zelophehad Summary and Overview

first-born, of the tribe of Manasseh, and of the family of Gilead; died in the wilderness. Having left no sons, his daughters, concerned lest their father's name should be "done away from among his family," made an appeal to Moses, who, by divine direction, appointed it as "a statute of judgment" in Israel that daughters should inherit their father's portion when no sons were left (Num. 27:1-11). But that the possession of Zelophehad might not pass away in the year of jubilee from the tribe to which he belonged, it was ordained by Moses that his daughters should not marry any one out of their father's tribe; and this afterwards became a general law (Num. 36).

(first-born), son of Zepher, son of Gilead, son of Machir, son of Manasseh. #Jos 17:3| (B.C. before 1450.) He was apparently the second son of Hepher. #1Ch 7:15| Zelophehad came out of Egypt with Moses, but died in the wilderness, as did the whole of that generation. #Nu 14:35; 27:3| On his death without male heirs, his five daughters, just after the second numbering in the wilderness, came before Moses and Eleazar to claim the inheritance of their father in the tribe of Manasseh. The claim was admitted by divine direction. #Nu 26:33; 27:1-11|

ZELO'PHEHAD (first-born), a descendant of Manasseh who died in the wilderness and left only daughters. It was then ordained that, in want of male heirs, females should succeed to the inheritance, but not be allowed to marry out of the tribe. Num 26:33; Deut 27:1, 1 Chr 27:7; Isa 36:2, Isa 36:6, Num 36:10-11; Josh 17:3; 1 Chr 7:15.

Son of Hepher; descendant of Manasseh by Machir (Joshua 17:3). Died in the wilderness without male issue. He had no share in Korah's rebellion. His five daughters at the close of the second numbering came to Moses begging for their father's inheritance (Numbers 26:33; Numbers 26:27). Their petition was granted, and subsequently it was ordained that they and females under like circumstances should marry in their own tribe, that the tribal inheritances might not be confounded (Numbers 36).