Mbalo 3 - KBTP & KJV

‘Our father died in the wilderness... Why should our father’s name disappear from his clan because he had no son Give us property among our father’s relatives.’”-8

As we celebrate Women’s Month, we honor the courage, faith, and resilience of women who shaped biblical history. Among these remarkable figures are Mahlah, Noah, Hoglah, Milkah, and Tirzah, the daughters of Zelophehad. Their boldness in claiming their inheritance set a precedent for justice and equality, proving that God values the voices of women.

A Bold Stand for Justice

During the Israelites’ journey to the Promised Land, inheritance was typically passed from father to son. However, Zelophehad had no sons—only daughters. These five women refused to be left without a heritage and took their case to Moses and the leaders.

“They came forward and stood before Moses, Eleazar the priest, the leaders and the whole assembly at the entrance to the tent of meeting and said, ‘Our father died in the wilderness… Why should our father’s name disappear from his clan because he had no son? Give us property among our father’s relatives.’” (Numbers 27:2-4, NIV)

These sisters stepped into a space where women traditionally had no say. Their courage teaches us that when something isn’t right, we shouldn’t be afraid to challenge the status quo.

God’s Approval of Women’s Voices

Moses took their case before God, and God Himself affirmed their request, showing that He values justice and fairness for all.

“So the Lord said to him, ‘What Zelophehad’s daughters are saying is right. You must certainly give them property as an inheritance among their father’s relatives and give their father’s inheritance to them.’”(Numbers 27:6-7, NIV)

God listens when we speak up for what is right. He values justice and is not bound by human traditions that limit women’s roles.

Faith That Changed the Law

Because of these women’s faith and persistence, a new law was established, ensuring that if a man died without a son, his daughters could inherit his land.

“This is what the Lord commands for Zelophehad’s daughters: You must give them property as an inheritance… Say to the Israelites, ‘If a man dies and leaves no son, give his inheritance to his daughter.’”(Numbers 27:8, NIV)

Faith isn’t just about believing; it’s about taking action and trusting God to bring justice. Their courage led to a lasting legal shift, proving that faith and action bring transformation.

A Legacy of Strength and Determination

Even after the law was established, these women continued to follow God’s direction, ensuring that their inheritance remained within their tribe, as per God’s command.

“No inheritance in Israel is to pass from one tribe to another, for every Israelite shall keep the tribal inheritance of their ancestors.” (Numbers 36:7, NIV)

Women are not just bystanders in history, we are active participants in God’s plans. When God opens a door, we must walk through it with confidence.

Women Have a Right to Be Heard

The courage of Zelophehad’s daughters echoes the promise that God is a defender of those who seek justice. Their voices mattered, and their plea changed an entire legal system.

“Defend the weak and the fatherless; uphold the cause of the poor and the oppressed.” (Psalm 82:3, NIV)

Advocating for justice is not just a worldly pursuit, it is a godly mission. When we stand for what is right, we align ourselves with God’s heart.

Courage Breaks Barriers

These five sisters refused to accept limitations. They believed in a God who grants justice and stepped forward, even when society didn’t favor them.

“Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.” (Joshua 1:9, NIV)

Boldness in faith leads to breakthrough. When we trust in God and take courageous steps, He goes before us and makes a way.

Women Are a Vital Part of God’s Plan

Their story proves that women have a place in God’s grand design. From the beginning, He intended for both men and women to carry out His will.

“There is neither Jew nor Gentile, neither slave nor free, nor is there male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus.” (Galatians 3:28, NIV)

Women are equally called to fulfill God’s purposes. The daughters of Zelophehad remind us that in Christ, we all have a divine inheritance.

A Celebration of Women’s Strength

As we celebrate Women’s Month, let us be inspired by Mahlah, Noah, Hoglah, Milkah, and Tirzah, women who dared to believe in justice and changed history. Like them, we can stand boldly, speak up for what is right, and trust God to make a way.

