Zelofhad

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In the Old Testament, Zelofhad was a father of five daughters, based on whose example the daughters' right of inheritance is introduced.

etymology

The name Zelofhad ( Hebrew צְלָפְחָד ṣəlåfḥād ) cannot be clearly explained. A derivation of ṣəl pachad “protection from terror” or “protection is (my) father” is possible. Hans Rechenmacher translates “(in) the shadow of Pachad”.

The Septuagint gives the name as Σαλπααδ Salpaad , the Vulgate as Salphaad .

family

Zelofhad belongs to the Manasseh tribe , whose progenitor is his great-great-grandfather according to Num 26,28-34  EU . His father is Hefer, his grandfather Gilead, his father Machir, his father Manasseh. Zelofhad himself has no sons, but five daughters: Machla ("jewelry"), Noa ("agile?), Hogla (" partridge "), Milka (" queen ") and Tirza (" beauty ").

Inheritance

After Zelofhad's death, his daughters ask for the right to inherit the portion of the Promised Land that should go to their father, so that their father's name is preserved, although there are no male descendants. To do this, they demand a divine judgment at the entrance to the meeting tent . This decides in their favor ( Num 27.1-11  EU ).

The Gileadites argue against women's inheritance law, claiming that a tribe's land ownership could be lost through marriage. It is therefore stipulated that the daughters of Zelofhad may only marry within their tribe ( NumEU ). In Jos 17.1-6  EU they are actually allocated land.

literature

Individual evidence

  1. Hans Rechenmacher : Old Hebrew names , Münster 2012, p. 107.