Daughters of Zelophehad
Numbers 27:1-11
Num.27.1 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- ותקרבנה: VERB,qal,impf,3,f,pl
- בנות: NOUN,f,pl,abs
- צלפחד: PN,m,sg
- בן: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- חפר: PN,m,sg
- בן: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- גלעד: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- בן: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- מכיר: NOUN,prop,m,sg,abs
- בן: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- מנשה: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- למשפחת: PREP+NOUN,f,sg,const
- מנשה: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- בן: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- יוסף: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- ואלה: CONJ+DEM,pl,abs
- שמות: NOUN,m,pl,abs
- בנתיו: NOUN,f,pl,abs+3ms
- מחלה: PN,f,sg
- נעה: NOUN,f,sg,abs
- וחגלה: CONJ+NOUN,f,sg,abs
- ומלכה: CONJ+NOUN,f,sg,abs
- ותרצה: CONJ+PN,f,sg
Parallels
- Numbers 27:7-11 (structural): Immediate continuation of the episode: God’s ruling to Moses that the daughters of Zelophehad may inherit their father’s property when he had no sons (direct legal resolution of their petition).
- Numbers 36:1-12 (structural): Follow-up legal clarification about tribal land inheritance and the requirement that the heiresses marry within their tribe so the inheritance remains in the ancestral clan (addresses consequences of the Zelophehad ruling).
- Joshua 17:3-6 (allusion): Narrative recounting of the same claim and its practical outcome during the allotment of Canaan — the daughters of Zelophehad receive their inheritance among the children of Joseph/Manasseh.
- Deuteronomy 25:5-10 (thematic): Law of levirate marriage intended to preserve a deceased man’s name and property in his family—a related legal principle concerned with maintaining family inheritance when direct male heirs are lacking.
- Ruth 4:9-10 (thematic): Kinsman-redeemer action that secures land and perpetuates a family line; thematically parallel in preserving property and family identity when normal inheritance patterns are at risk.
Alternative generated candidates
- And the daughters of Zelophehad son of Hepher son of Gilead son of Machir son of Manasseh, of the family of Manasseh son of Joseph, came forward. The names of his daughters were Mahlah, Noah, Hoglah, Milcah, and Tirzah.
- Then came the daughters of Zelophehad son of Hepher son of Gilead son of Machir son of Manasseh, of the family of Manasseh son of Joseph; and these were the names of his daughters: Mahlah, Noah, Hoglah, Milcah, and Tirzah.
Num.27.2 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- ותעמדנה: CONJ+VERB,qal,impf,3,f,pl
- לפני: PREP
- משה: NOUN,prop,m,sg,abs
- ולפני: CONJ+PREP
- אלעזר: NOUN,m,sg,prop
- הכהן: NOUN,m,sg,def
- ולפני: CONJ+PREP
- הנשיאם: NOUN,m,pl,def
- וכל: CONJ+PRON,indef
- העדה: NOUN,f,sg,def
- פתח: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- אהל: NOUN,m,sg,construct
- מועד: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- לאמר: INF,qal,infc
Parallels
- Exodus 18:13-16 (thematic): People come to Moses at the tent to present disputes; Moses sits to judge while the congregation stands before him — similar scene of petitioning leadership at the tent of meeting.
- Exodus 33:7-11 (verbal): Uses the phrase and setting of the tent/’door of the tent of meeting’ where people approach Moses — parallels the location and the pattern of public access to Moses.
- Numbers 12:1-2 (verbal): Other instance in Numbers where individuals ‘stand before Moses’ (Miriam and Aaron) — a close verbal parallel in phrasing and positioning before Moses.
- Ruth 4:1-2 (structural): Boaz brings his case to the city gate where elders and people sit/stand to decide legal matters — comparable public/legal forum for presenting claims before leaders.
- 1 Samuel 8:4-6 (thematic): ‘All the elders of Israel’ come and stand before Samuel to demand a king — another communal petition presented to national leadership/assembly.
