THE DAUGHTERS OF TZELAFCHAD AND INHERITANCE

1. A portion of their father (Tzelafchad)
   Even though Tzelafchad died in the desert, he still inherited a portion in Eretz Yisrael according to the opinion the land was apportioned to those that left Egypt (not divided according to those that were alive at the time of the conquest).
2. A portion of their father’s father (Cheifer)
   The daughters shared in their grandfather’s estate. From this we learn that a daughter of a son can share with the living uncles
3. An extra share in the estate of Cheifer in which their father, as the first born, was entitled to a second portion
   Daughters are entitled to the firstborn’s double share. Eretz Yisrael is considered as if already in the portion of those that left Egypt. (Generally, the first born only receives the extra share in the possessions that the father has at the time of death. Those assets that come to the estate after death, the first born does not receive an extra share. Example is a repayment of a loan, etc.)

Note: The daughters also received a fourth portion from a paternal uncle that died in the desert without heirs. But the Mishneh did not mention this explicitly since nothing new to be learned regarding the laws of the inheritance.

במדבר כו, לג וּצְלָפְחָד בֶן-חֵפֶר לֹא-הָיוּ לוֹ בָנִים כִי אִם-בָנוֹת וְשֵם בְנוֹת צְלָפְחָד מַחְלָה וְנֹעָה חָגְלָה מִלְכָה וְתִרְ צָה:

“The daughters of Tzelafchad took three portions in the inheritance of Eretz Yisrael” (Mishnah Bava Basra 116b)

CHEIFER
חפר
Went out of Egypt
Tzelafchad
צלפחד
Went out of Egypt
First Born
Five Daughters; no sons
SON OF CHEIFER
Went out of Egypt
Died without children
SON(S) OF CHEIFER
Went out of Egypt
תִ רְ צָה מִלְכָה חָגְלָה נֹעָה מַחְלָה