Today, let's talk about the daughters of Tzelofḥad. Their story, found within Bamidbar Rabbah, a compilation of rabbinic commentary on the Book of Numbers, is far more than just a legal footnote – it’s a testament to wisdom, righteousness, and a touch of divine orchestration.
"The daughters of Tzelofḥad approached..." The text practically sings with praise, doesn't it? It emphasizes the greatness not only of these women, but also of their father, their ancestor Makhir, and even all the way back to Joseph. Imagine, such wise and righteous women descended from him! But what exactly made them so remarkable?
Their wisdom shone brightest when they approached Moses at a pivotal moment. He was grappling with the laws of inheritance, specifically the verse, "To these the land shall be distributed" (Numbers 26:53). That's when they spoke up. "If we are like a son, let us inherit," they argued. "If not, let our mother be subject to yibbum (levirate marriage)." Now, yibbum, as described in Deuteronomy 25:5, is the practice where a widow without children marries her husband's brother to continue the family line. The daughters of Tzelofḥad presented a clear, logical dilemma: treat us like sons and give us our inheritance, or acknowledge we are not sons and apply the laws of yibbum to our widowed mother.
The impact was immediate. "Moses brought their case before the Lord" (Numbers 27:5).
But there's another layer here, a subtle and profound one. The text tells us these women were also righteous, because they married only men who were suitable for them. And that raises a question: why did God arrange for them to approach Moses specifically at the end of his time dealing with the laws of inheritance?
Bamidbar Rabbah suggests a fascinating reason. It was to prevent Moses from becoming overly impressed with himself, particularly regarding his separation from his wife for forty years. See, Moses, as a prophet, had been commanded to abstain from marital relations. God, in a way, used the daughters of Tzelofḥad to gently remind Moses: These women weren't commanded to abstain from marriage, yet they still waited, choosing only those who were suitable. It's a powerful lesson in humility and perspective. Moses, a towering figure, is subtly reminded that righteousness takes many forms. The daughters of Tzelofḥad, through their wisdom and their commitment to finding worthy partners, embodied a different kind of devotion, one equally valued in the eyes of God.
The story of the daughters of Tzelofḥad isn't just about inheritance laws. It’s about the power of a well-placed question, the importance of righteous choices, and the reminder that even the greatest among us can learn from those who walk a different path. What seemingly small acts of courage and wisdom might we be overlooking in our own lives and in the stories of those around us?