Zelophedad's Daughters

(Book of Number 27:1 - 27:11)
A petition was presented by the daughters of Zelophedad son of Hepher (grandson of Gilead, great grandson of Makir, and great-great grandson of Manasseh son of Joseph).  (The names of the daughters were Mahlah, Noah, Hoglah, Milkah, and Tirzah.)  They made their case to Moses, Eleazar the priest, the tribal leaders, and the entire congregation before the entrance to the Tabernacle.  "Our father died in the desert," they declared.  "He was not among the followers of Korah who conspired against Jehovah, but died owing to his own sins.  He left no sons behind.  Why should the name of our father disappear from his family, just because he had no son?  Grant us an inheritance along with our father's relatives."

Moses brought the case to Jehovah, who said to him, "The daughters of Zelophedad are justified in their claim.  You should allow them to receive an inheritance along with their male relatives.  Their father’s estate should pass to them.  Tell the Israelites that if a man dies and leaves no son, his property should be inherited by his daughter.  If he has no daughter, then his brothers should inherit.  If he has no brothers, then his inheritance should be given to his father's brothers; failing that, the nearest relative in his clan shall take possession of his estate.  This practice should have force of law among the Israelites as Jehovah has commanded Moses.

Notes
1. Inheritance is problematic in all societies.  Sometimes the eldest son inherits everything, sometimes the estate is divided among the sons.  Sometimes the daughters claim an inheritance, sometimes not.  Here, we have set forth a pattern of inheritance similar to that practiced in medieval England.  The English throne would pass to a daughter, if there were no sons, and to a brother, if there were no children.  Thus, we have several English queens.  (This rule has now been altered so that the eldest child, regardless of gender, inherits the throne.)  In France, this was not the custom: only males inherited and, consequently, there has never been a French reigning monarch who was female.  Among the old English nobility this practice was observed as well, with titles (created by writ) often being passed through the female line; as result, the surnames connected with the titles would change.  By Tudor times, however, most titles were conferred through letters of patent and could pass only through the male line, thus diminishing the considerable power that noblewomen held during the Middle Ages.

2.Most ancient and Middle Eastern societies gave short shrift to women in terms of inheritance and were far less generous than the Hebrews.  In many cultures, that of Arabia, for instance, widows would not inherit, but would be inherited.  Islamic Shariah Law (introduced, of course, at a much later date) set out procedures for inheritance that greatly increased the status of women in this regard -- (surprised?).