Daughters of Promise: A Father’s Bold LegacyWhat Zelophehad’s Conviction Teaches Fathers (and Daughters) Today
Daughters of Promise: A Father’s Bold Legacy
What Zelophehad’s Conviction Teaches Fathers (and Daughters) Today
Grand Prize Winner, 2025 CBE National Writing Competition
Of all the names in the Bible, my guess is that Zelophehad, Mahlah, Noah, Hoglah, Milcah, and Tirzah are names many of us have never heard of. That’s quite unfortunate because their story reveals God’s faithfulness to his covenant promises and holds multiple lessons for us today. The Bible actually mentions Zelophehad and his daughters five different times (Num. 26:33; 27:1; 27:4–7; 36:1–12; Josh. 17:3–6). In a book where all words are God-breathed, that repetition is a flashing sign for us: Pay attention. This matters. So, although this account or these names are not often discussed in Sunday schools or pulpits, I’m convinced we need to know more about this man with the odd name and the daughters he raised to boldly step into God’s call for their lives.
Their account is found in the book of Numbers and later confirmed in the book of Joshua. We first meet Zelophehad and his daughters (Num. 26:33; 27:1) after Israel had escaped captivity in Egypt and was preparing to enter the Promised Land. This was a “take two” for Israel to enter the Promised Land, as the previous generation failed to trust God, so they were barred from entering (Num. 14:26–35). However, because of God’s faithfulness, their children were given another opportunity to cross the Jordan and claim the inheritance God had promised.
However, for Zelophehad’s family, there was a problem. Traditionally, the promises God made to Abraham and his descendants had been passed down from father to son; but, Zelophehad had five daughters and no sons. No sons meant no heir to carry on the family name, no one to inherit the family’s blessings, and no one to maintain the father’s house within God's people. In other words, without sons, Zelophehad’s name and his inheritance from God would vanish. His story would be forgotten like footprints in the desert sand.
But Zelophehad’s daughters, Mahlah, Noah, Hoglah, Milcah, and Tirzah were intent on not letting this happen. They knew their father’s name and inheritance among the tribes of Israel mattered. They knew his line shouldn’t disappear. They also knew God’s promises—land, legacy, inheritance—were not only for men but for all of Israel. So, when God called them to boldly stand up for what they knew to be true, they formulated a daring plan. These five women courageously stood before Moses, Eleazar the priest, the tribal leaders, and two million witnesses at the entrance of the Tent of Meeting, where God met Moses face-to-face. And there they asked for something that had never been asked for before or given in Israel:
Why should our father’s name be withdrawn from his clan because he had no son? Give us [his daughters] a possession among our father’s relatives. — Numbers 27:4
Their request was unprecedented—so audacious it took even Moses by surprise! Instead of dismissing their plea, Moses brought it before the Lord, who affirmed: “The daughters of Zelophehad are right” (Num. 27:7). With that declaration, the inheritance laws of Israel were changed so that from that day forward, daughters could legally inherit their father’s rights. This groundbreaking decision proved that God’s covenant promises were not confined to sons alone. This truth matters—it mattered then, and it continues to matter to us today.
Years later, after the land was conquered and Joshua divided it among the tribes, these sisters confidently reminded Joshua of God’s promise—and received exactly what they asked for (Josh. 17:3–6).
The unwavering resolve of these sisters is remarkable, as is their knowledge of Scripture, their loyalty to their father, and their wisdom in approaching Moses. What God accomplished through them for Israel and women in general is nothing short of astounding.[1] God called and equipped women to stand up for themselves and other women, and so much good has flowed from their obedience. We have much to learn from the example of Mahlah, Noah, Hoglah, Milcah, and Tirzah.
But there’s another critical angle here that deserves our attention. While this story clearly encourages women to embrace God’s call with courage and wisdom, I believe it also issues a vital challenge to men. Let me explain.
I’ll start with this: It took serious chutzpah—a gutsy, bold kind of courage—for these sisters to do what they did. We have the benefit of hindsight, but they had no way of knowing how their request would be received. Remember, they were asking for something that had never been asked for or given in Israel, and they were doing it in front of everyone! There would be no turning back. So, let me ask you, what do you think gave these sisters not just the courage but also the ability to do this? Well, there is strength in numbers, I’ll grant that, but I believe there is a far better reason.
