Inheritance
Archimandrite Nikifor’s Biblical Encyclopedia
(Gen. 31:14)—in its modern usage, this word denotes the property or estate which children inherit upon the death of their father, and who, on this account, are called heirs. However, in eastern countries, inheritance was often given to children even during the lifetime of their father. Among the Hindus, a father was obligated to make an equal distribution of his property among his children, whatever they might be. This is why the father mentioned by the Lord in the parable of the prodigal son, who had two sons, divided his property between them at the request of the younger of them (Luke 15:12).
The word “inheritance” is also used in a more general sense to denote property or a share in an estate (Acts 7:5). The laws concerning inheritance, according to the legislation of Moses, were very simple among the Hebrews. Land could be mortgaged, but it could not be sold outright. The eldest, or firstborn, son received a double portion of the inheritance (Deut. 21:15). Illegitimate children had no share whatever in this inheritance, contenting themselves only with gifts from the father, and were sent away from the house even before the division of the inheritance, or were removed by the lawful heirs (Gen. 21:10 and following).
Daughters had a right only to maintenance from their father’s estate until their marriage, and upon marrying sometimes received a dowry (Josh. 15:18). If, however, someone had no children at all, his estate passed to his brothers, and, failing brothers, to his father’s brothers, and if there were none of these either, to his nearest relatives (Num. 27:8–11). The order of inheritance was as follows: if a man died having no son, his portion was transferred to his daughter; if the deceased had no daughter, then the portion passed to his brothers; if he had no brothers, then the portion was given to his father’s brothers; if his father had no brothers, then the portion passed to his nearest relative (Num. 27:8–11). A surviving widow had no share in the inheritance whatsoever, but was to receive maintenance from her children or from the heirs