Susan B. Zelophehad
Numbers 27:1-11
So after entering the promised land, five sisters, the daughters of Zelophehad are none too pleased. They came from the clan of Manasseh, but their father Zelophehad died in the wilderness. So they came before Moses, Eleazar, the leaders and the whole assembly and said- look, daddy Zel had five daughters and no son. He died in transit- he died for his sins, but it's not like he was one of the Kora followers who blatantly revolted against God. Why should his name die out in the clan just because he didn't have any sons? Here's a solution- give us what belonged to our family.
The council is shocked. What, you mean women could actually own land? But, how will you feed yourselves without men to help you?
OK, maybe they didn't go that far- but you have to be impressed with a story about women's rights in a book so often disturbingly misogynistic.
Moses takes the case before the Lord- and seems to not so much ask for counsel as to give it. He says- these ladies are right. You must give them their land and inheritance.
Must? This is much more than making God aware of the situation. It is clear to me that Moses' story is a foreshadowing of Jesus'. He's not just a spokesperson, he's an advocate. He's the defense attorney. He's got their back very much like Christ's intercessions for us.
And God listens. Tell them, He says, if a man dies with no sons, give the inheritance to his daughters. If there are also no daughters, give it to his brothers. If there are no brothers, go to the next closest relative. Treat this like any other commandment- it has the force of law.
OK, so it's not exactly the ERA. Women are still not getting the same perks as men here. But at least for these five women (Mahlah, Noah, Hoglah, Milkah and Tirzah) despite living in a patriarchal age they score a point for women.
And what I take from this story is the importance of looking out for those whose voices are minimized- women, or minorities, or the poor, or the displaced, or prisoners, or the stranger, or the new guy, or immigrants, or homosexuals, or the inarticulate. Whoever society thinks unworthy of power, (perhaps the thieves and prostitutes) are worthy of God's love and may only realize it when we treat them as equals.
Numbers 27:1-11
So after entering the promised land, five sisters, the daughters of Zelophehad are none too pleased. They came from the clan of Manasseh, but their father Zelophehad died in the wilderness. So they came before Moses, Eleazar, the leaders and the whole assembly and said- look, daddy Zel had five daughters and no son. He died in transit- he died for his sins, but it's not like he was one of the Kora followers who blatantly revolted against God. Why should his name die out in the clan just because he didn't have any sons? Here's a solution- give us what belonged to our family.
The council is shocked. What, you mean women could actually own land? But, how will you feed yourselves without men to help you?
OK, maybe they didn't go that far- but you have to be impressed with a story about women's rights in a book so often disturbingly misogynistic.
Moses takes the case before the Lord- and seems to not so much ask for counsel as to give it. He says- these ladies are right. You must give them their land and inheritance.
Must? This is much more than making God aware of the situation. It is clear to me that Moses' story is a foreshadowing of Jesus'. He's not just a spokesperson, he's an advocate. He's the defense attorney. He's got their back very much like Christ's intercessions for us.
And God listens. Tell them, He says, if a man dies with no sons, give the inheritance to his daughters. If there are also no daughters, give it to his brothers. If there are no brothers, go to the next closest relative. Treat this like any other commandment- it has the force of law.
OK, so it's not exactly the ERA. Women are still not getting the same perks as men here. But at least for these five women (Mahlah, Noah, Hoglah, Milkah and Tirzah) despite living in a patriarchal age they score a point for women.
And what I take from this story is the importance of looking out for those whose voices are minimized- women, or minorities, or the poor, or the displaced, or prisoners, or the stranger, or the new guy, or immigrants, or homosexuals, or the inarticulate. Whoever society thinks unworthy of power, (perhaps the thieves and prostitutes) are worthy of God's love and may only realize it when we treat them as equals.
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