In a society that prized sons and overlooked daughters,[2] I am persuaded that Zelophehad chose a different path. I believe he looked beyond the traditional social expectations of his day and shaped his home around the pattern he knew God had established at creation: that women and men, together as God’s image-bearers, are equally responsible to bear his name and to fulfill his mandate (Gen. 1:26–28). In a remarkably forward-thinking approach aligned with God’s design, it seems clear that Zelophehad taught Mahlah, Noah, Hoglah, Milcah, and Tirzah these Scriptures, equipped them to understand the world around them, and instilled in them the courage to stand firm on the truth, even when it might be costly.
Now let me ask every father, spiritual father, and all who God has called to equip and encourage women: Will your legacy reflect the truth that Zelophehad’s example so vividly displays?
I hope so, because when fathers teach their daughters who they truly are in Christ and what they can accomplish through the power of the Holy Spirit according to God’s Word, rather than settling for the cultural norms prevalent in our churches today, they are not merely following Zelophehad’s example; they are empowering their daughters to step unflinchingly into the plan God has for them.
In doing so, these fathers align themselves with the very intention and design of God, established from the foundations of the world. And I say again: this matters.
I’m living proof that fathers like this still exist and make a difference. I’ve been blessed to have my very own Zelophehad—except my dad’s name is Bob (much easier to pronounce, right?).
My dad never treated me as “less than” my brother because I was a daughter and not a son; he never hinted that my calling was smaller or quieter because I’m a woman. Instead, he raised me to believe that wherever God calls, it’s my job to step in and walk that call out in the power of the Holy Spirit for God’s glory and others’ good. I am who I am today largely because of this, and I thank God every day for my very own Zelophe-Bob.
If you’ve had a Zelophehad—or a Bob—in your story, you know what I’m talking about. And if you haven’t already, I encourage you to thank him for that as soon as possible. If you didn’t have a Zelophehad, please know I grieve that with you, but all is not lost.
Your faithful Father in heaven has equipped you and makes sure your name is remembered, your house is secure, and your inheritance is waiting—you might want to thank him for that as well.
If you are a father, a spiritual father, or someone God has entrusted to equip and encourage women, may this account of an otherwise unknown man with a funny name and many daughters spur you on—so that you raise up your own Mahlahs, Noahs, Hoglahs, Milcahs, and Tirzahs: daughters who know they are deeply loved and highly regarded by you and by their Heavenly Father; daughters who know who they are in Christ, stand confidently on his Word, and step unflinchingly into whatever God calls them to do. Zelophehad would expect no less—and neither does our God.
Reflections:
Who are you equipping today to stand confidently in God’s promises?
Who do you need to thank—besides God—for shaping your faith and courage?
Prayer:
Lord, thank You for the example of Zelophehad—a father who trusted Your Word and faithfully passed on Your promises. Thank You for fathers and father figures who form their children in the truth of who You are and what You have spoken. Give them the courage to stand on Your Word alone, even when culture or tradition resists it, and the humility to rejoice when their daughters and sons step fully into the inheritance You intend.
And Lord, form women to be like the daughters of Zelophehad—deeply grounded in Your covenant faithfulness, confident in the goodness of Your justice, and faithful to speak when Your promises are at stake. May they trust that obedience, courage, and faith are always welcomed by You. Amen.
[1] The daughters of Zelophehad’s successful appeal before Moses led God to institute a new inheritance provision in Numbers 27:1–11, permitting daughters to inherit if there were no sons, a legal precedent that was later refined to preserve tribal landholding (cf. Num 36). See David H. Aaron, “The Ruse of Zelophehad’s Daughters,” Hebrew Union College Annual 80 (2009): 1–38, https://www.jstor.org/stable/23509779; Marc Van De Mieroop, “The Family in the Ancient Near East,” Journal of Near Eastern Studies 53, no. 2 (1994): 109–130, https://www.jstor.org/stable/3209201.
[2] Van De Mieroop, Marc. “The Family in the Ancient Near East.” Journal of Near Eastern Studies, vol. 53, no. 2, 1994, pp. 109–130. JSTOR, https://www.jstor.org/stable/3209201.
