Are you a woman who feels that you do not have a place, purpose, or ministry in the Kingdom of God?

Scripture is filled with God’s love and women that He used in His eternal plan of redemption for mankind through His Son Jesus Christ.

Women of the Bible were real people, just like you and I. This study will examine how their struggles, sin, shortcomings, and obedience can inspire us as women today to live our lives for God and be a light in this dark world. 

This 7 post blog series will focus on the Old Testament and examine the lives of Women of the Exodus and the Conquest of the Promised Land. 

Each lesson includes

• Biblical background
• Key Facts about each woman
• Strengths and weaknesses of each woman
• Lessons from each woman’s life
• Scriptures: Where to read about each woman
• Data: Geographics and family connections
• Life application: How you can or can not relate to each woman

This study is ideal for personal reflection or group Bible study.

God Loves You and Has a Place for You in His Kingdom

Your life has purpose.

Daughters of Zelophehad

Name Pronunciation	Name Meaning
Mahlah (MAH -luh)	Weak, Sickly
Noah (NOE-uh)	Rest, Comfort
Hoglah (HOG-lah)	Partridge
Milcah (MILL-kuh)	Counselor
Tirzah (TUR-zuh)	Unknown

Who Were They?

Five Jewish sisters from the tribe of Manasseh who brought a significant clarification in the Jewish inheritance law regarding women.

Biblical Background

After God delivered the children of Israel from bondage in Egypt, He gave them laws to obey as His chosen people. While they were in the wilderness God made laws for dividing the land for each family which He had promised to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. Sons were to inherit his father’s property. Zelophehad did not have any sons. He had five daughters named Mahlah, Noah, Hoglah, Milcah, and Tirzah. 

Biblical Text

Numbers 27:1 – 11; 36:1 -13; Joshua 17:3 – 5

Key Facts

• They went before Moses, Eleazer the priest, Jewish leaders, and the whole congregation stating, “Our father died in the wilderness; but he was not in the company of those who gathered together against the Lord, in company with Korah, but he died in his own sin; and he had no sons. Why should the name of our father be removed from among his family because he had no son? Give us a possession among our father’s brothers.” Numbers 27:3 – 4 

• Women going before male leadership to question Jewish law was unheard of 

• Moses was a meek and humble male leader. He listened to the women with compassion and took their matter before God 

• The Lord spoke to Moses saying, “The daughters of Zelophehad speak what is right, you shall surely give them an inheritance among their father’s brothers, and cause the inheritance of their fathers to pass to them.” Numbers 27:6 – 7

• The chief fathers of the families came to Moses and the Jewish leaders with concerns that if the daughters of Zelophehad married any of the sons of other tribes in Israel, then their inheritance would be taken from the tribe of Manasseh and added to the inheritance of the tribe they married into. Moses replied, “This is what the LORD commands concerning the daughters of Zelophehad, saying, ‘Let them marry whom they think best, but they may marry only within the family of their father’s tribe.’ So no inheritance of the sons of Israel will be transferred from tribe to tribe, for the sons of Israel shall each retain possession of the inheritance of the tribe of his fathers.” Numbers 36:6 – 7

Strengths

• They were courageous
• They were respectful of male leadership and humble in their approach to petition their case for women to inherit property in the absence of male heirs
• They had great faith in God to provide for them

Significance

• Their knowledge of Jewish Law and their humility in bringing the case before male leadership helped women for future generations  to inherit property in the absence of male heirs when they married within their own tribe 

Lesson From Their Life

• God is just and fair to all of His children, male and female; God cares for women

Geographical & Family Data

• Where: Moab
• Relatives:
  • Father: From the tribe of Manasseh the son of Joseph
  • Husbands: From the tribe of Manasseh the son of Joseph

Personal Life Application

The Daughters of Zelophehad possessed the positive characteristics of courage, respect, humility, and faith.

1. Download the 1-page Bible Study Guide 
2. Print the guide so you can write your answers
3. Ask yourself

• “Do I possess these characteristics?”
• How can I apply these characteristics in my personal life, family, community, church, or work?

The next Woman of the Bible we will study is Shelimoth.

God bless you

Links to Each Blog in This Series

Women of the Bible Series Blog # 1 of 7: Daughters of Zelophehad

Women of the Bible Series Blog # 2 of 7: Shelomith

Women of the Bible Series Blog # 3 of 7: Cozbi

Women of the Bible Series Blog # 4 of 7: Jochebed

Women of the Bible Series Blog # 5 of 7: Zipporah

Women of the Bible Series Blog # 6 of 7: Miriam

Women of the Bible Series Blog # 7 of 7: Puah and Shiphrah

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