seekeroftruth
Well-Known Member
Numbers 27:1 The daughters of Zelophehad son of Hepher, the son of Gilead, the son of Makir, 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 2 and stood before Moses, Eleazar the priest, the leaders and the whole assembly at the entrance to the tent of meeting and said, 3 “Our father died in the wilderness. He was not among Korah’s followers, who banded together against the Lord, but he died for his own sin and left no sons. 4 Why should our father’s name disappear from his clan because he had no son? Give us property among our father’s relatives.”
5 So Moses brought their case before the Lord, 6 and the Lord said to him, 7 “What Zelophehad’s daughters are saying is right. You must certainly give them property as an inheritance among their father’s relatives and give their father’s inheritance to them.
8 “Say to the Israelites, ‘If a man dies and leaves no son, give his inheritance to his daughter. 9 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 for the Israelites, as the Lord commanded Moses.’”
5 So Moses brought their case before the Lord, 6 and the Lord said to him, 7 “What Zelophehad’s daughters are saying is right. You must certainly give them property as an inheritance among their father’s relatives and give their father’s inheritance to them.
8 “Say to the Israelites, ‘If a man dies and leaves no son, give his inheritance to his daughter. 9 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 for the Israelites, as the Lord commanded Moses.’”
Well now.... until now, women had no rights. Here's what the easy English site has to offer.
Like many societies, the Israelites had male leaders mostly. Men did important and powerful jobs. When a man died, his land and property belonged to his son. Usually, a daughter did not receive her father’s land and property after his death. People expected her to marry. Then she would share her husband’s land. Until she married, the men in her family were responsible for her.
Also, after a man died, the name of his family passed on to the male members of that family. Verse 1, that records Zelophehad’s ancestors, emphasises this.
But Zelophehad had no sons to receive his land and property after his death. His 5 daughters thought that this was unfair. So they went to Moses and the other leaders to speak about this. They were brave to do this. In their society, people expected women to obey all the customs. But these women knew that this particular custom was unfair. God’s promise to give the Promised Land to the Israelites was for both men and women. Even Korah’s descendants had a right to receive land. And Zelophehad had not joined with Korah to oppose God. (You can read what happened to Korah in Numbers chapter 16). Zelophehad’s sin was the same as the rest of his generation. So he had died in the desert with them. Zelophehad’s daughters explained this to Moses. And they asked him to give some land to them.
Moses realised that their request was very important. If he agreed to give some land to these women, the traditional rules about property would have to change. Moses’ decision would affect future generations. So he asked God what he should do.
God told Moses to grant the women’s request. Also, God gave to him new rules about inheritance. So this was not a favour (kind act) for Zelophehad’s daughters only. It was a law for all the Israelites. It protected the name of the family of a dead man who died without sons. It made sure that his property remained in the family.
This was very important. The Promised Land, and each family’s share in it, was precious to God. There was a relationship between each family’s share of land and Israel’s covenant with God. Therefore it was wrong for any family to lose their land, even if a man died without sons.
Also, after a man died, the name of his family passed on to the male members of that family. Verse 1, that records Zelophehad’s ancestors, emphasises this.
But Zelophehad had no sons to receive his land and property after his death. His 5 daughters thought that this was unfair. So they went to Moses and the other leaders to speak about this. They were brave to do this. In their society, people expected women to obey all the customs. But these women knew that this particular custom was unfair. God’s promise to give the Promised Land to the Israelites was for both men and women. Even Korah’s descendants had a right to receive land. And Zelophehad had not joined with Korah to oppose God. (You can read what happened to Korah in Numbers chapter 16). Zelophehad’s sin was the same as the rest of his generation. So he had died in the desert with them. Zelophehad’s daughters explained this to Moses. And they asked him to give some land to them.
Moses realised that their request was very important. If he agreed to give some land to these women, the traditional rules about property would have to change. Moses’ decision would affect future generations. So he asked God what he should do.
God told Moses to grant the women’s request. Also, God gave to him new rules about inheritance. So this was not a favour (kind act) for Zelophehad’s daughters only. It was a law for all the Israelites. It protected the name of the family of a dead man who died without sons. It made sure that his property remained in the family.
This was very important. The Promised Land, and each family’s share in it, was precious to God. There was a relationship between each family’s share of land and Israel’s covenant with God. Therefore it was wrong for any family to lose their land, even if a man died without sons.
I find it interesting that the story includes women from the lineage of Joseph. Remember, Joseph was thrown in a pit by his brothers. Joseph was then sold into slavery. Then he was falsely accused of rape and thrown in prison. He was released from prison when he interpreted dreams. Then he rescued his brothers and family from starvation. Joseph was a born leader. His great great whatever granddaughters are leaders as well. Good genes!
Oh and I found this video this morning and thought some of you might enjoy it. It's not a youtube so I have to settle for leaving you a link. Two toddlers sing "He Arose" for Easter.