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What the Bible Says About Mahlah

Overview

The Bible addresses mahlah across 21 verses, drawn from the Old Testament. These passages cluster most in Numbers and Joshua. Closely related themes include Daughter, Milcah, Noah and Zelophehad. Figures whose stories touch this theme include Zelophehad, Moses, Eleazar and Korah.

Key Bible verses about mahlah

Old Testament

Numbers

Numbers 27:1

Then came the daughters of Zelophehad, the son of Hepher, the son of Gilead, the son of Machir, the son of Manasseh, of the families of Manasseh the son of Joseph: and these are the names of his daughters; Mahlah, Noah, and Hoglah, and Milcah, and Tirzah.

Numbers 27:2

And they stood before Moses, and before Eleazar the priest, and before the princes and all the congregation, by the door of the tabernacle of the congregation, saying,

Numbers 27:3

Our father died in the wilderness, and he was not in the company of them that gathered themselves together against the LORD in the company of Korah; but died in his own sin, and had no sons.

Numbers 27:4

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. done: Heb. diminished

Numbers 27:5

And Moses brought their cause before the LORD.

Numbers 27:6

And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying,

Numbers 27:7

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.

Numbers 36:1

And the chief fathers of the families of the children of Gilead, the son of Machir, the son of Manasseh, of the families of the sons of Joseph, came near, and spake before Moses, and before the princes, the chief fathers of the children of Israel:

Numbers 36:2

And they said, The LORD commanded my lord to give the land for an inheritance by lot to the children of Israel: and my lord was commanded by the LORD to give the inheritance of Zelophehad our brother unto his daughters.

Numbers 36:3

And if they be married to any of the sons of the other tribes of the children of Israel, then shall their inheritance be taken from the inheritance of our fathers, and shall be put to the inheritance of the tribe whereunto they are received: so shall it be taken from the lot of our inheritance. whereunto: Heb. unto whom they shall be

Numbers 36:4

And when the jubile of the children of Israel shall be, then shall their inheritance be put unto the inheritance of the tribe whereunto they are received: so shall their inheritance be taken away from the inheritance of the tribe of our fathers.

Numbers 36:5

And Moses commanded the children of Israel according to the word of the LORD, saying, The tribe of the sons of Joseph hath said well.

Numbers 36:6

This is the thing which the LORD doth command concerning the daughters of Zelophehad, saying, Let them marry to whom they think best; only to the family of the tribe of their father shall they marry. marry: Heb. be wives

Numbers 36:7

So shall not the inheritance of the children of Israel remove from tribe to tribe: for every one of the children of Israel shall keep himself to the inheritance of the tribe of his fathers. keep: Heb. cleave to the, etc

Numbers 36:8

And every daughter, that possesseth an inheritance in any tribe of the children of Israel, shall be wife unto one of the family of the tribe of her father, that the children of Israel may enjoy every man the inheritance of his fathers.

Numbers 36:9

Neither shall the inheritance remove from one tribe to another tribe; but every one of the tribes of the children of Israel shall keep himself to his own inheritance.

Numbers 36:10

Even as the LORD commanded Moses, so did the daughters of Zelophehad:

Numbers 36:11

For Mahlah, Tirzah, and Hoglah, and Milcah, and Noah, the daughters of Zelophehad, were married unto their father's brothers' sons:

Numbers 36:12

And they were married into the families of the sons of Manasseh the son of Joseph, and their inheritance remained in the tribe of the family of their father. into: Heb. to some that were of the families

People in the Bible and mahlah

Biblical figures whose stories intersect with this theme.

In the Bible dictionary

Studying mahlah for yourself

  • Begin with Numbers 27:1, then read the passages below in canonical order.
  • Compare how Numbers and Joshua each treat the theme.
  • Consider the lives of Zelophehad, Moses and Eleazar and how their stories intersect with it.
  • Widen the study to related themes: Daughter, Milcah, Noah and Zelophehad.

Frequently asked questions

What does the Bible say about mahlah?

The Bible addresses mahlah across 21 verses, drawn from the Old Testament. These passages cluster most in Numbers and Joshua. Closely related themes include Daughter, Milcah, Noah and Zelophehad. Figures whose stories touch this theme include Zelophehad, Moses, Eleazar and Korah.

How many Bible verses are about mahlah?

The Bible references mahlah in 21 verses (King James Version).

Where does the Bible first mention mahlah?

In canonical order, the first of these passages is Numbers 27:1: “Then came the daughters of Zelophehad, the son of Hepher, the son of Gilead, the son of Machir, the son of Manasseh, of the families of Manasseh the son of Joseph: and these are the names of his daughters; Mahlah, Noah, and Hoglah, and Milcah, and Tirzah.”

Which people in the Bible are associated with mahlah?

Zelophehad, Moses, Eleazar, Korah and Joshua.

Preach & teach

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