‹ Back

Joshua 17:4 "[The daughters of Zelophehad] came before Eleazar the priest and Joshua the son of Nun and the leaders, and said, 'The Lord commanded Moses to give us an inheritance along with our brethren.' So according to the commandment of the Lord he gave them an inheritance among the brethren of their father."

 

These chapters of Joshua describe the land allotments made to each tribe of Israel, and Chapter 17 deals with allotments made to the tribe of Manasseh, the firstborn of Joseph. Zelophehad, a descendant of Manasseh, had no sons, only daughters. These women came to Eleazar and Joshua and reminded them that an inheritance was due to them, and one was made. 

 

It is so obvious when reading the Bible that God loves and provides for women just as much as He does for men. There are differences in treatment, of course, sometimes ones that very much grate on modern sensibilities, but we have to remember that we are dealing with the progression of human history, and that women are weaker and much more dependent. As the ones who carry, give birth to, and care for the offspring, they naturally cannot be fully equal to men in terms of defending and providing for the family and community. So there have always been differences in how cultures treat women, and God's law is meant to make sure women are cared for as His beloved children, while also gradually leading humanity to a point of better understanding of their worth. Here we can see that in God's eyes, a woman's worth equal to that of a man.

 

The daughters of Zelophehad are not denied their family's inheritance simply because they are women. It is not even questioned by Eleazar and Joshua, nor is there any sense that anyone objected to giving them their inheritance. The women did have to speak up, though. Male inheritance was typically a given, so Joshua may not have at first thought about what was due this family of women, but when they spoke up, he responded in fairness.

 

We should all feel our worth in God's eyes, no matter the restrictions our cultures or societies put on us. When we know in our hearts that we are beloved by our Creator, it emboldens us to seek what is our due by making requests such as this, and it reminds others of their duty of fairness toward us. When secure in that love, we also don't let societal norms define who we are and to what we are entitled. Those questions are fully answered by God's love for us.