Single lesson
The Daughters of Zelophehad Ask for an Inheritance
Numbers 27:1–11
In this lesson, children hear how five sisters brought an important question to Moses and the leaders. The class will trace what they asked, how Moses responded, and what God said for their family and for Israel.
Before you teach
Numbers 27:1–11 tells about the daughters of Zelophehad: Mahlah, Noah, Hoglah, Milcah, and Tirzah. Their father had died and had no sons, so they asked for a possession among their father’s family. Moses brought their case before Yahweh, and Yahweh answered with both a decision for them and a rule for Israel.
Students will be able to put the account in order and explain that the daughters asked for an inheritance, Moses brought the matter before Yahweh, and Yahweh said their claim was right and gave a rule for inheritance.
Welcome: Meet the five daughters
4 minBegin by introducing the names in the passage: Mahlah, Noah, Hoglah, Milcah, and Tirzah. Explain that they are identified as the daughters of Zelophehad and that they came near together. Ask children to listen for what these sisters wanted and whom they spoke to.
Numbers 27:1
Read and explain: What did they ask?
8 minRead verses 2–4 aloud. Point out that the daughters stood before Moses, Eleazar the priest, the princes, and all the congregation at the door of the Tent of Meeting. They explained that their father had died, had no sons, and they asked for a possession among their father’s brothers so his name would not be taken away from his family.
Numbers 27:2, Numbers 27:3, Numbers 27:4
Discuss: What did Moses do?
5 minShow the children that Moses did not answer by himself. He brought their cause before Yahweh. Then Yahweh spoke to Moses. This helps children notice the order of the passage: the daughters asked, Moses brought the matter to Yahweh, and Yahweh gave the answer.
Numbers 27:5, Numbers 27:6
Make and respond: Put the account in order
8 minChildren make simple sequence cards with short phrases or drawings: the five daughters come near, they stand before the leaders, they explain about their father, Moses brings the cause before Yahweh, Yahweh says they speak right, and the inheritance rule is given. As they order the cards, ask them to retell the account in their own words.
Numbers 27:1, Numbers 27:2, Numbers 27:5, Numbers 27:7, Numbers 27:8, Numbers 27:11
Closing: Hear the outcome
5 minFinish by reading verses 7–11. Emphasise that Yahweh said the daughters spoke right and that they were to receive an inheritance. Then explain that Yahweh also gave a statute and ordinance for Israel about who would receive an inheritance when a man died. Review the order together one final time.
Numbers 27:7, Numbers 27:8, Numbers 27:9, Numbers 27:10, Numbers 27:11
Questions to explore
Who were the five daughters named in this passage?
Look carefully at the list at the start of the account and say each name slowly together.
Numbers 27:1
What reason did the daughters give for asking for a possession?
Listen for what they said about their father having no sons and about his name among his family.
Numbers 27:3, Numbers 27:4
What did Moses do before any decision was announced?
Find the short verse that tells exactly where Moses took their cause.
Numbers 27:5
Make, think or respond
Inheritance Story Sequence Cards
What you’ll need
- plain paper or card
- pencils or textas
- scissors
- Bible
Try it together
- Read Numbers 27:1–11 aloud once.
- Help children choose six key moments from the passage and draw or write one on each card.
- Mix the cards up and work together to place them in the right order.
- Invite each child or pair to retell the account using the ordered cards.
- Finish by checking the order against the Bible verses.
This activity helps children sequence the account and notice the choices and outcomes stated in Numbers 27:1–11.
Adapt for your group
- For younger children, prepare six picture prompts in advance and let them place the cards in order before retelling the story with short phrases.
- For older or more confident children, add verse numbers to the cards and ask them to match each scene to the exact verse before explaining the inheritance rule in verses 8–11.
An optional closing prayer
You may pray: “God, thank you that we can listen to your word. Help us remember what the daughters asked, what Moses did, and what you said. Help us to listen carefully and speak truthfully. Amen.”
Read the Bible passage World English Bible Classic
Numbers 27
1 Then the daughters of Zelophehad, the son of Hepher, the son of Gilead, the son of Machir, the son of Manasseh, of the families of Manasseh the son of Joseph came near. These are the names of his daughters: Mahlah, Noah, Hoglah, Milcah, and Tirzah.
2 They stood before Moses, before Eleazar the priest, and before the princes and all the congregation, at the door of the Tent of Meeting, saying,
3 “Our father died in the wilderness. He was not among the company of those who gathered themselves together against Yahweh in the company of Korah, but he died in his own sin. He had no sons.
4 Why should the name of our father be taken away from among his family, because he had no son? Give to us a possession among the brothers of our father.”
5 Moses brought their cause before Yahweh.
6 Yahweh spoke to Moses, saying,
7 “The daughters of Zelophehad speak right. You shall surely give them a possession of an inheritance among their father’s brothers. You shall cause the inheritance of their father to pass to them.
8 You shall speak to the children of Israel, saying, ‘If a man dies, and has no son, then you shall cause his inheritance to pass to his daughter.
9 If he has no daughter, then you shall give his inheritance to his brothers.
10 If he has no brothers, then you shall give his inheritance to his father’s brothers.
11 If his father has no brothers, then you shall give his inheritance to his kinsman who is next to him of his family, and he shall possess it. This shall be a statute and ordinance for the children of Israel, as Yahweh commanded Moses.’ ”
World English Bible Classic. Public domain.