Context No. 2416 of 4322 · Numbers

Numbers 27:1-11: in context

1Then 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. 2They 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 the LORD in the company of Korah, but he died in his own sin. He had no sons. 4Why 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.” 5Moses brought their cause before the LORD. 6The LORD 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. 8You 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. 9If he has no daughter, then you shall give his inheritance to his brothers. 10If he has no brothers, then you shall give his inheritance to his father’s brothers. 11If 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 the LORD commanded Moses.’”

Five sisters, the daughters of Zelophehad, come and stand before Moses, the priest, and the whole assembly. Their father died leaving no sons, and under the custom his name and land would simply lapse. They make their case plainly: why should our father's name disappear from his clan because he had no son? Give us a possession. Moses brings their cause to the LORD, and God answers: the daughters speak right. Their inheritance is granted, and it becomes a standing law.

Two things stand out. The women do not resign themselves to an unfair custom; they bring a clear, respectful appeal to the proper place and ask for justice. And God does not defend the existing practice for its own sake; he says plainly that they are right and changes the rule. The story dignifies both the courage to ask and the openness to a rightful claim. What looked like settled precedent bent, at God's word, toward justice for the overlooked.

Is there a just concern I have swallowed as simply the way things are, when I am meant to bring it forward and ask?

Sources

Numbers 27:4: 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.
Numbers 27:7: The daughters of Zelophehad speak right. You shall surely give them a possession of an inheritance among their father's brothers.
Numbers 27:5: Moses brought their cause before the LORD.