The Daughters of Zelophehad

¹The daughters of Zelophehad came forward. Zelophehad was the son of Hepher, son of Gilead, son of Machir, son of Manasseh — from the clan of Manasseh son of Joseph. His daughters' names were Mahlah, Noah, Hoglah, Milcah, and Tirzah. ²They stood before Moses, Eleazar the priest, the leaders, and the entire community at the entrance of the Tent of Meeting and said, ³"Our father died in the wilderness. He wasn't part of the group that rebelled against the LORD with Korah — he died for his own sin. But he had no sons. ⁴Why should our father's name disappear from his family just because he had no son? Give us land among our father's relatives." ⁵Moses brought their case before the LORD. ⁶The LORD said to Moses, ⁷"The daughters of Zelophehad are right. You must give them an inheritance of land among their father's relatives. Transfer their father's inheritance to them. ⁸Tell the people of Israel: 'If a man dies without a son, his inheritance passes to his daughter. ⁹If he has no daughter, give his inheritance to his brothers. ¹⁰If he has no brothers, give his inheritance to his father's brothers. ¹¹If his father has no brothers, give his inheritance to the nearest relative in his clan, and that person will take possession of it.' This will be a permanent legal rule for the people of Israel, just as the LORD commanded Moses."