Add parallel Print Page Options

As God has said, an entire rebellious generation must die off before anyone can enter the long-awaited and much-anticipated land of milk and honey.

27 Now Zelophehad’s five daughters came forward. Zelophehad came from the Manasseh family (he was a son of Joseph’s). Zelophehad’s father was Hepher, his grandfather was Gilead, and his great-grandfather was Machir. The girls’ names were Mahlah, Noah, Hoglah, Milcah, and Tirzah. They approached the congregation tent and boldly stood in front of Moses, the priest Eleazar, the Israelite clan chiefs, and even before the whole congregation.

Zelophehad’s Daughters: Our father died in the wilderness; he wasn’t part of Korah’s coup that tried to undermine the authority of the Eternal One. He just died having committed his own wickedness like everyone else in his generation, but he left no sons. Why should his name disappear from his clan simply because no boys were born to him? We request that you give us land of our own, just as you are giving it to the descendants of our uncles.

Zelophehad didn’t have any sons, and their inheritance—claim to the land—will die with him and his place among the people for all generations.

Moses disappeared inside the tent to ask the Eternal One what should be done, and He answered Moses.

Eternal One: Zelophehad’s daughters make a good point. They’re right, so do as they ask. Give them an inheritance such as would be given to a son. They shall have land alongside their uncles’ families. Moreover, tell the Israelites that in the future they should pass the inheritance to the daughter if there is no son. If a man doesn’t have any daughters either, then after he dies, his property shall go to his brothers. 10 If he has no brothers, then it should go to his uncles. 11 If no uncles, then whoever is his closest relative, give the property to him. This is the system you should apply as a permanent law for the Israelites, coming from Me through Moses.

Read full chapter

Zelophehad’s Daughters(A)

27 The daughters of Zelophehad(B) son of Hepher,(C) the son of Gilead,(D) the son of Makir,(E) the son of Manasseh, belonged to the clans of Manasseh son of Joseph. The names of the daughters were Mahlah, Noah, Hoglah, Milkah and Tirzah. They came forward and stood before Moses,(F) Eleazar the priest, the leaders(G) and the whole assembly at the entrance to the tent of meeting(H) and said, “Our father died in the wilderness.(I) He was not among Korah’s followers, who banded together against the Lord,(J) but he died for his own sin and left no sons.(K) Why should our father’s name disappear from his clan because he had no son? Give us property among our father’s relatives.”

So Moses brought their case(L) before the Lord,(M) and the Lord said to him, “What Zelophehad’s daughters are saying is right. You must certainly give them property as an inheritance(N) among their father’s relatives and give their father’s inheritance to them.(O)

“Say to the Israelites, ‘If a man dies and leaves no son, give his inheritance to his daughter. If he has no daughter, give his inheritance to his brothers. 10 If he has no brothers, give his inheritance to his father’s brothers. 11 If his father had no brothers, give his inheritance to the nearest relative in his clan, that he may possess it. This is to have the force of law(P) for the Israelites, as the Lord commanded Moses.’”

Read full chapter