The answer is simple. Without the daughters of Zelophehad, Jesus would not have had a legal right to be the Messiah of Israel. What??? How could that be???
Let’s first understand about the daughters of Zelophehad, and then we’ll explain their relevance to Jesus being the Messiah.
A Generation of Wilderness Wanderers
Moses sent 12 spies into the Promised Land to “preview” the land that God had said He would give them. Sadly, only two came back with faith that they could enter. The other ten spies reported of giants in the land — Amalekites, Hittites, Jebusites, Amorites, Canaanites (Num 13:29), and Anakites (Num 13:33). Because of their report, the people wept and murmured against Moses (Num 14:1ff). And because of their lack of faith, God prohibited them from entering the land and caused them to wander for 40 years in the wilderness. When the 40 years had passed, those 20 years and older died not having entered the Promised Land. Only those under 20 were allowed to go in.
Because the people had not hearkened to the voice of the Lord (Num 14:22), only two adults—the two faithful and trusting spies— were permitted to enter the land (Num 14:30).
Zelophehad was of that generation of untrusting Israelites. He died in the wilderness without any sons but leaving behind five daughters.
Ancient Laws of Inheritance
In ancient Israel, inheritance laws stated that land and possessions be passed through the male line. Therefore, Zelophehad’s daughters were not eligible to receive their father’s land and possessions. So they went to Moses, Eleazar the priest, and the princes of all the congregation with a petition. They requested that they be allowed to inherit their father’s land as a way to preserve his name.
Numbers 27:4-5, 7 Why should the name of our father be done away from among his family, because he hath no son? Give unto us therefore a possession among the brethren of our father.
Moses responded exactly as we should respond in all matters. He “brought their cause before the LORD.”
Num 27:5 And the Lord answered Moses: The daughters of Zelophehad speak right: thou shalt surely give them a possession of an inheritance among their father’s brethren; and thou shalt cause the inheritance of their father to pass unto them.
And the Lord answered Moses:
Num 27:7-8 The daughters of Zelophehad speak right: thou shalt surely give them a possession of an inheritance among their father’s brethren; and thou shalt cause the inheritance of their father to pass unto them. And thou shalt speak unto the children of Israel, saying, If a man die, and have no son, then ye shall cause his inheritance to pass unto his daughter.
Inheritance Laws
God was not changing the inheritance laws but rather providing an exception within the law. Land was intended to pass from father to son to maintain tribal possession. Therefore, God allowed daughters to inherit if they married within their own tribe (Num 36:6-9). In this way, the land could pass from the father to the son-in-law through marriage and still remain in the tribe of the father.
Num 36:6-9 “This is what the LORD commands concerning the daughters of Zelophehad, saying, ‘Let them marry whom they think best, but they may marry only within the family of their father’s tribe.’ {7} “So the inheritance of the children of Israel shall not change hands from tribe to tribe, for every one of the children of Israel shall keep the inheritance of the tribe of his fathers. {8} “And every daughter who possesses an inheritance in any tribe of the children of Israel shall be the wife of one of the family of her father’s tribe, so that the children of Israel each may possess the inheritance of his fathers. {9} “Thus no inheritance shall change hands from one tribe to another, but every tribe of the children of Israel shall keep its own inheritance.”
So What Do the Daughters of Zelophehad Have to do with Christmas?
The story of the daughters of Zelophehad explains how the genealogy of Jesus, recorded in Luke, is actually the genealogy of Mary. In verse 23, we read…
Luke 3:23 And Jesus himself began to be about thirty years of age, being (as was supposed) the son of Joseph, which was the son of Heli,
This says Joseph was the son of Heli, but in Matthew, we are told Joseph was the son of Jacob. There’s a simple explanation. The word “supposed” in this verse is the Greek word nomizo. It means: to do by law, to accustom, to deem, or to regard— to reckoned by law, not by birth.
We can reason that Heli was Mary’s father and had no sons. The Bible confirms that Mary had a sister (John: 19:25) but mentions no brothers. If that were the case, Heli would have adopted (reckoned by law) Joseph as his son for the purposes of inheritance. And because Joseph was also from the Tribe of Judah, Mary met the requirements of the exception in the inheritance laws.
Therefore, in Luke, the genealogy of Jesus is traced through Mary’s bloodline, through Nathan, the second surviving son of David and Bathsheba. The genealogy goes all the way back to Adam, the first man. This genealogy reflects Jesus’ humanity.
The Genealogy in Matthew
Furthermore, in Matthew, the genealogy of Jesus begins with His birth and traces His lineage back to Abraham. This genealogy represents the royal line that passed from King David, through King Solomon, all the way down to Joseph, the son of Jacob. This explains why there appear to be two different genealogies for Jesus through His earthly father, Joseph. Matthew’s genealogy is the bloodline of Joseph, and it accredits Jesus’ legal right to be the King of Israel, the Messiah. Luke’s genealogy is the bloodline of Mary. However, it records the inheritance right of Joseph, thereby supporting Jesus’ being the Son of God, come in the flesh, and the Son of Man, a Messianic title.
In Summary – The Daughter of Zelophehad
1. The Torah provided an exception to the rules of inheritance. It was…
- requested by Moses on behalf of the daughters of Zelophehad (Numbers 27:1-5).
- granted by God (Numbers 27:6-11).
- defined by God (Numbers 36:6-9).
- instituted by Joshua (Joshua 17:3-6).
2. Mary met the required provision when she married within her tribe (Matthew 1:16).
3. Joseph was the adopted son of Heli, reckoned by law (Luke 3:23).
4. Matthew records the genealogy of Jesus, through Joseph— back to Abraham, through King Solomon and King David—establishing Jesus’ legal right to the throne of David as the Messiah of Israel.
