Listen to Women’s Voices

Sometimes change is dramatic. More often it is incremental.

Zelophehad’s daughters bring a complaint against Moses. “Our father died in the wilderness… And he has left no sons. Let not our father’s name be lost to his clan just because he had no son! Give us a holding among our father’s kinsmen!” (Numbers 27)

Moses appears baffled by their request. He inquires of God who then decrees, “The plea of Zelophehad’s daughters is just: you should give them a hereditary holding among their father’s kinsmen; transfer their father’s share to them.”

The law is changed.

God continues, “Further, speak to the Israelite people as follows: ‘If a householder dies without leaving a son, you shall transfer his property to his daughter.”

We move forward with tentative steps. God affirms.

And yet we continue to battle over the role of women.

Listen to the voices of Mahlah, Noah, Hoglah, Milcah and Tirzah.

Listen to the voices of women.