Mahlah

views updated

Mahlah

Biblical woman . The eldest of the five daughters of Zelophehad, of the Manasseh tribe.

When Mahlah's father Zelophehad died without male heirs, Mahlah and her four sisters (Noah, Hoglah, Milcah , and Tirzah ) requested permission from Moses to inherit their father's property. Moses granted their request, with the stipulation that the sisters marry within their father's tribe. Afterwards, Moses' judgment concerning the inheritance became general law.