Joshua 17:3
“But Zelophehad, the son of Hepher, the son of Gilead, the son of Machir, the son of Manasseh, had no sons, but daughters. These are the names of his daughters: Mahlah, Noah, Hoglah, Milcah, and Tirzah.”
What does Joshua 17:3 mean?
Zelophehad's five daughters become important because their father died without sons, and in that culture, inheritance passed only to male heirs. These women had the courage to petition Moses and the leaders of Israel, arguing that they should receive their father's land rather than see it go to distant relatives. Their names are preserved in Scripture because their bold request changed the law: God agreed with them, establishing that daughters could inherit property when there were no sons. This small detail marks a significant moment where the community recognized women's rights and dignity in a very real, practical way.