Article June 14, 1982 Issue

Modern daughters of Zelophehad

BARBARA BLECH DUNBAR

In ancient biblical times, according to the book of Numbers, five daughters of a certain Hebrew called Zelophehad appealed to Moses to give them the right to inherit land. Heretofore only the men of a family could inherit property. But these women realized that if they were left without inheritance, their family name would be lost. Their father had had no sons and had died in the wilderness; so the daughters felt they were fully justified in their request.1

Moses, as was his custom, went straight to God with this startling plea and then ruled that in such a case daughters were to inherit and possess the land so that it would be kept in the family. This was certainly one of the earliest records of women claiming inheritance rights in a male-oriented society.

Centuries after the daughters of Zelophehad claimed and received this right, a woman of the nineteenth century, Mrs. Eddy, wrote the following in the Christian Science textbook, Science and Health: "Civil law establishes very unfair differences between the rights of the two sexes. Christian Science furnishes no precedent for such injustice, and civilization mitigates it in some measure. Still, it is a marvel why usage should accord woman less rights than does either Christian Science or civilization."2

Enjoy 1 free Sentinel article or audio program each month, including content from 1898 to today.

Send a comment to the editors
NEXT IN THIS ISSUE
Article
"Begin with God..."
June 14, 1982
Contents

We'd love to hear from you!

Easily submit your testimonies, articles, and poems online.

Submit