Mahlah, Noah, Hoglah, Milcah, and Tirzah

Today we’ll hear a bible story that most of us have never encountered before, and I bet none of us have ever heard preached on before. It’s about five women standing up to a patriarchal system that only allowed sons to have an inheritance.

As you read through the story, notice that a couple of the big names are present: Moses and the important priest Eleanzer. Feel the weight of the women’s argument, and the ambivalence of the male leaders to acknowledge it. What surprises you? Enrages you? Encourages you?

Then the daughters of Zelophehad came forward. Zelophehad was son of Hepher son of Gilead son of Machir son of Manasseh, of the clans of Manasseh, son of Joseph. The names of his daughters were Mahlah, Noah, Hoglah, Milcah, and Tirzah. They stood before Moses, Eleazar the priest, the leaders, and all the congregation, at the entrance of the tent of meeting, saying, “Our father died in the wilderness; he was not among the congregation of those who gathered themselves together against the Lordin the congregation of Korah but died for his own sin, and he had no sons.  Why should the name of our father be taken away from his clan because he had no son? Give to us a possession among our father’s brothers.”

Moses brought their case before the Lord. And the Lord spoke to Moses, saying, “The daughters of Zelophehad are right.” - Numbers 27:1-7