Topical Encyclopedia Milcah, one of the five daughters of Zelophehad, is a significant figure in the biblical narrative due to the unique legal precedent her situation established regarding inheritance rights for women. The account of Milcah and her sisters—Mahlah, Noah, Hoglah, and Tirzah—is found in the Book of Numbers, specifically in Numbers 27:1-11 and Numbers 36:1-12.Background and Context Zelophehad, a member of the tribe of Manasseh, died in the wilderness without leaving any sons. According to the prevailing inheritance laws of ancient Israel, property was typically passed down through male heirs. The absence of a male heir in Zelophehad's family presented a legal and social dilemma, as his lineage and property risked being absorbed into other families, potentially diminishing the tribal inheritance. Petition for Inheritance Milcah and her sisters approached Moses, Eleazar the priest, the leaders, and the entire assembly at the entrance to the Tent of Meeting. They presented their case, arguing that their father's name should not disappear from his clan merely because he had no son. They requested that they be granted a possession among their father's brothers. Numbers 27:4 records their plea: "Why should the name of our father disappear from his clan because he had no son? Give us property among our father’s brothers." Divine Response and Legislation Moses brought their case before the LORD, and God responded affirmatively to their request. Numbers 27:7 states, "The daughters of Zelophehad speak correctly. You certainly must give them property as an inheritance among their father’s brothers and transfer their father’s inheritance to them." This divine directive not only granted the daughters their inheritance but also established a broader legal principle for Israel. The LORD instructed Moses to implement a statute for the Israelites, allowing daughters to inherit if a man died without a son, thereby ensuring the preservation of family property within the tribe. Further Clarification and Tribal Concerns The decision, however, raised concerns among the leaders of the tribe of Manasseh. They feared that if the daughters married outside their tribe, their inherited land would transfer to other tribes, disrupting the tribal boundaries established by God. In response, further legislation was enacted, as recorded in Numbers 36:6-9. The daughters were instructed to marry within their father's tribal clan to ensure that the inheritance remained within the tribe of Manasseh. Numbers 36:8-9 states, "Every daughter who possesses an inheritance in any Israelite tribe must marry within a clan of the tribe of her father, so that every Israelite will possess the inheritance of his fathers. No inheritance may be transferred from one tribe to another, for each tribe of Israel must retain its inheritance." Significance The case of Milcah and her sisters is a landmark moment in biblical law, highlighting the importance of preserving family and tribal inheritance. It underscores the adaptability of the Mosaic Law to address unique situations and the value placed on justice and equity within the community of Israel. The narrative also reflects the active role women could play in seeking justice and influencing legal practices in ancient Israel. Nave's Topical Index Numbers 26:33And Zelophehad the son of Hepher had no sons, but daughters: and the names of the daughters of Zelophehad were Mahlah, and Noah, Hoglah, Milcah, and Tirzah. Nave's Topical Index Numbers 27:1-7 Numbers 36:1-12 Joshua 17:3,4 Resources Who were the daughters of Zelophehad? | GotQuestions.orgWho was Haran in the Bible? | GotQuestions.org What is the importance of the land of Uz in the Bible? | GotQuestions.org Bible Concordance • Bible Dictionary • Bible Encyclopedia • Topical Bible • Bible Thesuarus |
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