Números 27

Números 27

Calvin adds that "Because of their piety their action is recorded for posterity (cf. Mt 26:6–13)." The issue addressed in this section is the fact that only male descendants were registered by patriarchal lineage in the census. Note that this situation with the 5 daughters of Zelophehad is to be distinguished from the levirate law - "A levirate marriage is literally a “marriage with a brother-in-law.” The word levirate, which has nothing to do with the tribe of Levi, comes from the Latin word levir, “a husband’s brother.” In ancient times, if a man died without a child, it was common for the man’s unmarried brother to marry the widow in order to provide an heir for the deceased. A widow would marry a brother-in-law, and the first son produced in that union was considered the legal descendant of her dead husband." (Click full discussion of Levirate Marriage at Gotquestions)