Lexical Definition

‎מִלְכָּה‎ Milkâh (mil-kaw') Milcah N:N-F-P
a form of ‎מַלְכָּה‎; queen

Milcah.

1) daughter of Haran and wife of Nahor, her uncle and Abraham's brother, to whom she bore 8 children
2) a daughter of Zelophehad and granddaughter of Manasseh

Usage: 3 forms in 4 verses
Form Translated As     In Verse(s)
מִלְכָּ֖ה Milcah Num.26.33 • Josh.17.3
וּמִלְכָּ֛ה and Milcah Num.36.11
וּמִלְכָּ֖ה and Milcah Num.27.1

Extended Information

Brown-Driver-Briggs

‎מִלְכָּה‎ proper name, feminine ᵐ5 Μελχα (= ‎מַלְכָּה‎ ? NöZMG xlii. 1888. 484 compare Phoenician proper name, of deities ‎מלכת‎; compare GrayProp. N. 116); —

1. wife of Nahor Gen 11:29 (twice in verse); Gen 22:20; Gen 22:23; Gen 24:15; Gen 24:24; Gen 24:47 (all J).

2. daughter of Zelo-phehad (of Manasseh), Num 26:33; Num 27:1; Num 36:11; Josh 17:3 (all P). — Perhaps original town-name, Grayl.c.

Brown-Driver-Briggs References

Book Refs
Genesis 11:29 · 22:20 · 22:23 · 24:15 · 24:24 · 24:47
Numbers 26:33 · 27:1 · 36:11
Joshua 17:3

Profile

Female • Sister of Mahlah • Daughter of Zelophehad, a descendant of Manasseh.

Woman living at the time of Egypt and Wilderness

Milcah, one of the five daughters of Zelophehad, was part of a significant case regarding inheritance rights for women in Israel (Num.26.33; 27.1; 36.11; Jos.17.3).

Milcah is mentioned in the books of Numbers and Joshua as one of the five daughters of Zelophehad, a descendant of Manasseh (Num.26.33; 27.1; 36.11; Jos.17.3). Zelophehad had no sons, only daughters, namely Mahlah, Noah, Hoglah, Milcah, and Tirzah. These daughters approached Moses, Eleazar the priest, and the leaders of the congregation, requesting the right to inherit their father's property in the absence of male heirs (Num.27.1-4). Moses brought their case before the Lord, who instructed him to grant the daughters the right to inherit their father's property (Num.27.5-7). This ruling set a precedent for inheritance rights in cases where there were no male heirs. Later, the heads of the fathers' houses of Manasseh raised a concern about the potential loss of tribal land if the daughters were to marry outside their tribe (Num.36.1-4). In response, the Lord commanded that the daughters of Zelophehad could marry whoever they wished, but only within their father's tribal clan, to ensure that the inherited land remained within the tribe (Num.36.5-12). Milcah and her sisters followed this instruction and married their father's brothers' sons (Num.36.11; Jos.17.3). The story of Milcah and her sisters highlights the importance of inheritance rights, the adaptability of the law to new situations, and the preservation of tribal allotments in ancient Israel.

All entries for Milcah: מִלְכָּה