The Daughters of Zelophehad Ask for an Inheritance

Zelophehad belonged to the family line of Manasseh, son of Joseph. He had five daughters: Mahlah, Noah, Hoglah, Milcah, and Tirzah. These women came forward together and stood before Moses, Eleazar the priest, the leaders, and the whole community at the entrance to the Tent of Meeting.

They explained that their father had died in the wilderness. He had not joined the group that rebelled with Korah against the Lord. He had died in his own sin, and he had no sons. So the sisters spoke about their father’s place in the family.

They asked why their father’s name should disappear from among his family just because he had no son. Then they made their request: give us a possession among our father’s brothers.

Moses did not settle the matter by himself. He brought their case before the Lord. Then the Lord told Moses that the daughters of Zelophehad were right. They were to receive a possession of inheritance among their father’s brothers, and their father’s inheritance was to pass to them.

Then God gave a rule for Israel. If a man died with no son, his inheritance was to pass to his daughter. If he had no daughter, it was to go to his brothers. If he had no brothers, it was to go to his father’s brothers. If his father had no brothers, it was to go to the nearest relative in the family. This became a statute and ordinance for Israel, as the Lord commanded Moses.