“God is within her, she will not fall; God will help her at break of day.” (Psalm 46:5, NIV)

May their story remind us that women are not just part of history, they shape it. Let us rise with courage, faith, and determination, knowing that God values our voices and honors our faith.

Bakololo ba Aroni

1 Edzi ithawu ngekwe nsha wa Aroni na Mushe mu zhuba Yahwe labakalebeleka na Mushe pezhugwi kwe Dombo le Sinai. 2 Aroni wakabe ana bakololo bali banna: Mbano ali Nadabu, etobegwa ndi Abihu, Abihu etobegwa ndi Eleazari, Eleazari etobegwa ndi Ithamari. 3 Bakazhodziwa bebigigwa nshingo we bupirisiti. 4 Koga Nadabu na Abihu bakafila mbeli kwa Yahwe pabakayisa moto wakatemapala mbeli kwa Yahwe mu tjilambanyika tje Sinai, befa basina bana. Ndizo Eleazari na Ithamari bakashinga bali bapirisiti butjilo gose gwa Aroni tate babo.

Balevi banobigigwa kushingila bapirisiti

5 Yahwe bakadwa Mushe bakati, 6 “Sedzedza ludzi gwa Levi mbeli kwe mpirisiti Aroni kuti babe babhatshi babe. 7 Bakafanila kuti babhatshe Aroni kose ne gubungano lose mu mishingo ye nshasha we bushanganilo abe shinga mu bugalo gwe Ndzimu. 8 Batjengete zwija zose zwe nshasha we bushanganilo, kakale bebhatsha bathu be Iziraela kushinga mu bugalo gwe Ndzimu. 9 Upe Aroni ne bakololo babe Balevi, wakabapiwa nge buzhalo, be shalugwa mu bathu be Iziraela. 10 Unowobiga Aroni ne bakololo babe kushinga bali bapirisiti, koga ha kuna mmwe upoga ungagwisa kukuthama abulawe.” 11 Yahwe bakadwa Mushe bakati, 12 “Bona, ndazwitolegwa Balevi mu bathu be Iziraela kube bangu mu bumo gwe mbano imwe ne imwe inozwagwa mu bathu be Iziraela. Balevi banowobe bangu, 13 ngobe mbano dzose nde dzangu, ngoti mu zhuba landakabulaya mbano dzose dze Baegipiti, ndaka zwishaluligwa mbano dzose mu Iziraela, mbano ye nthu kene ye ithuwo, dzowobe dzangu, ndimi Yahwe.” 14 Yahwe bakadwa Mushe kakale bali mu tjilambanyika tje Sinai bakati, 15 “Bala Balevi nge ng'umba dza botate babo nenge misha yabo, ubale kudwa mu nlume mmwe ne mmwe ana mwedzi ng'ompela akazwagwa kuyenda pezhugwi.” 16 Ndizo Mushe kababala kuyendidzana ne dama la Yahwe sekwa bandwa. 17 Awa ndiwo mazina e bakololo ba Levi: Geshoni na Kohati na Merari. 18 Awa mazina e bakololo ba Geshoni nge misha yabo: Libeni na Shimeyi 19 Bakololo ba Kohati nge misha yabo ndi Amuramu na Izha na Heburoni na Uziele. 20 Bakololo ba Merari nge misha yabo ndi Mahili na Mushi. Eyi ndiyo misha ye Balevi nge ng'umba dza botate babo.

21 Bakololo ba Geshoni nge misha yabo ndi Libini na Shimeyi. Eyi ndiyo misha ye Bageshoni nge ng'umba dza botate babo. 22 Bakabagwa kudwa mu bana betjilume bana mwedzi ng'ompela bakazwagwa kuyenda pezhugwi bakabe zwiwulu zwili kutendeka zwina mazana ali mashanu (7 500). 23 Be misha ye Bageshoni bakabe bakafanila baka mishasha ku bhezuba shule kwe bugalo gwe Ndzimu, 24 na Eliyasafu nkololo wa Laeli ali nsholo we ludzi gwe Bageshoni. 25 Bageshoni bakabe bakalingisana ngotjengeta bugalo gwe Ndzimu ne mukati kwago ne tjinogufukidza ne tjisitilo tji pa nkoba we nshasha we bushanganilo 26 ne zwisitilo zwakatendenyedza bugalo gwe Ndzimu ne tjibeso tjinopisigwa zwibhayilo ne tjisitilo tje nkoba we nsha wakatendenyedza nshasha we bushanganilo ne misungo yawo, nshingo wose wakalingisana ngoshingwa ipapo.

