Editing Daughters of Zelophehad (section)

==Biblical account==
The biblical text tells little of Zelophehad himself, save that he died during the 40 years when the Israelites were wandering in the [[wilderness]], and explicitly that he played no part in [[Korah#Rebellion|Korah's rebellion]].<ref name="Bibleverse||Numbers|27:3.|HE">{{bibleverse||Numbers|27:3.|HE}}</ref> {{Bibleverse||Numbers|16|HE}} does not in any case cite the tribe of Manasseh as being involved in the rebellion against [[Moses]].

Zelophehad's daughters petitioned Moses, [[Eleazar]] the [[kohen|priest]], the [[tribal chief]]s, and the whole assembly, at the entrance of the [[Tabernacle|Tent of Meeting]] for [[women's rights|their rights]] to inherit his property rights in the [[Land of Israel]].<ref>{{Bibleverse||Numbers|27:2–4.|HE}}</ref> Zelophehad's daughters noted that their father Zelophehad had not taken part in Korah's rebellion, but only died ''in his own sin''.<ref name="Bibleverse||Numbers|27:3.|HE"/> Zelophehad's daughters argued that were they not to inherit, then Zelophehad's name would be lost to his clan.<ref>{{Bibleverse||Numbers|27:4.|HE}}</ref> Moses took their case to God.<ref>{{Bibleverse||Numbers|27:5.|HE}}</ref> God told Moses that the plea of Zelophehad's daughters was just, and that they should be granted their father's hereditary holding.<ref>{{Bibleverse||Numbers|27:6–7.|HE}}</ref>

Later, the family heads of the clan of Manasseh's grandson [[Gilead]] appealed to Moses and the chieftains, arguing that if Zelophehad's daughters married men from another Israelite [[tribe]], then their share would be lost to the tribe of Manasseh and be added to the portion of the tribe into which they married.<ref>{{Bibleverse||Numbers|36:1–3.|HE}}</ref> So Moses, at God's bidding, instructed the Israelites that the plea of the tribal leaders was just and that Zelophehad's daughters could marry anyone they wished, but only among the men of the tribe of Manasseh.<ref>{{Bibleverse||Numbers|36:5–6.|HE}}</ref>

{{quote|5 So Moses, at [[Tetragrammaton|יהוה’s]] bidding, instructed the Israelites, saying: “The plea of the Josephite tribe is just. 6 This is what יהוה has commanded concerning the daughters of Zelophehad: They may become the wives of anyone they wish, provided they become wives within a clan of their father’s tribe. 7 No inheritance of the Israelites may pass over from one tribe to another, but the Israelite [heirs]—each of them—must remain bound to the ancestral portion of their tribe. 8 Every daughter among the Israelite tribes who inherits a share must become the wife of someone from a clan of her father’s tribe, in order that every Israelite [heir] may keep an ancestral share. 9 Thus no inheritance shall pass over from one tribe to another, but the Israelite tribes shall remain bound each to its portion.” 10 The daughters of Zelophehad did as יהוה had commanded Moses: 11 Mahlah, Tirzah, Hoglah, Milcah, and Noah, Zelophehad’s daughters, became the wives of their uncles’ sons, 12 becoming wives within clans of descendants of Manasseh son of Joseph; and so their share remained in the tribe of their father’s clan.<ref>{{cite web |title=Numbers 36:5-6 |url=https://www.sefaria.org/Numbers.36.5-6?lang=en&with=all&lang2=en |website=www.sefaria.org}}</ref>}}

Zelophehad's daughters did as God had commanded in the instructions conveyed to Moses, and each married a son of an uncle,<ref>{{Bibleverse||Numbers|36:10–11.|HE}}</ref> [[first cousin marriage]]s. When the Israelites entered the land, Zelophehad's daughters appeared before Eleazer the priest, [[Joshua]] (who by then had assumed leadership from Moses), and the chieftains, reminding them that God had commanded Moses to grant them a portion among their kinsmen, and Zelophehad's daughters received a portion in the holdings of Manasseh, probably on the east side of the [[Jordan River]].<ref>{{Bibleverse||Josh.|17:4–6.|HE}}</ref>