And you shall speak to the people of Israel, saying, ‘If a man dies and has no son, then you shall transfer his inheritance to his daughter.
English Standard Version (ESV)
This isn't just about who gets the property; it's about preserving a family's name and legacy. By transferring the inheritance to a daughter when there are no sons, God ensures that the father's lineage and his allotted portion in the promised land wouldn't disappear. This highlights how deeply tied identity and inheritance were, even in the face of traditional patriarchal customs.
And you shall speak to the people of Israel, saying, ‘If a man dies and has no son, then you shall transfer his inheritance to his daughter.
English Standard Version (ESV)
This passage arises from a specific legal question posed by the daughters of Zelophehad, who, having no brothers, feared their father's name and inheritance would be lost when the land was divided. Moses, unsure of the law in this unprecedented situation, brings their case directly to God. The Lord's response establishes a new, broader legal precedent for inheritance, ensuring family lines and property are preserved even without sons.
Imagine a society where only men could inherit land. Then, five women step forward with an audacious request. What drives them, and how does it change everything?
The daughters of Zelophehad, facing a potential loss of their family's legacy, boldly approached Moses and the leaders. Their father had died in the wilderness without sons, leaving no male heir. According to the prevailing customs and laws, their family name and inheritance would simply disappear.
However, these women didn't just accept their fate. They argued logically and respectfully, highlighting that their father had not been part of Korah's rebellion (a public sin that would have forfeited inheritance) and that his 'own sin' was a private matter, not one that should disinherit his entire family.
Their courage and reasoned plea, presented before the entire congregation, demonstrates a deep faith and a belief that God's promises extended to them, even in a patriarchal society. They were seeking not just land, but the preservation of their father's name and their family's place within God's covenant people.
The law seemed clear: inheritance passed through sons. But when a case challenged this, God Himself stepped in. What does this reveal about His heart for justice?
Moses, faced with this unprecedented situation, didn't rely on his own wisdom. He brought the daughters' case directly to God. This highlights a crucial aspect of leadership and faith: recognizing when human interpretation falls short and seeking divine guidance.
God's response is immediate and decisive: 'The daughters of Zelophehad speak right.' He then issues a new, formal law, recorded in Numbers 27:8-11: 'If a man dies and has no son, then you shall transfer his inheritance to his daughter.'
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This wasn't just a one-time exception; it became a statute for all of Israel. It demonstrates God's deep concern for justice and His willingness to adapt established laws to ensure fairness and the preservation of families, even when it means prioritizing daughters over more distant male relatives.
Inheritance in ancient Israel wasn't just about wealth; it was about identity and continuity. How did this new law serve a deeper purpose?
The land of Canaan was more than just territory; it was the physical manifestation of God's covenant promises. Each tribe, and each family within it, had a specific, divinely appointed portion. Losing this inheritance meant losing one's place in the covenant community and the continuity of one's family name.
By allowing daughters to inherit when there were no sons, God ensured that families would not be erased. The inheritance would pass through the daughter, and her husband would often join her family or clan to keep the name and the land associated with the original owner. This practice was vital for maintaining tribal records and the integrity of God's distribution of the land.
This law protected the integrity of the family unit and, by extension, the integrity of Israel as God's chosen people, ensuring that no family was simply forgotten due to the lack of a male heir.
Understand the original words
Yisra'el · Hebrew Noun
The body of people comprising the twelve tribes of Israel, chosen by God as His covenant people. It refers to the nation as a corporate entity bound to God by the Mosaic covenant.
This passage reveals how God's law wasn't static but could be clarified and expanded through specific, real-life needs, showing His care for individuals and families within the larger national plan.
c. 1405 BC
Israel Enters Promised Land
After 40 years of wandering, the Israelites prepare to enter and conquer Canaan, the land promised to Abraham and his descendants.
c. 1405 BC
Land Allotment Begins
The process of dividing the land of Canaan among the twelve tribes begins, establishing permanent family inheritance.
c. 1405 BC— this verse
Zelophehad's Daughters Petition
The daughters of Zelophehad, a man who died in the wilderness without sons, approach Moses and the leaders to claim their father's inheritance.
c. 1405 BC
Divine Law on Female Inheritance Issued
God instructs Moses to establish a new law: if a man dies without sons, his inheritance passes to his daughter, ensuring the family line and tribal land remain intact.
This passage shows the application of the law given in Numbers 27, illustrating how the daughters of Zelophehad received their inheritance among their father's brethren in the land of Canaan.
Ruth 4:13-17This shows a later application where a kinsman redeemer takes a wife and the resulting son is named after the deceased, carrying on the family name and inheritance, echoing the principle of preserving a father's line.
1 Chronicles 2:34-35This historical account provides an example of a man, Sheshan, who had no sons, and thus his daughter was given in marriage to his servant, preserving Sheshan's lineage and inheritance.
Matthew 1:1-16The genealogy of Jesus includes women, notably Tamar and Ruth, whose inclusion highlights how God's redemptive plan can work through women, even in patriarchal societies, and how lineage can be preserved in unexpected ways.
calvinNumbers 27:1-11: "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."
- 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, a…
pooleNumbers 27:8: "And thou shalt speak unto the children of Israel, saying, If a man die, and have no son, then ye shall cause his inheritance to pass unto his daughter."
No text from Poole on this verse.
This isn't just about who gets the property; it's about preserving a family's name and legacy. By transferring the inheritance to a daughter when there are no sons, God ensures that the father's lineage and his allotted portion in the promised land wouldn't disappear. This highlights how deeply tied identity and inheritance were, even in the face of traditional patriarchal customs.
This passage arises from a specific legal question posed by the daughters of Zelophehad, who, having no brothers, feared their father's name and inheritance would be lost when the land was divided. Moses, unsure of the law in this unprecedented situation, brings their case directly to God. The Lord's response establishes a new, broader legal precedent for inheritance, ensuring family lines and property are preserved even without sons.
This passage arises from a specific legal question posed by the daughters of Zelophehad, who, having no brothers, feared their father's name and inheritance would be lost when the land was divided. Moses, unsure of the law in this unprecedented situation, brings their case directly to God. The Lord's response establishes a new, broader legal precedent for inheritance, ensuring family lines and property are preserved even without sons.
"And you shall speak to the people of Israel, saying, ‘If a man dies and has no son, then you shall transfer his inheritance to his daughter." — This isn't just about who gets the property; it's about preserving a family's name and legacy. By transferring the inheritance to a daughter when there are no sons, God ensures that the father's line…
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Last reviewed October 2026