Zelophehad's daughters were aggrieved at the laws of inheritance, so they brought the matter to Moses' attention:
1 The daughters of Zelophehad, of Manassite family—son of Hepher son of Gilead son of Machir son of Manasseh son of Joseph—came forward. The names of the daughters were Mahlah, Noah, Hoglah, Milcah, and Tirzah. 2 They stood before Moses, Eleazar the priest, the chieftains, and the whole assembly, at the entrance of the Tent of Meeting, and they said, 3 “Our father died in the wilderness. He was not one of the faction, Korah's faction, which banded together against the LORD, but died for his own sin; and he has left no sons. 4 Let not our father's name be lost to his clan just because he had no son! Give us a holding among our father's kinsmen!"
5 Moses brought their case before the LORD.
6 And the LORD said to Moses, 7 “The plea of Zelophehad's daughters is just: you should give them a hereditary holding among their father's kinsmen; transfer their father's share to them.
8 “Further, speak to the Israelite people as follows: If a man dies without leaving a son, you shall transfer his property to his daughter. 9 If he has no daughter, you shall assign his property to his brothers. 10 If he has no brothers, you shall assign his property to his father's brothers. 11 If his father had no brothers, you shall assign his property to his nearest relative in his own clan, and he shall inherit it.' This shall be the law of procedure for the Israelites, in accordance with the LORD's command to Moses.” (Numbers 27:1-11 (Tanakh))
In bringing their case before the Lord (Num. 27:5 T), Moses13C was following the Lord's instructions for handling bafflinq questions.
[Essay: Dealing with baffling questions.]
[Assignment: The Zelophehad Amendment sets a precedent for the amendment of the Covenant [contract]. Discuss. What are the implications?]
[Essay: What are the implications of the Zelophehad Amendment for Paul and his doctrine?]
Version: 20-Feb-2024