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

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.

What does this passage show about women and inheritance?

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.

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

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.

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

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.

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

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.

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

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.

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

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.

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

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.

Josh.17.1

Joshua 17:1

King James Version (KJV)

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.

Chapter:

Manasseh’s Western Inheritance

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.

2 There was also a lot for the rest of the children of Manasseh by their families; for the children of Abiezer, and for the children of Helek, and for the children of Asriel, and for the children of Shechem, and for the children of Hepher, and for the children of Shemida: these were the male children of Manasseh the son of Joseph by their families.

3 ¶ But Zelophehad, the son of Hepher, the son of Gilead, the son of Machir, the son of Manasseh, had no sons, but daughters: and these are the names of his daughters, Mahlah, and Noah, Hoglah, Milcah, and Tirzah.

4 And they came near before Eleazar the priest, and before Joshua the son of Nun, and before the princes, saying, The Lord commanded Moses to give us an inheritance among our brethren. Therefore according to the commandment of the Lord he gave them an inheritance among the brethren of their father.

5 And there fell ten portions to Manasseh, beside the land of Gilead and Bashan, which were on the other side Jordan;

6 Because the daughters of Manasseh had an inheritance among his sons: and the rest of Manasseh’s sons had the land of Gilead.

7 ¶ And the coast of Manasseh was from Asher to Michmethah, that lieth before Shechem; and the border went along on the right hand unto the inhabitants of En-tappuah.

8 Now Manasseh had the land of Tappuah: but Tappuah on the border of Manasseh belonged to the children of Ephraim;

9 And the coast descended unto the river Kanah, southward of the river: these cities of Ephraim are among the cities of Manasseh: the coast of Manasseh also was on the north side of the river, and the outgoings of it were at the sea:

10 Southward it was Ephraim’s, and northward it was Manasseh’s, and the sea is his border; and they met together in Asher on the north, and in Issachar on the east.

11 And Manasseh had in Issachar and in Asher Beth-shean and her towns, and Ibleam and her towns, and the inhabitants of Dor and her towns, and the inhabitants of En-dor and her towns, and the inhabitants of Taanach and her towns, and the inhabitants of Megiddo and her towns, even three countries.

12 Yet the children of Manasseh could not drive out the inhabitants of those cities; but the Canaanites would dwell in that land.

13 Yet it came to pass, when the children of Israel were waxen strong, that they put the Canaanites to tribute; but did not utterly drive them out.

14 And the children of Joseph spake unto Joshua, saying, Why hast thou given me but one lot and one portion to inherit, seeing I am a great people, forasmuch as the Lord hath blessed me hitherto?

15 And Joshua answered them, If thou be a great people, then get thee up to the wood country, and cut down for thyself there in the land of the Perizzites and of the giants, if mount Ephraim be too narrow for thee.

16 And the children of Joseph said, The hill is not enough for us: and all the Canaanites that dwell in the land of the valley have chariots of iron, both they who are of Beth-shean and her towns, and they who are of the valley of Jezreel.

17 And Joshua spake unto the house of Joseph, even to Ephraim and to Manasseh, saying, Thou art a great people, and hast great power: thou shalt not have one lot only:

18 But the mountain shall be thine; for it is a wood, and thou shalt cut it down: and the outgoings of it shall be thine: for thou shalt drive out the Canaanites, though they have iron chariots, and though they be strong.

Context:

Manasseh’s Western Inheritance

Cross References

No cross references available for this verse.