Alternative generated candidates
- And they stood before Moses and before Eleazar the priest and before the leaders, and all the congregation at the entrance of the tent of meeting, saying:
- They stood before Moses and before Eleazar the priest and before the leaders and all the congregation at the entrance of the tent of meeting, saying,
Num.27.3 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- אבינו: NOUN,m,sg,abs,prsuf1pl
- מת: ADJ,m,sg
- במדבר: PREP+NOUN,m,sg,abs
- והוא: CONJ+PRON,3,m,sg
- לא: PART_NEG
- היה: VERB,qal,perf,3,m,sg
- בתוך: PREP
- העדה: NOUN,f,sg,def
- הנועדים: NOUN,m,pl,def
- על: PREP
- יהוה: NOUN,prop,m,sg,abs
- בעדת: PREP+NOUN,f,sg,const
- קרח: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- כי: CONJ
- בחטאו: PREP+NOUN,m,sg,abs+3ms
- מת: ADJ,m,sg
- ובנים: CONJ+NOUN,m,pl,abs
- לא: PART_NEG
- היו: VERB,qal,perf,3,m,pl
- לו: PRON,3,m,sg
Parallels
- Numbers 27:1-11 (structural): Immediate narrative context: the petition of Zelophehad’s daughters appears here; verse 3 is part of their argument that their father died in the wilderness and left no sons, so they ask for inheritance rights.
- Numbers 16:1-3 (allusion): Num 27:3 explicitly disclaims that their father joined the rebellion 'in the company of Korah'; Num 16 recounts Korah’s uprising and the assembly that opposed Moses and the LORD.
- Numbers 36:1-12 (thematic): A later legal resolution restricts daughters who inherit land to marry within their tribe so property remains with the tribal allotment—this is a direct legal consequence and extension of the Zelophehad case.
- Deuteronomy 25:5-6 (thematic): The levirate law deals with preserving a deceased man’s name and property when he dies without sons; both passages reflect Israelite legal concerns over heirs and transmission of land/lineage when there are no male offspring.
Alternative generated candidates
- “Our father died in the wilderness; he was not among the company that gathered against the LORD in the rebellion of Korah—he died because of his sin—and he had no sons.
- “Our father died in the wilderness; he was not among the company that assembled against the LORD in the assembly of Korah, for in his sin he died—and he had no sons.
Num.27.4 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- למה: ADV
- יגרע: VERB,qal,impf,3,m,sg
- שם: ADV
- אבינו: NOUN,m,sg,abs,prsuf1pl
- מתוך: PREP
- משפחתו: NOUN,f,sg,abs+PRON,3m,sg
- כי: CONJ
- אין: PART,neg
- לו: PRON,3,m,sg
- בן: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- תנה: VERB,qal,imp,2,m,sg
- לנו: PREP+PRON,1,pl
- אחזה: NOUN,f,sg,abs
- בתוך: PREP
- אחי: NOUN,m,pl,suff
- אבינו: NOUN,m,sg,abs,prsuf1pl
Parallels
- Numbers 27:1-11 (structural): The full narrative of Zelophehad's daughters' petition and God's ruling establishing that daughters may inherit if a man has no sons—immediate context and development of v.4.
- Numbers 36:1-12 (structural): Later legislation modifying the Zelophehad decision to protect tribal land allotments (daughters must marry within their tribe), a direct legal follow-up to the concern about preserving family/tribal holdings.
- Joshua 17:3-6 (thematic): Narrative account of Zelophehad’s daughters receiving their inheritance within the tribe of Manasseh, showing the outcome of the petition in the settlement of the land.
- Deuteronomy 25:5-6 (thematic): The levirate obligation to raise offspring for a deceased brother so his name and inheritance are preserved—a related principle of preserving a man’s name and property within the family.
- Ruth 4:10, 13–17 (thematic): The kinsman-redeemer motif: Boaz’s redeeming of Naomi’s property and fathering Obed preserves the deceased man’s line and name—parallel concern for continuity of family and inheritance.
Alternative generated candidates
- Why should the name of our father be lost from his family because he had no son? Give us a possession among the brothers of our father.”
- Why should the name of our father be taken away from his clan because he has no son? Give us, therefore, a possession among the brothers of our father.”
Num.27.5 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- ויקרב: VERB,qal,impf,3,m,sg
- משה: NOUN,prop,m,sg,abs
- את: PRT,acc
- משפט: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- לפני: PREP
- יהוה: NOUN,prop,m,sg,abs
Parallels
- Numbers 36:2-3 (verbal): The same inheritance dispute involving Zelophehad’s daughters is brought again; language and procedure of ‘bringing the case’ before authorities echo Num 27:5.
