Lexical Summary Tselophchad: Zelophehad Original Word: צְלָפְחָד Strong's Exhaustive Concordance Zelophehad From the same as Tsalaph and 'echad; Tselophchad, an Israelite -- Zelophehad. see HEBREW Tsalaph see HEBREW 'echad NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Originof uncertain derivation Definition a man of Manasseh NASB Translation Zelophehad (11). Brown-Driver-Briggs צְלָפְחָד proper name, masculine of Manasseh, Numbers 26:33,23; Numbers 27:1,7; Numbers 36:2,6,10,11; Joshua 17:3; 1 Chronicles 7:15 (twice in verse), Σαλπααδ, etc. Topical Lexicon Genealogical ContextZelophehad was a descendant of Joseph through Manasseh. His lineage is traced as Manasseh → Makir → Gilead → Hepher → Zelophehad (Numbers 26:29, 33). Being of the clan of Hepher placed him among those who were numbered for inheritance on the plains of Moab shortly before Israel crossed the Jordan. Though he died in the wilderness generation, his household would become pivotal for a landmark legal ruling in Israel. Narrative in Numbers During the second census (Numbers 26:33) Zelophehad is mentioned only to note that he had no sons. His five daughters—Mahlah, Noah, Hoglah, Milcah, and Tirzah—are named each time the narrative is rehearsed. After Zelophehad’s death, the daughters approached Moses, Eleazar, the leaders, and “all the congregation” (Numbers 27:2) at the tent of meeting: “Our father died in the wilderness… Why should the name of our father disappear from his clan because he had no son? Give us property among our father’s brothers” (Numbers 27:3-4). The Lord upheld their petition: “The daughters of Zelophehad speak rightly. You shall surely give them property as an inheritance among their father’s brothers” (Numbers 27:7). This divine verdict established a new statute: if a man died without a son, his inheritance passed to his daughter(s) (Numbers 27:8-11). Legal Precedent on Inheritance The case did more than secure land for one family; it codified succession law for every tribe. Later, leaders of Manasseh raised a concern: should the daughters marry outside the tribe, the land could transfer to another tribe in the Jubilee year. The Lord’s reply balanced individual liberty with tribal integrity: “Let them marry whom they think best, but they must marry into a clan of their father’s tribe” (Numbers 36:6). The daughters complied (Numbers 36:10-12), preserving Manasseh’s territorial allocation. Thus two complementary statutes emerged: 1. Daughters may inherit when no sons exist. These principles safeguarded both family names and divinely apportioned tribal boundaries. Faith and Character of the Daughters Although Zelophehad himself uttered no recorded words, the faith of his household is seen in his daughters: • They believed the promise of the land before Israel possessed it, asking for an inheritance visible only by faith. By calling attention to their father’s place among “those who died in his own sin” but not with Korah (Numbers 27:3), they protected his reputation and underscored personal accountability. Later References Joshua 17:3-6 records Joshua honoring the command: “The daughters of Manasseh received an inheritance among the sons.” Centuries later the genealogies of 1 Chronicles 7:15 reiterate Zelophehad’s position, confirming that the legal and territorial effects endured into the monarchy era. Theological and Ministry Implications 1. Divine Justice: The Lord listens to the oppressed and corrects societal gaps without violating His prior instructions. Teaching Outline • Background of Zelophehad in the tribe of Manasseh Summary Zelophehad’s brief biographical mention becomes a cornerstone for Israel’s inheritance law and a testimony to God’s righteous concern for every name in His covenant community. His daughters’ faith turned an apparent dead-end lineage into a perpetual monument of divine equity, ensuring that the promise given through Abraham and Moses would be apportioned “according to the word of the LORD” (Numbers 36:5). Forms and Transliterations וְלִצְלָפְחָד֩ וּצְלָפְחָ֣ד ולצלפחד וצלפחד לִצְלָפְחָ֖ד לצלפחד צְלָפְחָ֑ד צְלָפְחָ֔ד צְלָפְחָ֗ד צְלָפְחָ֥ד צְלָפְחָֽד׃ צְלָפְחָד֙ צְלָפְחָד֮ צלפחד צלפחד׃ liṣ·lā·p̄ə·ḥāḏ liṣlāp̄əḥāḏ litzlafeChad ṣə·lā·p̄ə·ḥāḏ ṣəlāp̄əḥāḏ tzelafeChad ū·ṣə·lā·p̄ə·ḥāḏ ūṣəlāp̄əḥāḏ utzelafeChad velitzlafeChad wə·liṣ·lā·p̄ə·ḥāḏ wəliṣlāp̄əḥāḏLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel TextsEnglishman's Concordance Numbers 26:33 HEB: וּצְלָפְחָ֣ד בֶּן־ חֵ֗פֶר NAS: Now Zelophehad the son of Hepher KJV: And Zelophehad the son of Hepher INT: now Zelophehad the son of Hepher Numbers 26:33 Numbers 27:1 Numbers 27:7 Numbers 36:2 Numbers 36:6 Numbers 36:10 Numbers 36:11 Joshua 17:3 1 Chronicles 7:15 1 Chronicles 7:15 11 Occurrences |
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