December 9. The girls who stood up for their rights. In the book of Numbers 27 and 36 we read of a group of girls or young women protesting, because they were concerned that after their father’ death only brothers could inherit the father’s property. They put their case to Moses, who put it to God. God agreed that this was not right and that if a man had no son his property should go to his daughters. Later this was changed and daughters were told this could only happen if they married someone from their own tribe. This was to protect the tribe and not lose land to a foreigner.

Why should the name of our father be taken away from his family, because he had no son? Give to us a possession among our father’s brethren. Numbers 27: 4. Pope Francis: Education includes encouraging the responsible use of freedom to face issues with good sense and intelligence. AL 262. Reflect and share: At the time of Moses there was injustice with regard to female rights in the family. How does your family and culture feel about inheritance? Is it a question of fairness or tradition?