Who were the daughters of Zelophehad?
The daughters of Zelophehad were five sisters – Mahlah, Noah, Hoglah, Milcah and Tirzah – who lived during the time of Moses and the Israelites’ journey through the wilderness after being delivered from slavery in Egypt. Their story is recounted in Numbers 27 in the Old Testament.
Zelophehad was part of the generation of Israelites that left Egypt under Moses’ leadership but died during the 40 years of wandering in the wilderness. He died without any sons to carry on his family name and inherit his share of the land that God had promised to give the Israelites once they entered Canaan. At this time, inheritance rights belonged exclusively to men and sons. If a man died without a son, his inheritance would pass to the next closest male relative.
After their father died, Zelophehad’s five daughters – Mahlah, Noah, Hoglah, Milcah and Tirzah – boldly approached Moses, Eleazar the priest, the leaders of the community and the rest of the Israelite community at the entrance of the Tent of Meeting. They pointed out that their father had not been part of Korah’s rebellion against Moses and God, but had died because of his own sin. They did not think it was fair that their family line should die out just because their father did not have a son. So they asked for the inheritance due to their father to pass to them so their family line could continue.
This was an unprecedented request since inheritance did not pass through the female line at that time. So Moses brought their case before God. The Lord responded that the daughters’ request was just and they had the right to inherit their father’s share. He established this as a legal precedent, saying:
“The daughters of Zelophehad are right in what they are saying; you shall indeed let them possess an inheritance among their father’s brothers and pass the inheritance of their father on to them.” (Numbers 27:7)
God also told Moses to tell the Israelites that when a man died without a son, his inheritance was to pass to his daughter. If he had no daughter either, it would go to his brothers. If he had no brothers, it would go to his father’s brothers. And if his father had no brothers, then the inheritance would go to the nearest kinsman in his clan so that his family line would continue and his property stay within his ancestral tribe.
The story continues in Numbers 36 where some heads of the Israelite families and clans raised a concern about what would happen if the daughters of Zelophehad married outside their tribe. They were worried that the inheritance would then pass out of Manasseh’s tribal allotment of land to another tribe.
So Moses brought the daughters before the leaders again and told them they could marry anyone they wished, as long as they married within their own tribal clan of Manasseh. The daughters agreed to this so that their inheritance would stay in the tribe. They married their cousins and their inheritance remained in Manasseh.
The five daughters’ brave act in standing up for their rights led to a pivotal change in Israelite inheritance law. Their story shows that:
– God values and listens to the requests of women as well as men. The daughters approached Moses and God heard their case.
– God is fair and just. He recognized the unfairness of the inheritance laws and changed them to allow daughters to inherit.
– God cares about continuing family lines. The new laws ensured inheritances stayed within tribes and clans.
– Women in the Bible could own property and wealth independent of fathers and husbands. The daughters inherited and controlled assets directly.
The daughters’ legacy lived on in the land named after them – “Mahlah, Noah, Hoglah, Milcah and Tirzah.” Their boldness led to blessing and established God’s justice for all His people.
The story of Zelophehad’s daughters occupies 15 verses in the Bible but it has an impact and meaning far beyond its small size. This account of five brave sisters leaving a legacy and enacting change reminds us that God hears and cares about each person equally. Though the culture and laws may prevent it, God values both men’s and women’s voices, rights and contributions. No one is excluded from being able to approach Him or influence others for justice and righteousness.
We see echoes of the daughters’ fight for inheritance rights in the battle for women’s rights through the centuries. Harriet Tubman, Susan B. Anthony, Emmeline Pankhurst, Rosa Parks, Malala Yousafzai and many others have all figuratively stood before authorities and society, demanding equal treatment, dignity and opportunity for women. They help expand rights, freedom and access for women just as Zelophehad’s daughters did.
The daughters boldly approached Moses at the Tent of Meeting, showing that women have as much access to spiritual leadership as men. This prefigures New Testament teachings that in Christ there is neither male nor female. The Holy Spirit is poured out on men and women alike who can prophesy, preach, evangelize, pastor and lead with divine giftings and grace.
As an example for us, we see that the daughters presented their plight humbly but firmly. They did not sulk, grow bitter or lash out in anger at being denied their rights. They did not undermine Moses’ leadership. But neither did they shrink back in resignation to the status quo. They appealed reasonably for what should be rightly theirs, on the grounds of justice and compassion. And God honored that.
We can emulate them by learning to advocate for whatever the Lord lays on our hearts – whether it is for ourselves or others – with humility, wisdom and Godly courage. Our inner conviction comes from Christ and does not require aggression or disrespect towards others. But it should give us tenacity to stand and speak out.
The daughters came together to enact change. They pursued justice as one. Whenever women come together in Godly unity, they make the seemingly impossible possible and overcome great odds. For truly “if God is for us, who can be against us?” (Romans 8:31)
So in summary, the five daughters of Zelophehad – Mahlah, Noah, Hoglah, Milcah and Tirzah – though small in earthly status, left a great legacy for women of faith and courage. Their lives inspire us today to step forward in pursuit of righteousness for God’s glory.
Keywords: Zelophehad’s daughters, Daughters of Zelophehad, Zelophehad, inheritance, women’s rights, faith, courage, legacy