These weren't just any women. The youngest was already forty! Now, forty might not seem old to us, but in the ancient world, that was definitely past the prime age for marriage. According to the biblical narrative, they hadn't married yet, but they weren't exactly waiting passively by the phone. The text tells us that they hadn't found mates they considered suitable. They had standards!

Then, they marry. And who do they marry? Their uncle's sons. Now, they were free to marry whomever they chose, according to what Moses told them, based on God's command. But they chose family. Interesting, right? It makes you wonder what motivated their choice. Was it about keeping the inheritance within the tribe? Or was there something more personal at play?

But their story doesn't end with marriage. Oh no, it's just beginning.

The narrative takes a fascinating turn, suggesting that God used the daughters of Zelophehad to reveal new laws. The passage states that "God works good through the good, and evil through the evil." This is a potent reminder that even challenging circumstances can be a catalyst for positive change.

The text goes on to say that the laws that were published as a result of the incident would have been given anyway, but God rewarded them for their piety by making them the direct occasion for the chapter of law. (Ginzberg, Legends of the Jews).

But here's where it gets really juicy. This whole episode was also a lesson for Moses himself!

See, Moses, after becoming God's messenger, had lived apart from his wife. And the text suggests he might have gotten a little… conceited about it. So, in the last year of his life, these unmarried daughters of Zelophehad appear, women who deliberately hadn't married until they found the right match. It's like a cosmic reminder to Moses: don't get too puffed up with pride.

And there's more. Moses couldn't answer the legal question posed by the daughters. He had to ask God for counsel! This was a second, very public lesson. Earlier, Moses had told the elders, "The cause that is too hard for ye, bring to me, and I will hear it." (Exodus 18:22). But in punishment for these boastful words, God made it so he couldn't answer the women's simple request, saying "Didst not thou say, 'the cause that is too hard for ye, bring it to me?' and now thou canst not properly settle this legal question of the women." (Ginzberg, Legends of the Jews)

Ouch. That's a humbling moment.

What does this tell us? Perhaps it’s a reminder that even the greatest leaders, the most devout among us, are still human. They are still capable of pride, and they still need guidance. The story of the daughters of Zelophehad isn't just about inheritance laws or family dynamics. It's about humility, divine justice, and the constant need to learn and grow, no matter how far along we are on our spiritual journey. It demonstrates the way God can use any person or situation to teach us important lessons.