27 Ng'umba ya Kohati yakabe ili ye nsha we Baamuramu ne nsha we Baizhari ne nsha we Baheburoni ne nsha we Bauzieli, misha iyeyi ndiyo ye Bakohati. 28 Balume bose bakabagwa kudwa muna una mwedzi ng'ompela akazwagwa kuyenda pezhugwi, bakabe bali zwiwulu zwili zhanakadzi ne mazana ali tathatu (8 600), betjengeta mishingo ye bugalo gwakayengemala. 29 Misha ye bakololo ba Kohati yakabe yakafanila gala ku burwa gwe bugalo gwe Ndzimu, 30 bana Elizafani nkololo wa Uziele ali ntungamili we ng'umba dza botate be misha ye Bakohati. 31 Nshingo wabo wakabe uli kutjengeta Bhokisi le Tjidumano tje Ndzimu ne tafuli ne tjigadziko tje mavone ne zwibeso ne zwija zwe bugalo gwakayengemala gunoshingisiwa nge bapirisiti ne tjisitilo, nshingo wose wakalingisana ngoshingwa ipapo.

32 Eleazari nkololo wa Aroni mpirisiti, wakabe ali ntungamili we batungamili be Balevi, kakale akalingilila banoshinga mu bugalo gwakayengemala. 33 Bakololo ba Merari yakabe ili Maheli na Mushi. Eyi ndiyo misha ye Bamerari nge ng'umba dza botate babo. 34 Balume bose bakabagwa kudwa muna ana mwedzi ng'ompela akazwagwa kuyenda pezhugwi bakabe zwiwulu zwili tathatu ne mazana ali mabili (6 200). 35 Ntungamili we ng'umba ya botate be misha ya Merari wakabe ali Zuriele nkololo wa Abihaile, bakabe bakafanila gala ku bunandzwa gwe bugalo gwe Ndzimu. 36 Bakololo ba Merari bakabigwa kutjengeta makwasayili e bugalo gwe Ndzimu ne makoko ne phanda ne misemo ne zwithu zwazo zose ne nshingo wose wakalingisana ne zwithu izwezwi, 37 nenge phanda dzakapoteleka nsha ne misemo yadzo ne mbambo ne misungo yawo.

38 Mushe na Aroni ne bakololo babe bakabe bakafanila gala mbeli kwe bugalo gwe Ndzimu ku bhezhuba, mbeli kwe nshasha we bushanganilo, bakalingisana ne kunobhuda zhuba, bakalingisana ngoshinga mishingo ye bugalo gwakayengemala ne tjimwe ne tjimwe tjakafanila yitigwa bathu be Iziraela, koga kwakabe kuti ntaya esedzela ebulawa. 39 Balevi bose be tjilume kudwa mu mwana we mwedzi azwagwa kuyenda pezhugwi bakabagwa ndi Mushe na Aroni nge misha yabo nge ndaulo ya Yahwe, bakabe bali zwiwulu zwili makumi mabili ana mabili (22 000).

Balevi banotola bumo gwe bakololo be mbano

40 Yahwe bakadwa Mushe bakati, “Bala bana bose be bathu be Iziraela be mbano be tjilume, kutangisa ne una mwedzi akazwagwa kuyenda pezhugwi, ubabale nge mazina. 41 Ngono unditolele Balevi, mu bumo gwe mbano dzose dze bathu be Iziraela, ne bana be kutanga be zwithuwo zwe Balevi mu bumo gwe bana be kutanga be zwithuwo zwe bathu be Iziraela, ndimi Yahwe.” 42 Ndizo Mushe kabala mbano dzose dze bathu be Iziraela sekwa akadwiwa ndi Yahwe. 43 Ngono be tjilume bose be mbano bakabagwa nge mazina, kudwa muna una mwedzi ng'ompela kuyenda pezhugwi, bakabe bali zwiwulu zwili makumi mabili ana bubili ne mazana ali mabili ana makumi ali kutendeka ana butatu (22 273).

