Bible Society of South Africa

Patriarchy: Our land, our women – Day 4

(Di)temana ya Bibele

NUMERI 27

Barwedi ba Tselofohade

1Magla, Noa, Hogla, Milka le Tirtsa e be e le barwedi ba Tselofohade, morwa wa Hefere, Hefere morwa wa Gileade, Gileade morwa wa Makire, Makire wa kgoro ya Manase, Manase morwa wa Josefa. 2Ba ile ba ya ba ema pele ga Moshe le moprista Eleasara le baetapele le setšhaba ka moka mojakong wa Tente ya bodulo bja Morena, gomme ba re: 3“Tatagorena o hlokafaletše lešokeng a se ne morwa. O be a se lekokong la Korage lela la go tsogela Morena maatla; o hwile ka lebaka la sa gagwe sebe. 4Ke go reng ge leina la tatagorena le timelela kgorwaneng ya gabo e le fela ka gore a se a ka a ba le barwa? Re feng naga gare ga meloko ya botatagorena.”

5Moshe a ala taba ya bona pele ga Morena, 6gomme Morena a re go yena: 7“Se barwedi ba Tselofohade ba se kgopelago se lokile; ba fe naga gare ga meloko ya botatagobona. Bohwa bja gagwe a bo fetele go bona. 8Botša setšhaba sa Israele gore ge monna a ka hwa a se ne morwa, morwedi wa gagwe a tšee bohwa bja gagwe. 9Ge a se ne morwedi, bomorwarragwe ba swanetše go tšea bohwa bjoo. 10Ge a se na le bomorwarragwe, boramogolwagwe goba borangwanagwe ba swanetše go tšea bohwa bjoo. 11Ge a se ne boramogolwagwe goba borangwanagwe, gona moloko wabo wa kgauswikgauswi ka madi a tšee bohwa bjoo e be bja gagwe. Setšhaba sa Israele se phethe taelo ye e le molao, bjalo ka ge nna, Morena, ke go laetše.”

NUMERI 27:1-11NSO00Bula go Mmadi wa Bibele

NUMERI 36

Bohwa bja basadi ba ba nyetšwego

1Dihlogo tša malapa a kgorwana ya Gileade, morwa wa Makire, setlogolwana sa Manase, morwa wa Josefa, di ile tša ya go Moshe le go baetapele ba bangwe 2tša re: “Morena o laetše wena, mong wa rena, gore o arolele setšhaba sa Israele naga ka go dira matengwa. O go laetše le gore naga ya moloko wa rena, Tselofohade, o e fe barwedi ba gagwe. 3Eupša ge ba ka nyalwa ke banna ba kgoro ye nngwe, naga ya bona e tla ba ya kgoro yeo, gomme ye e aroletšwego rena ya fokotšega. 4Ka Ngwaga wa Poetšo naga ya barwedi ba Tselofohade e tla tsenyetšwa sa ruri kgorong ye ba nyetšwego go yona, mme ya lahlegela kgoro ya botatagorena.”

5Ka gona Moshe a fa setšhaba sa Israele taelo ye e tšwago go Morena a re: “Se kgoro ya Manase e se bolelago ke therešo, 6ka gona Morena o re barwedi ba Tselofohade ba ka nyalwa ke mang goba mang yo ba mo ratago, fela e be monna wa kgoro ya gabobona. 7Naga ya Moisraele yo mongwe le yo mongwe e tla fela e tlemagane le kgoro ya gabo. 8Mosadi yo mongwe le yo mongwe yo a hwetšago bohwa bja naga kgorong ya Israele o swanetše go nyalwa ke monna yo e lego wa kgoro yeo. Ka tsela ye Moisraele yo mongwe le yo mongwe o tla hwetša bohwa bja borakgolokhukhu ba gagwe, 9gomme bohwa bjoo bo ka se tloge go kgoro ye nngwe bja ya go ye nngwe. Kgoro ye nngwe le ye nngwe e tla fela e itshwaretše naga ya yona.”

10-11Ka gona Magla, Tirtsa, Hogla, Milka le Noa, barwedi ba Tselofohade, ba dira ka moo Morena a laetšego Moshe, gomme ba nyalwa ke dikgaetšedi tša bona tša kgoro. 12Ba ile ba nyalwa dikgorwaneng tša kgoro ya Manase, morwa wa Josefa, mme naga ya bona ya fela e le kgorong ya botatagobona.

NUMERI 36:1-12NSO00Bula go Mmadi wa Bibele

1. The idea that sons (and not daughters) carry a father’s name and memory is evident in verse 1 where the genealogy of Zelophehad traces his roots to his great-grandfather and all the way back to Joseph (Gen 41:51). Zelophehad had died during the journey from Egypt (Num 27:3), leaving no sons to inherit land allotted to him and his brothers (Num 34:2). The names of Zelophehad’s five daughters are listed and their agency recorded as they reason with Moses that, for the sake of their dead father’s name and memory, his inheritance ought to be given to them and not his brothers.
(a) Are there incidences in your context today where sons only inherit their parents’ property? If so, why do you think this is still the case?
(b) Look at the well-thought-through reasons the daughters give (Num 27:3-4), basing their appeal on their father’s loyalty to Moses and to God. What would daughters who might find themselves in a similar situation today base their arguments on?

2. The outcome of the daughters’ appeal against their property going to men in the family is clear, “If a man dies and leaves no son, turn his inheritance over to his daughter” (Num 27:8).

3. Reflect on Numbers 36: 1-12
(a) What are your thoughts about:
(i) The counter-argument made by the male relatives of Zelophehad (36:2-4)?
(ii) God’s “change of mind” and the setting of restrictions for the five sisters (Num 36:5-9)

4. Are there instances in your context where counter arguments are made against gender justice?

5. The five sisters complied with the conditions set, and married their cousins on their father’s side (Num 36:10-12).
(a) What do you think might be the reasons the sisters complied?
(b) Do you know of any instances today where women have to comply with conditions or restriction because their views are dismissed or because their reasoning/ views do not count?

6. What insights have you gained from doing this study on Numbers 27 and 36 and how could you apply it in your personal and communal life?

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