CHARACTER STUDY ON ZELOPHEHAD’S DAUGHTERS
Zelophehad has 5 daughters Mahlah, Noah, Hoglah, Milcah and Trizas, he has no sons Zelophehad is part of the generation of Isrealites who departed from Egypt under Moses leadership and died during promise land.
According to Gods decree the promise land is to be apportioned according to the numbers of the second counted in the census. However Zelophehad daughter would be left without an inheritance.
We might expect that women heirs to Egyptians slavery put under law that always favors men might keep silence, by accepting it as natural rule decreed for them to follow; we might expect women in those days to stay close to their tents, remain out of sight, and not go far from their families.
So how did Zelophehad daughters write a new chapter in history?
First, they dare to go out from their living place, from their social space, from destiny impose on them. The text states “the daughters of Zelophehad came forward ‘the stood before Moses, Eleazer the priest and the whole assembly at the entrance of the meeting.
Lets’ imagine the scene, the Israelites carry is formed of tribes, each of whom has a determined place with the tabernacle in the middle and in center stand the main authority figures, all of them are men? Moses, Eleazer the priest, the chieftain, imposing as this and has had no son. Structure may have been.
The 5 sisters claim their rights together, they go out of their tents with calling any one to follow them, to the place where only high ranked men congregate, to the place where tablets from Sinai resides in the Ark, to the place of holiness and authority to a place where women did not have authority. These men must have been over whelmed, surprise when they saw such boldness.
They did not just come forth, but also speak with determination. Our father died in the wilderness. He was not one of the factions of korah, which banded against God but died on his own sin, and he has left no son. Let not our fathers name be lost to his clan just because he had no son, Give us a holding among our fathers kinsmen’
(Numbers 27:1-8 )
Then came 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: and these are the names of his daughters; Mahlah, Noah, and Hoglah, and Milcah, and Tirzah.
And they stood before Moses, and before Eleazar the priest, and before the princes and all the congregation, by the door of the tabernacle of the congregation, saying,
Our father died in the wilderness, and he was not in the company of them that gathered themselves together against the Lord in the company of Korah; but died in his own sin, and had no sons.
Why should the name of our father be done away from among his family, because he hath no son? Give unto us therefore a possession among the brethren of our father.
And Moses brought their cause before the Lord.
And the Lord spake unto Moses, saying,
The daughters of Zelophehad speak right: thou shalt surely give them a possession of an inheritance among their father's brethren; and thou shalt cause the inheritance of their father to pass unto them.
And thou shalt speak unto the children of Israel, saying, If a man die, and have no son, then ye shall cause his inheritance to pass unto his daughter. (KJV)
We Christians take one or two approaches in this story. The first approach is to say this sort of thing may happen back in the days of the bible, but we must not think it can happen now, nowadays were not in old time, so the rules are set already.
They are final and unchangeable and we can no longer do what the 5 daughter of Mr. Zelophehad did, we cannot appeal to Moses to appeal to God to change the rules the rule book can no longer be changed or challenged.
The second approach does not see the bible as a rules book but as a story and collection of stories that show us what God is like. This particular story about the 5 daughter of Zelophehad shows us what God is like, and what we learn about God in this story is that God listens and God listens and God agrees with Mahlah and her sisters.
The rules should be fair they said and God said yes. Yes they should have it.
From this point of view, this story can be seen as giving us rule and if they are unjust then, it must be changed.
DISCUSSION:
The story of 5 women who changed Gods rules
It calls us to take hold of life with our own hand even when no brother or father to inherit any land.
They apply for an inheritance even when the law made no provision for them ( Heb 7;19
It provides legitimating of a limited right of Israelites women to inherit land (Num 36, 6 )
It celebrates women boldness Philippians 1;19-20, 2 Cor. 27:8 )
It offers comfort to men who have no sons. Num 27:8
It places specific marriage restrictions upon any woman who inherit under this Law Num. 36:9-13
The rule wasn’t fair. Zelophehad’s daughters did not allow gender to stop them. Judges 5:7
New law was set in motion because of their determination. Daniel 3:29-30
They considered themselves as destitute, having no brother or father to inherit any land. Therefore, they encouraged themselves. Joshua 1:5-6
God gives judgments not only to nations but to private families and orders them according to his will.
Those who seek an inheritance in the land of promise shall have what they seek for and other things shall be added to them. Matt. 6:33.
The modest way and manner in which they asked without secret murmur or discontent their request was granted. Jer.7:7
They have strong faith in the promise of God concerning the promise of God and giving of the land of inheritance. Heb. 11:8
Ernest desire of a name and place in the promise land which was a type of heaven Heb. 11:16
Respect and honour for their father whose name was dear to them.
WHAT LESSONS HAVE YOU LEARNT FROM THIS STUDY
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