The Daughters of Zelophehad Revisited: In chapter 33, the people sought to remember where they had been on their journey from Egypt to the plains of Moab. In the last three chapters of the book of Numbers they look forward to where they will go, the promised land of Canaan, by considering its distribution. This last chapter of the book deals with such distribution in a specific circumstance. Other recurring themes are the place of women in this new generation and justice for the various tribes.

36:1–4 In 26:33, we read that the Manassite Zelophehad had no sons, and his daughters were given the right of inheritance in order to keep the land in its original family group—an unusual decision since male inheritance had been the norm (27:1–11). This final chapter of the book revisits that inciden…