Bible Strands
Numbers 27:1
Now the daughters of Zelophehad son of Hepher, the son of Gilead, the son of Machir, the son of Manasseh, belonged to the clans of Manasseh son of Joseph. These were the names of his daughters: Mahlah, Noah, Hoglah, Milcah, and Tirzah. They approached
Berean Standard Bible
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Study note
Setting — The daughters of Zelophehad approach the entrance to the Tent of Meeting to stand before Moses, Eleazar the priest, the leaders, and the whole congregation.
The words — The Hebrew verb וַתִּקְרַבְנָה (va.tiq.rav.nah) literally means "and they drew near," marking their physical approach to the leadership. The noun בְּנוֹת (be.not) identifies them as "daughters," establishing their specific familial and legal category.
The thread — This lineage appears in Numbers 26:33 as a clan with no sons, and Numbers 36:1 returns to the same family when its heads approach Moses. The passage intersects with Galatians 3:28 through the biblical theme of male and female inheritance rights.
Why it lands — The text records a formal petition initiated by women seeking property succession within a patriarchal clan structure. It requires the reader to observe how biblical law addresses land distribution when a direct male heir is absent.
Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.
The Hebrew words
King James Version
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.
Cross-references
- Numbers 26:33 Now Zelophehad son of Hepher had no sons but only daughters. The names of his daughters were Mahlah, Noah, Hoglah, Milcah, and Tirzah.
- Galatians 3:28 There is neither Jew nor Greek, slave nor free, male nor female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus.
- Numbers 36:1 Now the family heads of the clan of Gilead son of Machir son of Manasseh, one of the clans of Joseph, approached Moses and the leaders who were the heads of the Israelite families and addressed them,
- 1 Chronicles 7:15 Machir took a wife from among the Huppites and Shuppites. The name of his sister was Maacah. Another descendant was named Zelophehad, who had only daughters.
- Joshua 17:3 But Zelophehad son of Hepher (the son of Gilead, the son of Machir, the son of Manasseh) had no sons but only daughters. These are the names of his daughters: Mahlah, Noah, Hoglah, Milcah, and Tirzah.