44 Yahwe bakadwa Mushe bakati, 45 “Tjitola Balevi mu bumo gwe mbano dzose dze bathu be Iziraela ne zwithuwo zwe Balevi mu bumo gwabo, ngono Balevi banowobe bangu, ndimi Yahwe. 46 Se bana be tjilume be mbano be bathu be Iziraela bekulila be Balevi nge bali mazana mabili ana makumi ali kutendeka ne butatu, (273) bakafanila dzutunula mbalo ipezhugwi kwe mbalo ye Balevi. 47 Ng'ompela unlipile nge maloso e siliva ali mashanu, kuyendidzana nge shekele dze bugalo gwakayengemala, shekele kuli gira dzili makumi mabili (20), 48 mari akadzutunula be mbalo yakapinda uape Aroni ne bakololo babe.” 49 Mushe katola mari ye kudzutunugwa muna ibaba bakabe bepinda nge mbalo yakadzutunugwa nge Balevi 50 Wakatola maloso e shekele dzili tjiwulu tjing'ompela tjina mazana matatu ana makumi ali tathatu ana mashanu (1 365) kuyendizana ne shekele dze bugalo gwakayengemala mu mbano dze bathu be Iziraela. 51 Mari e kudzutunugwa Mushe kaapa Aroni ne bakololo babe kuyendidzana ne dama la Yahwe sekwa Yahwe bakabe bandwa.

1 These also are the generations of Aaron and Moses in the day that the LORD spake with Moses in mount Sinai. 2 And these are the names of the sons of Aaron; Nadab the firstborn, and Abihu, Eleazar, and Ithamar. 3 These are the names of the sons of Aaron, the priests which were anointed, whom he consecrated to minister in the priest’s office. 4 And Nadab and Abihu died before the LORD, when they offered strange fire before the LORD, in the wilderness of Sinai, and they had no children: and Eleazar and Ithamar ministered in the priest’s office in the sight of Aaron their father.

5 ¶ And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying, 6 Bring the tribe of Levi near, and present them before Aaron the priest, that they may minister unto him. 7 And they shall keep his charge, and the charge of the whole congregation before the tabernacle of the congregation, to do the service of the tabernacle. 8 And they shall keep all the instruments of the tabernacle of the congregation, and the charge of the children of Israel, to do the service of the tabernacle. 9 And thou shalt give the Levites unto Aaron and to his sons: they are wholly given unto him out of the children of Israel. 10 And thou shalt appoint Aaron and his sons, and they shall wait on their priest’s office: and the stranger that cometh nigh shall be put to death. 11 And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying, 12 And I, behold, I have taken the Levites from among the children of Israel instead of all the firstborn that openeth the matrix among the children of Israel: therefore the Levites shall be mine; 13 Because all the firstborn are mine; for on the day that I smote all the firstborn in the land of Egypt I hallowed unto me all the firstborn in Israel, both man and beast: mine shall they be: I am the LORD.

