Numbers 27 in the early church

32 passages quote, allude to, or echo Numbers 27, grouped by verse; passages on the same verse are in date order. Verse text from the Berean Standard Bible (public domain). References use the Protestant English Bible's numbering, with a writer's own numbering in brackets where it differs.

Verses: 1 · 3 · 6 · 7 · 8 · 12 · 13 · 15 · 16 · 17 · 18

Numbers 27:1

Now the daughters of Zelophehad son of Hepher, the son of Gilead, the son of Machir, the son of Manasseh, belonged to the clans of Manasseh son of Joseph. These were the names of his daughters: Mahlah, Noah, Hoglah, Milcah, and Tirzah. They approached
BSB

Reference	Passage	Kind	Date
Num 27:1	Arabic Pentateuch fragment XIX (on Num 25. 26) · Hippolytus of Rome	allusion, high confidence	unknown (transmitted in a medieval Arabic catena)
Num 27:1–4	Homilies on Numbers 22.1 · Origen	allusion, high confidence	ca. 238–250 (Rufinus's translation ca. 400–410)
Num 27:1–7	Letter 65.1 · Jerome	allusion, high confidence	ca. 370–419
Num 27:1	Letter 78.43 · Jerome	allusion, high confidence	ca. 370–419
Num 27:1–7	Against Helvidius 17 · Jerome	allusion, high confidence	ca. 383
Num 27:1–11	Commentary on Jeremiah 6.32 · Jerome	allusion, high confidence	ca. 414-419
Num 27:1–11	Part 2, chapter 16 · Quodvultdeus of Carthage	allusion, high confidence	ca. 445-450

Numbers 27:3

“Our father died in the wilderness, but he was not among the followers of Korah who gathered together against the LORD. Instead, he died because of his own sin, and he had no sons.
BSB

Reference	Passage	Kind	Date
Num 27:3	Homilies on Numbers 22.1 · Origen	allusion, high confidence	ca. 238–250 (Rufinus's translation ca. 400–410)

Numbers 27:6

and the LORD answered him,
BSB

Reference	Passage	Kind	Date
Num 27:6–11	Homilies on Numbers 22.1 · Origen	quotation, high confidence	ca. 238–250 (Rufinus's translation ca. 400–410)

Numbers 27:7

“The daughters of Zelophehad speak correctly. You certainly must give them property as an inheritance among their father’s brothers and transfer their father’s inheritance to them.
BSB

Reference	Passage	Kind	Date
Num 27:7	Letter 78.43 · Jerome	allusion, high confidence	ca. 370–419

Numbers 27:8

Furthermore, you shall say to the Israelites, ‘If a man dies and leaves no son, you are to transfer his inheritance to his daughter.
BSB

Reference	Passage	Kind	Date
Num 27:8–11	Homilies on Numbers 22.2 · Origen	allusion, high confidence	ca. 238–250 (Rufinus's translation ca. 400–410)
Num 27:8–11	Part 2, chapter 1 · Quodvultdeus of Carthage	allusion, medium confidence	ca. 445-450

Numbers 27:12

Then the LORD said to Moses, “Go up this mountain of the Abarim range and see the land that I have given the Israelites.
BSB

Reference	Passage	Kind	Date
Num 27:12–17	Homilies on Numbers 22.3 · Origen	quotation, high confidence	ca. 238–250 (Rufinus's translation ca. 400–410)

Numbers 27:13

After you have seen it, you too will be gathered to your people, as your brother Aaron was;
BSB

Reference	Passage	Kind	Date
Num 27:13–14	Homilies on Numbers 22.3 · Origen	quotation, high confidence	ca. 238–250 (Rufinus's translation ca. 400–410)

Numbers 27:15

So Moses appealed to the LORD,
BSB

Reference	Passage	Kind	Date
Num 27:15–17	Homilies on Numbers 22.4 · Origen	quotation, high confidence	ca. 238–250 (Rufinus's translation ca. 400–410)
Num 27:15–23	Letters 81, 82 · Basil of Caesarea	allusion, high confidence	ca. 357–378

Numbers 27:16

“May the LORD, the God of the spirits of all flesh, appoint a man over the congregation
BSB

Reference	Passage	Kind	Date
Num 27:16	1 Clement 59.3 · Clement of Rome	allusion, medium confidence	ca. 95–97 (range ca. 70–100)
Num 27:16	1 Clement 64.1 · Clement of Rome	allusion, medium confidence	ca. 95–97 (range ca. 70–100)
Num 27:16	Long recension, Maria inscription · Anonymous	quotation, high confidence	later 4th century (probable)
Num 27:16	Apostolic Constitutions 8.38.4 · Anonymous	quotation, medium confidence	ca. 380

Numbers 27:17

who will go out and come in before them, and who will lead them out and bring them in, so that the congregation of the LORD will not be like sheep without a shepherd.”
BSB

Reference	Passage	Kind	Date
Num 27:17	The Instructor 1.7.56 · Clement of Alexandria	echo, medium confidence	ca. 190–200
Num 27:17	Demonstration 14.25 · Aphrahat	quotation, medium confidence	337-345
Num 27:17	Long recension, Hero 5 · Anonymous	quotation, high confidence	later 4th century (probable)
Num 27:17	Long recension, Maria inscription · Anonymous	quotation, high confidence	later 4th century (probable)

Numbers 27:18

And the LORD replied to Moses, “Take Joshua son of Nun, a man with the Spirit in him, and lay your hands on him.
BSB

Reference	Passage	Kind	Date
Num 27:18	Dialogue with Trypho 49.6 · Justin Martyr	allusion, high confidence	ca. 155–160
Num 27:18	Fragment 19 · Irenaeus of Lyons	quotation, high confidence	ca. 170–200
Num 27:18–20	Homilies on Numbers 22.4 · Origen	quotation, high confidence	ca. 238–250 (Rufinus's translation ca. 400–410)
Num 27:18	Recognitions 1.38 · Anonymous	allusion, medium confidence	Greek original 3rd–4th century; Rufinus's Latin translation before 407
Num 27:18	Long recension, Hero 5 · Anonymous	allusion, high confidence	later 4th century (probable)
Num 27:18	Oration 12.1 · Gregory of Nazianzus	allusion, high confidence	ca. 362–383
Num 27:18	Letter 78.43 · Jerome	allusion, high confidence	ca. 370–419
Num 27:18	Homilies on Matthew 9.5 · John Chrysostom	allusion, medium confidence	ca. 390