376. However, the plea that these daughters pleaded was that he died in the wilderness. He, who was Zelophehad, a chief in the house of Joseph, and who was not properly versed in the manners of the Torah, was not THEREFORE a prince. And he was the one who did not watch his lips and speech against Moses, AS IT SAYS, "AND THE PEOPLE SPOKE AGAINST ELOHIM, AND MOSES..." (BEMIDBAR 21:5). ZELOPHEHAD WAS THE SPOKESMAN and about him, it is written: "And many (Heb. rav) people of Yisrael died" (Ibid. 6) BECAUSE HE WAS a man that was not versed in Torah. He was a chief (Heb. rav) of a family, a chieftain from the descendants of Joseph and an offspring of Menashe. Because he sinned in the wilderness by speaking against Moses, HIS DAUGHTERS thought that Moses harbored hatred AGAINST HIM. Therefore, they brought forward their complaints before Moses and Elazar and all the tribal heads and family chieftains. They did not speak with Moses alone but in their presence, because they were jealous of him.