5. Luke records the genealogy of Jesus, through Mary. Luke starts with Mary (although Joseph’s name is listed) and traces the genealogy all the way back to Adam, through Nathan, King David’s second son. This genealogy establishes Jesus’ birthright as the Son of Man.
The exception in the inheritance laws given to the daughters of Zelophehad explains why the genealogy in Luke belongs to Mary. And that explains why the genealogies in Matthew and Luke differ in their beginnings (Abraham and Adam), the sons of King David (Solomon and Nathan), and the father of Joseph (Jacob in Matthew, Heli in Luke).
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The Season of Advent (the 4 weeks before Christmas)
What is Advent?
HOPE Advent Candle 1 – Prophecy Gives Hope (video)
LOVE Advent Candle 2 – Promise Reveals Love (video)
JOY Advent Candle 3 – Jesus Is Our Joy (video)
PEACE Advent Candle 4 – Pause to Find Peace (video)
Christmas Day: When Love Was Born — Light the CHRIST Candle
What is the Prophetic Symbolism of Advent Candles?
How Do We “Take” Advent and Find Rest?
Download a Daily Devotional for Advent
Christmas-themed GOT QUESTIONS?
- What are the Events of Jesus’ Birth? A Simple Timeline and Chronology
- Misconceptions about the Journey to Bethlehem (video)
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- Errors in the Nativity Story? Is Jesus’ birthplace wrong?
- Who were the Three Wise Men? Fact or legend?
- How Did the Wise Men Know to Follow His Star?
- Did The Wise Men Arrive 12 Days After Jesus’ Birth? Or Was It Much Later?
- What is the significance of the Three Kings' gifts?
- Was Jesus born in a stable, a cave, or a house?
- Should we celebrate Jesus’ birthday in September?
- Was Jesus born in September (not December?)
- Does “Xmas” Cross Jesus Out of Christmas?
- What is the Prophetic Symbolism of Advent Candles?
- The Most Important Lesson for YOU in the Nativity Story?
- Was Mary a Levite, making Jesus both King and Priest?
- Should Christians Celebrate Christmas?
- How did Jesus become a man?
- Do You Get These 7 Things Right or Wrong About the Nativity Story?
- Are You Stuck in the Middle This Christmas? (short video lessons from the popular comedy TV show "The Middle.")
- What are the Prophecies of Christmas? (video)
- Where are the genealogies of Jesus in Mark and John?
- Why Are There Two Different Genealogies for Jesus?
- Should I Say “Happy Holidays” Instead of “Merry Christmas?
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- Scripture Cookies – Fun for the Whole Family!
- A Boastful Christmas Letter
- Peace Delivers Hope
- Promise Ignites Hope
- Preparation Produces Hope
- Prophesy Reveals Hope
- Alone at Christmas? Feeling lonely?
- Another reason God came to dwell with man.
- How can you have a white Christmas without snow?
- Christmas, abortion, and Joseph, the forgotten man of Christmas
- Remember the Wonder of Christmas
- Will you find rest, peace, and joy this advent season?
- A Christmas Morning Prayer by Robert Louis Stevenson (1850-1894)
- The Christmas Story in Poetic Verse, by Alvy E. Ford (1918-2005)
- Need a Quick Christmas Letter with a Significant Message?
- It All Happened in a Moment
Christmas Word Search Puzzles
Scripture from: Isaiah, Matthew, Luke, and John. A Christmas message from “In the Bleak Midwinter”
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- A Baby Changes Everything, by Faith Hill
- Mary, Did You Know?
- While You Were Sleeping — A Wake Up Call for America
- I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day, by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, performed by Casting Crowns
- Mary’s Child — from the movie, A Christmas Wish
- The True Meaning of Christmas: The Sacrifice Began (How Many Kings)
- What If You Had Been There When Jesus Was Born? (video)
- Pause to Find Hope. Receive the Promises of God. See Jesus. Hear God’s Plan.
- Christmas Trivia Fun
- Songs of Christmas Series: Away in a Manger; Mary, Did You Know? The Rose of Bethlehem; Good Christian Men Rejoice; Hark! The Herald Angels Sing; I Wonder As I Wander; What Child Is This? The First Noel; In the Bleak Midwinter (a golden oldie)
Have You Heard About This Baby Boy? A most beautiful rendition of Leonard Cohen's Hallelujah, with a Christmas message to touch your heart and give joy to your soul.
Remezes in the Bible
In Jewish hermeneutics (interpretation of Scripture), a remez is a hidden message, or a deeper meaning found below the surface or behind the words.
- Why Did Satan Rebel Against God?
- The Names of Jehovah hidden in Psalm 23! This will surprise you!
- Is There a Remez (Hidden Message) in Genesis 5?
- Did Pilate Proclaim Jesus to be God?
- Is There a Remez (Hidden Message) in Revelation 7? Why is Dan missing?
- The Meaning of Numbers in the Bible?
- The Meaning of Colors in the Bible?
- What’s the Amazing Remez (Hidden Message) in the Book of Numbers?
- Is There a Remez in Psalm 23? Names of God?
- How is Jesus Like a Worm? What’s the Crimson Worm? A Remez In Psalm 22
- What are the Mysteries in the Bible?
- Why Was a Ram Sacrificed in Genesis 22 Instead of a Lamb?
- What do Zelophehad’s Daughters have to do with Christmas?
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***A Hidden Message in Psalm 23?***
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