parsha bit: Pinchas

[cellio]

In this week's parsha the daughters of Tzelofchad petition for an inheritance, noting that their father had no sons. Immediately following this God tells Moshe to ascend the mountain where he will die, and Moshe petitions God for a successor. Rashi connects the two: when God told him to grant the daughters' petition, Moshe thought that he might in turn be succeeded by one of his own sons. Instead God appointed Yehoshua, but consoled Moshe by having Yehoshua stand before Elazar, Moshe's nephew. Thus Moshe's honor did not leave his father's house, as Yehoshua would need Elazar to proceed. (Rashi on Num 27:21)