- Exodus 18:13-26 (structural): Describes the procedure for hearing and deciding disputes (delegation of judges) and provides a broader legal-judicial context for how cases were presented and resolved before leaders.
- Deuteronomy 25:5-10 (thematic): Addresses related inheritance/lineage concerns (levirate duty to preserve a man’s name), reflecting the underlying legal and social issues motivating the daughters’ petition.
- Joshua 17:3-6 (allusion): A later account of land allotment that records the outcome for Zelophehad’s daughters, showing the practical implementation of the ruling that began when Moses ‘brought the case before the LORD.’
Alternative generated candidates
- And Moses brought their case before the LORD.
- Moses brought their case before the LORD.
Num.27.6 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- ויאמר: VERB,qal,perf,3,m,sg
- יהוה: NOUN,prop,m,sg,abs
- אל: NEG
- משה: NOUN,prop,m,sg,abs
- לאמר: INF,qal,infc
Parallels
- Exodus 3:14 (verbal): Same direct formula of divine address to Moses — 'And God said unto Moses...' (here God declares his name), illustrating the recurring pattern of YHWH speaking directly to Moses.
- Exodus 6:2 (verbal): Another instance of 'God spoke to Moses' (ויאמר אלהים אל־משה), paralleling the simple introductory wording used when God delivers important revelation or instruction to Moses.
- Leviticus 1:1 (structural): Uses the nearly identical structural formula ('And the LORD called unto Moses, and spake unto him, saying...') that introduces legal/ritual legislation, like Numbers 27:6 does for an instruction.
- Numbers 11:16 (thematic): 'And the LORD said unto Moses, Gather unto me seventy men...' — a parallel in function: God instructs Moses concerning community leadership and legal matters, as in the context of Numbers 27 (daughters' inheritance).
- Numbers 9:8 (thematic): 'And the LORD spoke unto Moses, saying, Speak unto the children of Israel...' — another example where the divine-to-Moses formula introduces commands that Moses is to convey to Israel, matching the communicative role signaled by Num 27:6.
Alternative generated candidates
- And the LORD spoke to Moses, saying,
- And the LORD spoke to Moses, saying,
Num.27.7 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- כן: ADV
- בנות: NOUN,f,pl,abs
- צלפחד: PN,m,sg
- דברת: VERB,qal,perf,2,m,sg
- נתן: VERB,qal,perf,3,m,sg
- תתן: VERB,qal,imprf,2,_,sg
- להם: PREP+PRON,3,m,pl
- אחזת: NOUN,f,sg,construct
- נחלה: NOUN,f,sg,abs
- בתוך: PREP
- אחי: NOUN,m,pl,suff
- אביהם: NOUN,m,sg,abs+PRON,3,m,pl
- והעברת: VERB,hifil,perf,2,m,sg
- את: PRT,acc
- נחלת: NOUN,f,sg,construct
- אביהן: NOUN,m,sg,suff
- להן: PREP+PRON,3,f,pl
Parallels
- Numbers 27:1-11 (structural): Immediate context: the petition of the daughters of Zelophehad (vv.1–11) that leads directly to the ruling in v.7 granting them their father’s inheritance.
- Numbers 36:1-12 (structural): Follow-up legislation: tribes and leaders impose marriage restrictions on Zelophehad’s daughters to ensure inherited land remains in the father’s tribal allotment.
- Joshua 17:3-6 (verbal): Narrative repetition in the allotment account: Joshua recounts that Zelophehad’s daughters received their father’s inheritance among Manasseh (echoes Numbers’ decision).
- Deuteronomy 25:5-10 (thematic): Levirate law: obligation to raise offspring for a deceased brother to preserve his name and inheritance—shares the underlying concern to keep family property within the paternal line.
- Leviticus 25:23-28 (thematic): Laws of land tenure and redemption: emphasizes that land remains part of the ancestral holding and may be redeemed to keep property within the family, related to principles governing inheritance transfers.
Alternative generated candidates
- “The daughters of Zelophehad have spoken rightly; you shall give them a possession among the brothers of their father, and you shall transfer the inheritance of their father to them.
- “The daughters of Zelophehad have spoken rightly; you shall surely give them a holding among the brothers of their father, and you shall transfer their father’s inheritance to them.
