Impact Women - Noah

A Woman Named Noah is part of the Impact Women series, which highlights influential but often overlooked women in history. This segment focuses on Noah, the daughter of Zelophehad, who is mentioned in Numbers 27:1. Unlike the well-known Noah of the Ark, this Noah was a woman who, along with her sisters, challenged the inheritance laws of ancient Israel.

At that time, women could not inherit property if there were no male heirs. Noah and her sisters courageously stood before Moses and the assembly, demanding justice. Their plea led Moses to consult God, who granted them equal inheritance rights, marking a significant step in women's rights history.

The script also explores the social challenges Noah might have faced due to sharing a name with a famous biblical figure. The narrative draws a parallel to modern Christians, asking whether carrying the name "Christian" influences their daily lives, just as Noah’s name likely shaped hers.

Runtime:

Approximately 6–8 minutes, depending on pacing and delivery.

Cast:

• Narrator (optional) – Provides context and transitions.
• Noah – Daughter of Zelophehad, a strong and determined woman.
• Mahlah, Hoglah, Milcah, Tirzah  (optional) – Noah’s sisters who stand alongside her.
• Moses (optional) – The leader of Israel, who listens to the sisters’ plea.
• Eleazar the Priest (optional) – A religious authority present during the appeal.
• Assembly Leaders (optional) – A group of men who witness the sisters’ bold request.

Sample Script:

Did you know there are two Noahs in the Bible?

And did you know that one of the Noahs was . . . . (are you ready for this??). . . was a woman????

Well it’s true. In Numbers 27:1 we read:
"The daughters of Zelophehad, son of Hepher, the son of Gilead, the son of Makir, the son of Manasseh, belonged to the clans of Manasseh, son of Joseph. The names of the daughters were, (listen closely now): Mahlah, Noah, Hoglah, Milcah and Tirzah."

That’s right!  Check in your own Bible! It’s not a misprint! One of Zelophehad’s daughters was named Noah! A woman! Named Noah!

Now, just what, (aside from having a manly and famous name), was this woman Noah all about? Well, the account in Numbers tells that Noah and her sisters were unfortunate enough to be born to a family who had no male children; Noah had no brothers. And unfair as it may sound, the law of the day dictated that if a man died without male children, all of his property would be split up among the father’s male siblings, leaving the man’s daughters destitute, or at least dependant on their uncles for all their needs.

Noah and her sisters apparently not only took exception to this perceived inequity – they decided to do something about it! As it says in the account in Numbers, (the sisters) “approached the entrance to the tent of Meeting and stood before Moses, Eleazar the priest, the leaders and the whole assembly”. Now, if this act is looked at in the context of twenty-first century perspective, nothing special was happening here. But in the culture of the day, a woman’s place was certainly not in the Tent of Meeting! By approaching this male-exclusive area, these sisters were risking severe condemnation, or much worse!

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