GIVE THEIR FATHER’S INHERITANCE TO THEM
Key verse: 7
NIV
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 2 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, 3 “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) 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(L) before the Lord,(M) 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(N) among their father’s relatives and give their father’s inheritance to them.(O)
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(P) for the Israelites, as the Lord commanded Moses.’”
Cross references
- Numbers 27:1 : 27:1-11pp — Nu 36:1-12
- Numbers 27:1 : S Nu 26:33
- Numbers 27:1 : Jos 17:2, 3
- Numbers 27:1 : S Nu 26:30
- Numbers 27:1 : S Ge 50:23; 1Ch 2:21
- Numbers 27:2 : S Nu 9:6
- Numbers 27:2 : Nu 1:16; 31:13; 32:2; 36:1
- Numbers 27:2 : Ex 40:2, 17
- Numbers 27:3 : Nu 26:65
- Numbers 27:3 : Nu 16:2
- Numbers 27:3 : Nu 26:33
- Numbers 27:5 : S Ge 25:22; S Ex 18:19
- Numbers 27:5 : S Nu 9:8
- Numbers 27:7 : Job 42:15
- Numbers 27:7 : ver 8; Jos 17:4
- Numbers 27:11 : Nu 35:29
Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
Source: BibleGateway
ESV
The Daughters of Zelophehad
27 Then drew near the daughters of (A)Zelophehad the son of Hepher, son of Gilead, son of Machir, son of Manasseh, from the clans of Manasseh the son of Joseph. The names of his daughters were: Mahlah, Noah, Hoglah, Milcah, and Tirzah. 2 And they stood before Moses and before Eleazar the priest and before the chiefs and all the congregation, at the entrance of the tent of meeting, saying, 3 “Our father (B)died in the wilderness. He was not among the company of those who gathered themselves together against the Lord (C)in the company of Korah, but (D)died for his own sin. And he had no sons. 4 Why should the name of our father be taken away from his clan because he had no son? (E)Give to us a possession among our father's brothers.”
5 Moses (F)brought their case before the Lord. 6 And the Lord said to Moses, 7 “The daughters of Zelophehad (G)are right. (H)You shall give them possession of an inheritance among their father's brothers and transfer the inheritance of their father to them. 8 And you shall speak to the people of Israel, saying, ‘If a man dies and has no son, then you shall transfer his inheritance to his daughter. 9 And if he has no daughter, then you shall give his inheritance to his brothers. 10 And if he has no brothers, then you shall give his inheritance to his father's brothers. 11 And if his father has no brothers, then you shall give his inheritance to the nearest (I)kinsman of his clan, and he shall possess it. And it shall be for the people of Israel (J)a statute and rule, as the Lord commanded Moses.’”
Read full chapterCross references
- Numbers 27:1 : ch. 26:33; 36:11; Josh. 17:3
- Numbers 27:3 : ch. 14:35; 26:64, 65
- Numbers 27:3 : ch. 16:1, 2
- Numbers 27:3 : [Ezek. 18:4]
- Numbers 27:4 : Josh. 17:4
- Numbers 27:5 : Ex. 18:19
- Numbers 27:7 : ch. 36:5
- Numbers 27:7 : ch. 36:2
- Numbers 27:11 : See Ruth 4:3-6; Jer. 32:6-9
- Numbers 27:11 : ch. 35:29
The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Text Edition: 2016. Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.
Source: BibleGateway
The census provided a means to divide the land based on the numbers of fighting men in each clan (26:4,53). But after all those counted at Sinai had died in the wilderness (26:64), one clan was left with no sons and only five daughters. These daughters were God’s hope for the next generation but were in danger of receiving nothing simply because they were female. When they courageously brought their case to Moses and the leaders, they were not overlooked. The LORD sided with the daughters: “You must certainly give them property…” Although the culture and society had no means to provide justice, God himself changed the law and provided for this family. In our day, systems of the world still limit justice for the vulnerable. Jesus teaches us to cry out to God, who will hear and bring justice quickly (Lk 18:7-8). Like these daughters, our inheritance is kept secure by the faithfulness of our God.
On the basis of this unique case, God expanded the laws in Israel in order to maintain each clan’s promised inheritance. The nearest relative had to take possession of the dead man’s inheritance. This may be the rule behind the kinsman-redeemer, Boaz (Ruth 2:2
), whose story points to Christ.
Prayer: Father, thank you for caring for the vulnerable and weak and for providing an inheritance that does not perish, spoil or fade away. Grant us courage to cry out to you for justice.
One Word: Our inheritance comes from the LORD.
