Question 1

Who were the daughters of Zelophehad and what did they ask for?

Accepted Answer

The daughters of Zelophehad were Mahlah, Noah, Hoglah, Milcah, and Tirzah, from the tribe of Manasseh. Their father died without sons, so they came to Eleazar the priest, Joshua, and the leaders and reminded them that the Lord had commanded Moses to give them an inheritance among their brothers. They were not asking for special treatment, but for what God had already said was right. Because of this, they received a share of land along with the male relatives in their father’s tribe.

Question 2

What does this passage show about women and inheritance?

Accepted Answer

This passage shows that God did not forget women when it came to family inheritance. In a time when land usually passed through sons, Zelophehad’s daughters came forward and asked for what God had promised. The leaders obeyed the Lord’s earlier command and gave them land among their father’s brothers. This tells us that God cares about fairness and keeping His word, and that women could come and speak before the leaders when they were seeking what God had said was theirs.

Question 3

Why could the children of Manasseh not drive out the Canaanites?

Accepted Answer

The text says the children of Manasseh “could not drive out” the Canaanites, so the Canaanites chose to stay in the land. Later, when Israel grew stronger, they put the Canaanites to forced labor instead of removing them. This shows a lack of full obedience and trust. God had promised the land, but they settled for living alongside those He had told them to remove. It warns us about being content with half‑obedience when things feel hard or risky.

Question 4

Why did the children of Joseph complain about having only one lot?

Accepted Answer

The children of Joseph, meaning Ephraim and Manasseh, felt that their land share was too small. They said they were a great people and that the Lord had blessed them, so one portion did not seem enough to them. Their complaint came from looking at what they already had and deciding it was not sufficient. Instead of first using what God had given and trusting Him to help them clear more land, they argued with Joshua for a larger gift without work or struggle.

Question 5

How did Joshua answer the complaint about the land being too small?

Accepted Answer

Joshua agreed that the children of Joseph were a great people, but he turned their words back to them. He told them to go up into the forest, cut down trees, and take more land in the hill country where the Perizzites and the giants lived. When they pointed out the Canaanites with iron chariots in the valleys, Joshua still said they were strong enough and would drive them out. His answer called them from complaining to action, faith, and effort.

Question 6

What does the mention of iron chariots teach about faith and fear?

Accepted Answer

Iron chariots were powerful weapons of that day, so the people used them as a reason to say the land was too hard to take. They looked at the strength of their enemies instead of the promise of God. Joshua did not ignore the danger, but he still said they would drive out the Canaanites, even with iron chariots and strong forces. This shows that real faith does not pretend problems are small, but trusts that God is greater than what looks strong and frightening.

Question 7

What does this passage teach about God’s provision and human effort?

Accepted Answer

In this chapter, God provides land to Manasseh’s tribe, including a share for Zelophehad’s daughters. At the same time, the people are told to clear forests and face strong enemies. God’s gift is real, but they must step into it with work and courage. When they refuse to drive out the Canaanites or complain about their lot, they fall short of what God intends. The passage shows that God’s provision and our obedience go together, and blessings often unfold as we act in trust.

Question 8

How can a believer apply the example of Zelophehad’s daughters today?

Accepted Answer

Zelophehad’s daughters did not sit back in silence when they knew God had said something about their situation. They went to the leaders, spoke respectfully, and asked for what God had promised. A believer today can learn to know God’s word, bring their needs humbly before those in authority, and trust that God sees and cares. Their story encourages us to seek what God has said is ours, not from greed, but from a desire to live in line with His will and justice.

Joshua 17:1

There was also a lot for the tribe of Manasseh; for he was the firstborn of Joseph; to wit, for Machir the firstborn of Manasseh, the father of Gilead: because he was a man of war, therefore he had Gilead and Bashan.

Manasseh’s Western Inheritance

Manasseh’s Western Inheritance

metadata.crossReferences

Joshua 17:1

There was also a lot for the tribe of Manasseh; for he was the firstborn of Joseph; to wit, for Machir the firstborn of Manasseh, the father of Gilead: because he was a man of war, therefore he had Gilead and Bashan.

share.title

share.allVerses

share.verseWithContext

share.currentVerse

Manasseh’s Western Inheritance

Manasseh’s Western Inheritance

metadata.crossReferences