family, the truth was that the age gap between them was not significant. His mother had literally had babies every year. As boys and as young men, one could never tell who was the oldest or the youngest until they were told. His two sisters, the twins, who were between him and his second brother, Makir, were the ones that were mistaken for the babies of the family. Zelophehad was finding it harder as the days went by to exert himself as the head to his brothers. Not because he did not understand his role as the head of their family or did not want to live up to the role, but because he felt disqualified. Once upon a time he had been so confident and sure of himself. Where was that young man? The young man that knew he was a leader by divine design and never hesitated to be first whether in trouble or triumph. Maybe he had taken it for granted that just as he was first in everything it was also his birthright to be the first to show strength in procreation. Baruch, his youngest brother, had four sons, and each of his other brothers had more. He knew that it was only a matter of time before his brothers would begin to resent him. If he ended up without an heir, it meant that his portion of their family’s wealth would be lost. No family or tribe likes depreciation of any form. Every family and tribe wants only increase. He did not want to be responsible for taking away from his family but rather wanted to live up to his name. He did not want to be a father to his brothers either, as his dead father had suggested. He desperately wanted to be a father, but a father only to the sons from his loins. He and his brothers grew up competing and contending with one another anyway, so he could not see them looking to him as their father now. He wanted only to lead as he had always done growing up and that was his focus right now. Zelophehad returned from his reverie as he heard the priest call out, “Son of Hepher , the Lord bless you and keep you; the Lord make his face shine upon you and be gracious to you; the Lord turn his face toward you and give you peace.” He shook himself, mouthed, “Amen,” and took his leave, wishing the priest had said “give you sons” rather than “peace.”
2
Zelophehad was not only anxious about his lack of a son but worried about many things. They had embarked on this journey to the promised land some twenty years ago when Moses returned from his self-exile with a message of deliverance from YHWH. Moses was born an Israelite but grew up an Egyptian prince in the house of Pharaoh, where he was adopted. He got into trouble trying to identify with his true people, the Israelites. That cost him his royal privileges, resulting in his exile. Many of them had thought it an irony that the very palace that caused them so much pain would be the same one from which a savior would arise to deliver them. Well that was the very meaning of the name Moses if you were Hebrew. However, Pharaoh’s daughter who adopted him had given him the name Moses, which to the Egyptians meant son. So depending on what side you were looking from, he was either Egypt’s son or Israel’s deliverer. He believed without a doubt that Moses was their “Deliverer.”
Many of his people had found it difficult to believe this Israelite-Egyptian in the beginning, and he believed some still doubted today because of this never-ending journey to the promised land. He sometimes wondered what would have happened had members of Moses’ family not been around to support his claims. Aaron his brother had been instrumental in convincing their people to follow Moses, and Miriam his sister had been the one who stood to prove his nativity to the doubting ones. Well they were the very ones that were closest to him and now assisted him with governing the people. Aaron his brother was the high priest, while Miriam was a highly respected prophetess and the only woman in leadership. She was a very influential woman, greatly admired by all the women, especially his wife, who wanted their daughters to be like Miriam. Though both Aaron and Miriam were older than Moses, who was their baby brother, yet they submitted to him as YHWH’s chosen leader for Israel. Moreover, they belonged to the house of Levi, the respected priestly tribe, even though Moses grew up in the house of Pharaoh. For Zelophehad and many others it was the awesome acts and supernatural interventions which led to their deliverance that authenticated and proved Moses. He had vivid recollection of the time and all the events that had led to their escape from Egypt. He still had nightmares sometimes, of walking in the midst of that Red Sea. On dry land they had walked right in the midst of that sea, with walls of trembling water on either side looking tumultuous and ready to fall back into position. It had been as if the waters were literally held apart by a mighty invisible hand on either side as they walked through. It had been both a terrifying and exciting experience, like a dangerous adventure. He remembered some families who had been too terrified and would not follow the herd of people until much pleading and of course the approach of Pharaoh’s soldiers had forced them into the waters. He remembered watching in amazement and horror as the same waters that had parted to give them passage had returned with such force. Pharaoh, his six hundred soldiers, chariots and horses had all disappeared before their very eyes. It was as if the whole of Egypt was wiped out. And it had happened so quickly, shortly after Moses had proclaimed to them, “The Egyptians you see today, you will see no more.” It had been a miracle and the ultimate payback to Pharaoh who had believed he was a god unto himself and the people. The whole event from the first plague to the last they saw of the Egyptians had been a humiliation of all their gods. It was established that their hundreds of gods were no match for the One God of Israel. They had not only escaped from their slave masters but they had left Egypt a very wealthy people. There was no family in Israel without valuables. Gold, silver, bronze, every kind of gemstones and any valuable asset that could be named, they had it. They had more than enough to buy land and anything else that they would need to settle in Canaan. Perhaps this was why he worried so much, Zelophehad thought. “Without an heir, what is the benefit of all my possessions?” It was not enough to have possessions. It was commonly believed and recited among them that the righteous leave inheritance for their children’s children, but the wicked are cut off, never to be heard of. He had reassured himself time and time again that he was no wicked man and believed he would be counted among the righteous. “Without an heir you are no better than a pauper,” his mother’s favorite line seemed to invade his thoughts. But not for long, as his wife’s sweet voice interrupted. “My Lord, I see that you have deceived me.” They were walking back home with their baby, Milcah, wrapped up so completely in swaddling clothes that he could not even see her face. He cleared his throat, buying time as he thought carefully of what to say to his wife. He did not want her to think that the reassurance he spent time giving her that morning meant nothing. He meant everything he had said to her earlier in the day when she woke up crying and worried. “I just wanted to give an extra offering to the Lord. Who knows, he just might smile down on me with a son sooner that you think.” She glanced at his face, searching his soul through his eyes as only she knew how. He was always cautious with his wife because she understood his expressions and actions more than she did his Hebrew. “I will tell you. You are desperate for a son but you are an honorable man. You intend to keep your promise to me and our daughters and I love you but . . .” She paused looking very serious. He turned to face her stopping in his track. They had taken the less busy path home, the tracks behind the tents, so he could afford the luxury of some privacy with his wife. He put his two hands on her shoulders to stop her in her track and looked into her face. She looked down smiling, too shy to look into his face directly. He had known his wife for fifteen years and yet there were still moments like this one. She looked down at his feet and continued, “. . . You can always change your mind you know and I will still love you.” “Woman, are you speaking the truth! Would you still love me when the other woman mocks and insults you for something you have no control over? Would you still love me when she makes your life miserable because I love you more than her? Would you still love me when peace no longer reigns in our home because of some strange woman? Would you . . .” They jumped as they heard footsteps creep upon them. It was a young man and a maiden holding hands. The young man waived and shouted a greeting respectfully while the young maiden snatched her hand away from his hand, obviously hiding her face behind her veils. Zelophehad took a cue from the approaching couple, grabbed his wife’s hand, and they continued their journey home. “Let’s give the young people some privacy and I hope they are pledged to be married. We have had our days.”
It was not unusual to find young lovers along the paths behind the tents. This was one of the largest camps they have ever set, yet they seemed to have not enough space. You were always sure to bump into people anywhere and everywhere around the tents even on the Sabbath. If you wanted privacy, you remained in your tents or went to the mountains, hills, or bushes surrounding the camp. The only