ZELOPHEHAD zĭ lō’ fə hăd (צְלָפְחָ֣ד; LXX Σαλπααδ, possibly derived from sṩēl-“shadow,” and pahad—“fear,” “a shadow” or “protection from fear”), a descendant of Manasseh who died in the wilderness without male descendants (Num 26:33; 27:1, 7; 36:2, 6, 10, 11; Josh 17:3; 1 Chron 7:15). His five daughters, Mahlah, Noah, Hoglah, Milcah and Tirzah, came to Moses and Eleazar to plead for the recognition of women in such cases (Num 27:1ff.). As a result it was decided that when a man died without male heirs the inheritance would pass to his daughters. This law was later emended to prevent Israelite lands passing into non-Israelite hands through marriage. Women who inherited lands were required to marry within their own tribe (Num 36:2ff.).

Bibliography M. Noth, Die israelitischen Personennamen (1928), 256, T. Pedersen, Israel I (1926), 94-96.