

כבוַיַּ֣עַשׂ מֹשֶׁ֔ה כַּאֲשֶׁ֛ר צִוָּ֥ה יְהֹוָ֖ה אֹת֑וֹ וַיִּקַּ֣ח אֶת־יְהוֹשֻׁ֗עַ וַיַּֽעֲמִדֵ֙הוּ֙ לִפְנֵי֙ אֶלְעָזָ֣ר הַכֹּהֵ֔ן וְלִפְנֵ֖י כׇּל־הָעֵדָֽה׃

23He laid his hands upon him and commissioned him—as Hashem had spoken through Moshe.

vai-YIS-mokh et ya-DAV a-LAV va-y'-tza-VE-hu ka-a-SHER di-BER a-do-NAI b'-yad mo-SHEH

כגוַיִּסְמֹ֧ךְ אֶת־יָדָ֛יו עָלָ֖יו וַיְצַוֵּ֑הוּ כַּאֲשֶׁ֛ר דִּבֶּ֥ר יְהֹוָ֖ה בְּיַד־מֹשֶֽׁה׃