Num.27.8 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- ואל: CONJ+PREP
- בני: NOUN,m,pl,construct
- ישראל: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- תדבר: VERB,qal,impf,2,m,sg
- לאמר: INF,qal,infc
- איש: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- כי: CONJ
- ימות: VERB,qal,juss,3,m,sg
- ובן: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- אין: PART,neg
- לו: PRON,3,m,sg
- והעברתם: CONJ+VERB,hiphil,perf,2,m,pl
- את: PRT,acc
- נחלתו: NOUN,f,sg,abs+3,m,sg
- לבתו: PREP+NOUN,f,sg,abs+PRON,3,m,sg
Parallels
- Numbers 27:1-11 (structural): Immediate narrative context (the case of Zelophehad's daughters) that prompts the law stated in v.8; the preceding petition leads to this prescriptive ruling.
- Numbers 36:1-12 (structural): A later follow-up regulation requiring daughters who inherit to marry within their tribal clan so that the inherited land remains in the original tribe—directly related to the implementation of v.8.
- Joshua 17:3-6 (verbal): Record of Zelophehad’s daughters receiving an inheritance among the descendants of Manasseh—an application/confirmation of the injunction in Numbers 27:8.
- Deuteronomy 21:15-17 (thematic): Part of the broader Torah legal framework on inheritance and the rights of heirs (especially the protection of birthright); thematically related to rules allocating property when usual male succession is disrupted.
- Ruth 4:1-10 (thematic): Narrative of land/property transfer and the kinsman‑redeemer mechanism to preserve a family line when direct male heirs are absent—parallels the concern to keep inheritance within the family/lineage found in Num 27:8.
Alternative generated candidates
- 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.
- And you shall speak to the sons of Israel, saying: If a man dies and has no son, then you shall transfer his inheritance to his daughter.
Num.27.9 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- ואם: CONJ
- אין: PART,neg
- לו: PRON,3,m,sg
- בת: NOUN,f,sg,cs
- ונתתם: CONJ+VERB,qal,perf,2,m,pl
- את: PRT,acc
- נחלתו: NOUN,f,sg,abs+3,m,sg
- לאחיו: PREP
Parallels
- Numbers 27:8 (verbal): Immediate context and parallel legal formula: vv.8–11 set out the order of inheritance (sons, daughters, brothers, paternal relatives); v.9 continues this inheritance instruction with similar wording.
- Numbers 36:6-9 (structural): Reiterates and applies the same inheritance rule (daughters inheriting when there is no son) and adds the requirement that such daughters marry within the tribe so the ancestral property remains in the tribe.
- Deuteronomy 25:5-6 (thematic): Levirate law: the duty of a brother-in-law to raise up offspring for a deceased man so his name and inheritance are preserved — both laws aim to keep property and family line within the kin-group.
- Deuteronomy 21:15-17 (thematic): Regulates transmission of inheritance rights (especially the rights of the firstborn) and prevents disinheriting rightful heirs; relates to the broader legal concern of orderly, protected succession of property in the family.
- Ruth 4:1-11 (thematic): The kinsman-redeemer episode: a relative redeems land and takes responsibility to preserve the deceased man’s line/name and property within the family — a narrative enactment of the same social-legal principle underlying Num 27:9.
Alternative generated candidates
- And if he has no daughter, you shall give his inheritance to his brothers.
- If he has no daughter, then you shall transfer his inheritance to his brothers.
Num.27.10 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- ואם: CONJ
- אין: PART,neg
- לו: PRON,3,m,sg
- אחים: NOUN,m,pl,abs
- ונתתם: CONJ+VERB,qal,perf,2,m,pl
- את: PRT,acc
- נחלתו: NOUN,f,sg,abs+3,m,sg
- לאחי: PREP+NOUN,m,pl,cons
- אביו: NOUN,m,sg,abs+3,m,sg
Parallels
- Numbers 27:8-9 (verbal): Immediate context: the preceding verses set out the same inheritance order and the command to transfer a man’s portion to his father’s brothers if he has no sons or brothers.
- Numbers 36:6-9 (structural): Later legislative follow-up addressing the same case (Zelophehad’s daughters): requires marriages within the tribe so inherited land remains with the deceased man’s paternal kindred.
- Deuteronomy 25:5-10 (thematic): Levirate law: when a man dies childless his brother is to raise offspring in his name so property and lineage remain within the deceased’s family—same concern to keep inheritance in the paternal line.
