The Hepherites are a biblical clan mentioned in the Old Testament, specifically within the genealogical and tribal records of the Israelites. They are descendants of Hepher, a son of Gilead, who was a descendant of Manasseh, the son of Joseph. The Hepherites are thus part of the larger tribe of Manasseh, one of the twelve tribes of Israel.

Biblical References:

1. Numbers 26:32-33 : The Hepherites are first mentioned in the census of the Israelites conducted in the wilderness. "The descendants of Shemida: the Shemidaite clan; the descendants of Hepher: the Hepherite clan. Now Zelophehad son of Hepher had no sons—only daughters, and the names of Zelophehad’s daughters were Mahlah, Noah, Hoglah, Milcah, and Tirzah."

2. Joshua 17:2-3 : The Hepherites are again noted in the distribution of the land among the tribes of Israel. "So this allotment was for the rest of the descendants of Manasseh—the clans of Abiezer, Helek, Asriel, Shechem, Hepher, and Shemida. These are the male descendants of Manasseh son of Joseph by their clans. But Zelophehad son of Hepher, the son of Gilead, the son of Machir, the son of Manasseh, had no sons—only daughters, whose names were Mahlah, Noah, Hoglah, Milcah, and Tirzah."

Significance:

The Hepherites hold particular significance in the biblical narrative due to the account of Zelophehad's daughters. Zelophehad, a member of the Hepherite clan, had no sons, only daughters. This situation led to a significant legal and cultural development in Israelite society. The daughters of Zelophehad—Mahlah, Noah, Hoglah, Milcah, and Tirzah—approached Moses and the leaders of Israel to request an inheritance among their father's brothers, as their father had no sons to inherit his portion of the land.

This request was unprecedented, as inheritance typically passed through male descendants. However, God instructed Moses to grant their request, establishing a legal precedent that allowed daughters to inherit if there were no sons. This decision is recorded in Numbers 27:1-11 and is a notable example of God's justice and provision for all members of His people, regardless of gender.

Cultural and Theological Insights:

The account of the Hepherites, particularly through the narrative of Zelophehad's daughters, highlights the importance of justice and equity in the distribution of God's promises. It underscores the value placed on family heritage and the continuity of tribal identity within the Israelite community. The inclusion of the daughters in the inheritance laws reflects a broader principle of God's care and provision for all His people, ensuring that no family line would be extinguished due to a lack of male heirs.

The Hepherites, as part of the tribe of Manasseh, also contribute to the understanding of the tribal dynamics and land distribution in ancient Israel. Their presence in the biblical record serves as a reminder of the detailed and organized structure of the Israelite society as they settled in the Promised Land.HEPHER; HEPHERITES

he'-fer, he'-fer-its (chepher, chephri):

(1) Septuagint Hopher (Numbers 26:32; Numbers 27:1 Joshua 17:2 f), the head of a family or clan of the tribe of Manasseh. The clan is called the Hepherites in Numbers 26:32.

(2) Septuagint Hephal (1 Chronicles 4:6), a man of Judah.

(3) Septuagint Hopher (1 Chronicles 11:36), one of David's heroes.

2662. Chephri -- descendant of Hepher
... descendant of Hepher. Transliteration: Chephri Phonetic Spelling: (khef-ree') Short
Definition: Hepherites. ... of Hepher NASB Word Usage Hepherites (1). Hepherites. ...
/hebrew/2662.htm - 6kHepherites (1 Occurrence)
... Standard Bible Encyclopedia HEPHER; HEPHERITES. ... The clan is called the Hepherites
in Numbers 26:32. (2) Septuagint Hephal (1 Chronicles 4:6), a man of Judah. ...
/h/hepherites.htm - 7k

Hepher (11 Occurrences)
... HEPHER; HEPHERITES. ... The clan is called the Hepherites in Numbers 26:32.
(2) Septuagint Hephal (1 Chronicles 4:6), a man of Judah. ...
/h/hepher.htm - 11k

He'pherites (1 Occurrence)
He'pherites. Hepherites, He'pherites. Hephzibah . ... Numbers 26:32 and of Shemida,
the family of the Shemidaites; and of Hepher, the family of the Hepherites. ...
/h/he'pherites.htm - 6k

Hepherite (1 Occurrence)
... Multi-Version Concordance Hepherite (1 Occurrence). Numbers 26:32 and of Shemida,
the family of the Shemidaites; and of Hepher, the family of the Hepherites. ...
/h/hepherite.htm - 6k

Shemidaite (1 Occurrence)
... Multi-Version Concordance Shemidaite (1 Occurrence). Numbers 26:32 and of Shemida,
the family of the Shemidaites; and of Hepher, the family of the Hepherites. ...
/s/shemidaite.htm - 6k

Shemidaites (1 Occurrence)
... Multi-Version Concordance Shemidaites (1 Occurrence). Numbers 26:32 and of Shemida,
the family of the Shemidaites; and of Hepher, the family of the Hepherites. ...
/s/shemidaites.htm - 7k

Shemida (3 Occurrences)
... Multi-Version Concordance Shemida (3 Occurrences). Numbers 26:32 and of Shemida,
the family of the Shemidaites; and of Hepher, the family of the Hepherites. ...
/s/shemida.htm - 8k

Shemi'daites (1 Occurrence)
... Shemi'daites (1 Occurrence). Numbers 26:32 and of Shemida, the family of the
Shemidaites; and of Hepher, the family of the Hepherites. (See RSV). ...
/s/shemi'daites.htm - 6k

Shemi'da (3 Occurrences)
... Shemi'da (3 Occurrences). Numbers 26:32 and of Shemida, the family of the Shemidaites;
and of Hepher, the family of the Hepherites. (See RSV). ...
/s/shemi'da.htm - 7k

Clan (96 Occurrences)
... NIV). Numbers 26:32 and of Shemida, the family of the Shemidaites; and of
Hepher, the family of the Hepherites. (See NIV). Numbers ...
/c/clan.htm - 32k

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