Bible Strands
Numbers 27:2
the entrance to the Tent of Meeting, stood before Moses, Eleazar the priest, the leaders, and the whole congregation, and said,
Berean Standard Bible
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Study note
Setting — The daughters of Zelophehad stand at the entrance to the Tent of Meeting and address Moses, Eleazar the priest, the tribal leaders, and the entire congregation. This occurs immediately after they approach in the previous verse, positioning them before the full leadership assembly.
The words — The Hebrew verb תַּעֲמֹדְנָה (ta'amoḏənāh) literally means "they took their stand," indicating a formal, public posture. It is paired with the preposition לִפְנֵי (lipnê), meaning "before," which establishes their position directly in front of the named authorities.
The thread — This scene of standing before leadership echoes Numbers 15:33, where witnesses bring a transgressor to Moses and the congregation, and reflects the judicial posture seen in Exodus 18:13 where the people stand before Moses for judgment.
Why it lands — The text requires the reader to recognize that legal and inheritance petitions in Israel required formal presentation before the full covenant leadership. It establishes a procedural standard where community matters are brought publicly to those responsible for upholding the law.
Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.
The Hebrew words
King James Version
And they stood before Moses, and before Eleazar the priest, and before the princes and all the congregation, by the door of the tabernacle of the congregation, saying,
Cross-references
- Exodus 18:13 The next day Moses took his seat to judge the people, and they stood around him from morning until evening.
- Exodus 18:19 Now listen to me; I will give you some advice, and may God be with you. You must be the people’s representative before God and bring their causes to Him.
- Numbers 15:33 Those who found the man gathering wood brought him to Moses, Aaron, and the whole congregation,
- Deuteronomy 17:8 If a case is too difficult for you to judge, whether the controversy within your gates is regarding bloodshed, lawsuits, or assaults, you must go up to the place the LORD your God will choose.