Zelophehad’s daughters remind us that God sees and values each individual regardless of societal norms.
In the midst of a detailed census, Scripture makes a special note about one particular family line by saying, “Now Zelophehad the son of Hepher had no sons, but only daughters; and the names of Zelophehad’s daughters were Mahlah, Noah, Hoglah, Milcah and Tirzah” (v.33). This statement occurs during Israel’s wilderness period, around 1407 BC, when the LORD commands Moses and Eleazar to count the new generation of Israelites before entering Canaan. The verse is significant because it lists the daughters of Zelophehad—indicating they would become part of an important legal discussion about land inheritance for Israelite women (Numbers 27).
Zelophehad, mentioned here as “the son of Hepher”“had no sons, but only daughters” (v.33). He belonged to the tribe of Manasseh, one of Joseph’s two sons, showing the continuing family lineage that traced back to the patriarch Jacob. Although the verse provides their names—Mahlah, Noah, Hoglah, Milcah, and Tirzah—it also underscores their uniqueness: they stand out in an otherwise male-dominated genealogical record. Historically, this moment sets the stage for God’s recognition of every individual’s right and place in His covenant community, hinting at the idea of God’s justice for all, which Jesus likewise emphasized when He welcomed and blessed those who seemed overlooked (Luke 8:1-3).
Each daughter’s name represents a family that would retain inheritance in the Promised Land, underscoring the LORD’s fairness to His people. “Zelophehad the son of Hepher” (v.33) underscores a family within the broader congregation of Israel, camped east of the Jordan River, poised to enter Canaan. Even though inheritance laws largely prioritized male heirs, the mention of these daughters foreshadows a gracious adjustment in the law so that they would not be disenfranchised (Numbers 27). In this way, the verse subtly illustrates God’s encompassing provisions for every generation, pointing to the ultimate benevolent reign of Christ, who offers an inheritance to all who believe (Ephesians 1:11-14).
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Numbers 26:33 meaning
In the midst of a detailed census, Scripture makes a special note about one particular family line by saying, “Now Zelophehad the son of Hepher had no sons, but only daughters; and the names of Zelophehad’s daughters were Mahlah, Noah, Hoglah, Milcah and Tirzah” (v.33). This statement occurs during Israel’s wilderness period, around 1407 BC, when the LORD commands Moses and Eleazar to count the new generation of Israelites before entering Canaan. The verse is significant because it lists the daughters of Zelophehad—indicating they would become part of an important legal discussion about land inheritance for Israelite women (Numbers 27).
Zelophehad, mentioned here as “the son of Hepher” “had no sons, but only daughters” (v.33). He belonged to the tribe of Manasseh, one of Joseph’s two sons, showing the continuing family lineage that traced back to the patriarch Jacob. Although the verse provides their names—Mahlah, Noah, Hoglah, Milcah, and Tirzah—it also underscores their uniqueness: they stand out in an otherwise male-dominated genealogical record. Historically, this moment sets the stage for God’s recognition of every individual’s right and place in His covenant community, hinting at the idea of God’s justice for all, which Jesus likewise emphasized when He welcomed and blessed those who seemed overlooked (Luke 8:1-3).
Each daughter’s name represents a family that would retain inheritance in the Promised Land, underscoring the LORD’s fairness to His people. “Zelophehad the son of Hepher” (v.33) underscores a family within the broader congregation of Israel, camped east of the Jordan River, poised to enter Canaan. Even though inheritance laws largely prioritized male heirs, the mention of these daughters foreshadows a gracious adjustment in the law so that they would not be disenfranchised (Numbers 27). In this way, the verse subtly illustrates God’s encompassing provisions for every generation, pointing to the ultimate benevolent reign of Christ, who offers an inheritance to all who believe (Ephesians 1:11-14).