« | Numbers 27 | » |
1 One day a petition was presented by the daughters of Zelophehad-- Mahlah, Noah, Hoglah, Milcah, and Tirzah. Their father, Zelophehad, was a descendant of Hepher son of Gilead, son of Makir, son of Manasseh, son of Joseph.
2 These women stood before Moses, Eleazar the priest, the tribal leaders, and the entire community at the entrance of the Tabernacle.
3 "Our father died in the wilderness," they said. "He was not among Korah's followers, who rebelled against the LORD; he died because of his own sin. But he had no sons.
4 Why should the name of our father disappear from his clan just because he had no sons? Give us property along with the rest of our relatives."
5 So Moses brought their case before the LORD.
6 And the LORD replied to Moses,
7 "The claim of the daughters of Zelophehad is legitimate. You must give them a grant of land along with their father's relatives. Assign them the property that would have been given to their father.
8 "And give the following instructions to the people of Israel: If a man dies and has no son, then give his inheritance to his daughters.
9 And if he has no daughter either, transfer his inheritance to his brothers.
10 If he has no brothers, give his inheritance to his father's brothers.
11 But if his father has no brothers, give his inheritance to the nearest relative in his clan. This is a legal requirement for the people of Israel, just as the LORD commanded Moses."
12 One day the LORD said to Moses, "Climb one of the mountains east of the river, and look out over the land I have given the people of Israel.
13 After you have seen it, you will die like your brother, Aaron,
14 for you both rebelled against my instructions in the wilderness of Zin. When the people of Israel rebelled, you failed to demonstrate my holiness to them at the waters." (These are the waters of Meribah at Kadesh in the wilderness of Zin.)
15 Then Moses said to the LORD,
16 "O LORD, you are the God who gives breath to all creatures. Please appoint a new man as leader for the community.
17 Give them someone who will guide them wherever they go and will lead them into battle, so the community of the LORD will not be like sheep without a shepherd."
18 The LORD replied, "Take Joshua son of Nun, who has the Spirit in him, and lay your hands on him.
19 Present him to Eleazar the priest before the whole community, and publicly commission him to lead the people.
20 Transfer some of your authority to him so the whole community of Israel will obey him.
21 When direction from the LORD is needed, Joshua will stand before Eleazar the priest, who will use the Urim-- one of the sacred lots cast before the LORD-- to determine his will. This is how Joshua and the rest of the community of Israel will determine everything they should do."
22 So Moses did as the LORD commanded. He presented Joshua to Eleazar the priest and the whole community.
23 Moses laid his hands on him and commissioned him to lead the people, just as the LORD had commanded through Moses.
The New Living Translation (NLT)
The New Living Translation (NLT) is a modern English translation of the Bible that aims to make the Scriptures accessible and engaging for contemporary readers. First published in 1996 by Tyndale House Publishers, the NLT was conceived as an effort to create a translation that combines both accuracy and readability. Unlike many other translations that focus on a word-for-word rendering of the original texts, the NLT employs a thought-for-thought translation philosophy, also known as dynamic equivalence. This approach prioritizes conveying the meaning and message of the original texts in a way that is natural and understandable in modern English.
One of the defining features of the NLT is its commitment to clarity and simplicity. The translators, a team of over 90 evangelical scholars, aimed to create a text that would be approachable for a wide audience, including those who may find traditional translations challenging to read. The NLT’s language is contemporary and conversational, making it particularly effective for public reading, teaching, and personal study. This emphasis on readability helps ensure that the profound messages of the Bible are easily grasped and retained by readers from various backgrounds and levels of biblical knowledge.
The NLT also incorporates a rich array of study aids designed to enhance the reader’s understanding of the biblical text. These include book introductions, footnotes, cross-references, and explanatory notes that provide historical, cultural, and theological context. These features are particularly useful for readers who seek a deeper comprehension of the Scriptures and their application to modern life. The translation also includes clear and concise headings that help guide readers through the narrative and thematic structure of each book, making it easier to follow and comprehend the overall message.
Despite its many strengths, the New Living Translation has faced some criticism, particularly from those who favor more literal translations. Critics argue that the dynamic equivalence approach, while making the text more readable, can sometimes result in a loss of the precise nuances and literary qualities of the original languages. Some scholars believe that certain theological concepts might be oversimplified in the process of making the text more accessible. Nevertheless, the NLT remains one of the most popular and widely used translations today, valued for its readability, clarity, and ability to convey the timeless truths of the Bible in a way that resonates with contemporary readers.