Daughter of Zelophehad, a descendant of Manasseh.
Milcah
Named in 4 verses across 2 books, first in Numbers 26:33.
מִלְכָּהMilcah
The name means “queen.” Hitchcock's Bible Names, 1869
- Father
- Zelophehad
- People
- Tribe of Manasseh
About Milcah Written by AI
Milcah is mentioned in the books of Numbers and Joshua as one of the five daughters of Zelophehad, a descendant of Manasseh (Numbers 26:33; 27.1; 36.11; Joshua 17:3). Zelophehad had no sons, only daughters, namely Mahlah, Noah, Hoglah, Milcah, and Tirzah. These daughters approached Moses, Eleazar the priest, and the leaders of the congregation, requesting the right to inherit their father's property in the absence of male heirs (Numbers 27:1 to 4). Moses brought their case before the Lord, who instructed him to grant the daughters the right to inherit their father's property (Numbers 27:5 to 7). This ruling set a precedent for inheritance rights in cases where there were no male heirs. Later, the heads of the fathers' houses of Manasseh raised a concern about the potential loss of tribal land if the daughters were to marry outside their tribe (Numbers 36:1 to 4). In response, the Lord commanded that the daughters of Zelophehad could marry whoever they wished, but only within their father's tribal clan, to ensure that the inherited land remained within the tribe (Numbers 36:5 to 12). Milcah and her sisters followed this instruction and married their father's brothers' sons (Numbers 36:11; Joshua 17:3). The story of Milcah and her sisters highlights the importance of inheritance rights, the adaptability of the law to new situations, and the preservation of tribal allotments in ancient Israel.
Drafted by an AI model for STEPBible's TIPNR (Tyndale House Cambridge, CC BY 4.0). Check it against the verses below.
Where the Bible names her
- Numbers 26:33
Now Zelophehad son of Hepher had no sons but only daughters. The names of his daughters were Mahlah, Noah, Hoglah, Milcah, and Tirzah.
- Numbers 27:1
Now the daughters of Zelophehad son of Hepher, the son of Gilead, the son of Machir, the son of Manasseh, belonged to the clans of Manasseh son of Joseph. These were the names of his daughters: Mahlah, Noah, Hoglah, Milcah, and Tirzah. They approached
- Numbers 36:11
Mahlah, Tirzah, Hoglah, Milcah, and Noah, the daughters of Zelophehad, were married to cousins on their father’s side.
- Joshua 17:3
But Zelophehad son of Hepher (the son of Gilead, the son of Machir, the son of Manasseh) had no sons but only daughters. These are the names of his daughters: Mahlah, Noah, Hoglah, Milcah, and Tirzah.
From STEPBible's TIPNR, Tyndale House Cambridge (CC BY 4.0): names, family, references and the AI written article. Verse text is the BSB.