9. Numbers 27

Third, the situation of the daughters of Zelophehad in Numbers 27 implies that legal transactions ordinarily left to the authority of a man are allowed to be made by women if there is no father or husband to represent them. The issue at stake was clearly an issue that belonged to the authority of men, yet God allowed an exception to take place (vv. 7-11).

In response it may be said first that there are many other examples of women having authority over property (Gen. 31:15; Numb. 36:8; Josh. 17:6; Job. 42:15; Luke 15:18), but those situations did not allow for a vote. Why would this case be different? Secondly, the daughters of Zelophehad did not exercise authority over other men. Thirdly, a clarification was given in Numbers 36 for the situation in Numbers 27. This clarification made it clear that God did not want this exception abused. He wanted the legal rights of the tribe and family to be maintained through the male line. So the case of the daughters of Zelophehad actually proves the opposite of what women’s suffrage advocates intend.