- Leviticus 25:25-28 (thematic): Laws on redemption and the jubilee emphasize that land rights should be preserved within the natal family and restored to kin, reflecting the principle of maintaining ancestral inheritance.
- Ruth 4:5-10 (thematic): Narrative example of a kinsman-redeemer acquiring land and securing an heir for the deceased’s line, illustrating the practical outworking of keeping property in the family.
Alternative generated candidates
- And if he has no brothers, you shall give his inheritance to the brothers of his father.
- If he has no brothers, then you shall transfer his inheritance to the brothers of his father.
Num.27.11 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- ואם: CONJ
- אין: PART,neg
- אחים: NOUN,m,pl,abs
- לאביו: PREP+NOUN,m,sg,abs,3,m,sg
- ונתתם: CONJ+VERB,qal,perf,2,m,pl
- את: PRT,acc
- נחלתו: NOUN,f,sg,abs+3,m,sg
- לשארו: PREP+NOUN,m,sg,abs+SUFF,3,m,sg
- הקרב: NOUN,m,sg,def
- אליו: PREP+PRON,3,m,sg
- ממשפחתו: NOUN,f,sg,abs,prsuf:3ms,prep:mem
- וירש: VERB,qal,impf,3,m,sg,pref_vav
- אתה: PRON,2,m,sg
- והיתה: VERB,qal,perf,3,f,sg
- לבני: PREP
- ישראל: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- לחקת: PREP+NOUN,f,sg,abs
- משפט: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- כאשר: CONJ
- צוה: VERB,qal,perf,3,m,sg
- יהוה: NOUN,prop,m,sg,abs
- את: PRT,acc
- משה: NOUN,prop,m,sg,abs
Parallels
- Numbers 27:1-11 (structural): Immediate context — the case of the daughters of Zelophehad establishes the rule that if a man dies without sons, his inheritance passes to his nearest kinsman; v.11 summarizes the legal decision.
- Numbers 36:7-12 (verbal): Direct legal follow-up addressing the same issue: daughters may inherit but must marry within their father's tribe so land stays in the ancestral tribe — a stipulation tied to the inheritance decision in Num 27.
- Deuteronomy 25:5-10 (thematic): Levirate marriage/kinsman-rescue principle — both texts regulate how a nearest kinsman preserves family lineage and property when a man has no male heirs.
- Leviticus 25:23-28 (thematic): Law of land tenure and redemption — establishes that ancestral land is to remain with the tribe/family and may be redeemed by kinsmen, echoing the concern in Num 27 for keeping inheritances within the family.
- Ruth 4:1-11 (thematic): Narrative enactment of kinsman-redeemer practice — a near kinsman redeems land and marries to preserve the deceased's line, reflecting the social-legal principle behind Num 27's inheritance ruling.
Alternative generated candidates
- And if his father has no brothers, you shall give his inheritance to the nearest relative of his family, and he shall possess it. Thus it shall be for the Israelites a statute of judgment, as the LORD commanded Moses.”
- If there are no brothers of his father, then you shall give his inheritance to the nearest relative of his family; he shall possess it. This shall be the statute of judgment for the sons of Israel, as the LORD commanded Moses.”
Then came the daughters of Zelophehad son of Hepher son of Gilead son of Machir son of Manasseh, of the clan of Manasseh son of Joseph. These are the names of his daughters: Mahlah, Noah, Hoglah, Milcah, and Tirzah.
They stood before Moses and before Eleazar the priest and before the leaders and all the congregation at the entrance of the tent of meeting, saying,
“Our father died in the wilderness, and he was not among the company that gathered against the LORD in the rebellion of Korah; he died on account of his sin, and he left no sons.
Why should the name of our father be removed from his clan because he has no son? Give us a holding among the brothers of our father.”
Moses brought their case before the LORD. And the LORD said to Moses,
“Thus you shall say to the daughters of Zelophehad: You shall give them an inheritance among the brothers of their father, and you shall transfer their father’s inheritance to them. And you shall speak to the sons of Israel, saying: If a man dies and has no son, then you shall transfer his inheritance to his daughter.
If he has no daughter, then you shall give his inheritance to his brothers.
If he has no brothers, then you shall give his inheritance to the brothers of his father.
If his father has no brothers, then you shall give his inheritance to the nearest relative of his family, and he shall inherit it; and this shall be the rule of inheritance for the Israelites, as the LORD commanded Moses.”