14 ¶ And the LORD spake unto Moses in the wilderness of Sinai, saying, 15 Number the children of Levi after the house of their fathers, by their families: every male from a month old and upward shalt thou number them. 16 And Moses numbered them according to the word of the LORD, as he was commanded. 17 And these were the sons of Levi by their names; Gershon, and Kohath, and Merari. 18 And these are the names of the sons of Gershon by their families; Libni, and Shimei. 19 And the sons of Kohath by their families; Amram, and Izehar, Hebron, and Uzziel. 20 And the sons of Merari by their families; Mahli, and Mushi. These are the families of the Levites according to the house of their fathers. 21 Of Gershon was the family of the Libnites, and the family of the Shimites: these are the families of the Gershonites. 22 Those that were numbered of them, according to the number of all the males, from a month old and upward, even those that were numbered of them were seven thousand and five hundred. 23 The families of the Gershonites shall pitch behind the tabernacle westward. 24 And the chief of the house of the father of the Gershonites shall be Eliasaph the son of Lael. 25 And the charge of the sons of Gershon in the tabernacle of the congregation shall be the tabernacle, and the tent, the covering thereof, and the hanging for the door of the tabernacle of the congregation, 26 And the hangings of the court, and the curtain for the door of the court, which is by the tabernacle, and by the altar round about, and the cords of it for all the service thereof.

27 ¶ And of Kohath was the family of the Amramites, and the family of the Izeharites, and the family of the Hebronites, and the family of the Uzzielites: these are the families of the Kohathites. 28 In the number of all the males, from a month old and upward, were eight thousand and six hundred, keeping the charge of the sanctuary. 29 The families of the sons of Kohath shall pitch on the side of the tabernacle southward. 30 And the chief of the house of the father of the families of the Kohathites shall be Elizaphan the son of Uzziel. 31 And their charge shall be the ark, and the table, and the candlestick, and the altars, and the vessels of the sanctuary wherewith they minister, and the hanging, and all the service thereof. 32 And Eleazar the son of Aaron the priest shall be chief over the chief of the Levites, and have the oversight of them that keep the charge of the sanctuary.

33 ¶ Of Merari was the family of the Mahlites, and the family of the Mushites: these are the families of Merari. 34 And those that were numbered of them, according to the number of all the males, from a month old and upward, were six thousand and two hundred. 35 And the chief of the house of the father of the families of Merari was Zuriel the son of Abihail: these shall pitch on the side of the tabernacle northward. 36 And under the custody and charge of the sons of Merari shall be the boards of the tabernacle, and the bars thereof, and the pillars thereof, and the sockets thereof, and all the vessels thereof, and all that serveth thereto, 37 And the pillars of the court round about, and their sockets, and their pins, and their cords.

38 ¶ But those that encamp before the tabernacle toward the east, even before the tabernacle of the congregation eastward, shall be Moses, and Aaron and his sons, keeping the charge of the sanctuary for the charge of the children of Israel; and the stranger that cometh nigh shall be put to death. 39 All that were numbered of the Levites, which Moses and Aaron numbered at the commandment of the LORD, throughout their families, all the males from a month old and upward, were twenty and two thousand.

40 ¶ And the LORD said unto Moses, Number all the firstborn of the males of the children of Israel from a month old and upward, and take the number of their names. 41 And thou shalt take the Levites for me (I am the LORD) instead of all the firstborn among the children of Israel; and the cattle of the Levites instead of all the firstlings among the cattle of the children of Israel. 42 And Moses numbered, as the LORD commanded him, all the firstborn among the children of Israel. 43 And all the firstborn males by the number of names, from a month old and upward, of those that were numbered of them, were twenty and two thousand two hundred and threescore and thirteen.

44 ¶ And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying, 45 Take the Levites instead of all the firstborn among the children of Israel, and the cattle of the Levites instead of their cattle; and the Levites shall be mine: I am the LORD. 46 And for those that are to be redeemed of the two hundred and threescore and thirteen of the firstborn of the children of Israel, which are more than the Levites; 47 Thou shalt even take five shekels apiece by the poll, after the shekel of the sanctuary shalt thou take them: (the shekel is twenty gerahs:) 48 And thou shalt give the money, wherewith the odd number of them is to be redeemed, unto Aaron and to his sons. 49 And Moses took the redemption money of them that were over and above them that were redeemed by the Levites: 50 Of the firstborn of the children of Israel took he the money; a thousand three hundred and threescore and five shekels , after the shekel of the sanctuary: 51 And Moses gave the money of them that were redeemed unto Aaron and to his sons, according to the word of the LORD, as the LORD commanded Moses.