Joshua 17:1
in Joshua 17Now this was the allotment for the tribe of Manasseh as Joseph’s firstborn son, namely for Machir the firstborn of Manasseh and father of the Gileadites, who had received Gilead and Bashan because Machir was a man of war.
BSB
The same verse in ASV and KJV ▾
ASV
And this was the lot for the tribe of Manasseh; for he was the first-born of Joseph. As for Machir the first-born of Manasseh, the father of Gilead, because he was a man of war, therefore he had Gilead and Bashan.
KJV
There was also a lot for the tribe of Manasseh; for he was the firstborn of Joseph; to wit, for Machir the firstborn of Manasseh, the father of Gilead: because he was a man of war, therefore he had Gilead and Bashan.
⋯
This verse in Joshua 17
Commentary
7 notes on this verseA commentator
Albert Barnes1798–1870
Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869)
Manasseh, as the “first-born,” was to receive not only the territory on the east of Jordan won by the valor of the Machirites, but also a portion with the other tribes on the west of Jordan, the holy land of promise strictly so called. Thus, though Ephraim took precedence of Manasseh, according to the prediction of Joseph Gen 48:20, yet Manasseh received “the double portion” which was the special privilege of the first-born Deu 21:17.
This site's exposition
the tribe of Manasseh as Joseph’s firstborn son
on Joshua 17:1-2
Manasseh is called Joseph's firstborn yet receives his lot after Ephraim, which is Genesis 48:14-20 worked out on a map, where Jacob crossed his hands. Machir already held Gilead and Bashan, granted by Moses at Numbers 32:39-40 and Deuteronomy 3:15, so half the tribe was settled before the crossing.
The record, by era
The Puritans and the Awakening3 voices
It is here said that the lot came to Manasseh, for he was the first-born of Joseph. Bishop Patrick thinks it should be translated, though he was the first-born of Joseph, and then the meaning is plain, that the second lot was for Manasseh, because, though he was the first-born, yet Jacob had preferred Ephraim before him.
For Machir - The only son of Manasseh, who therefore is here, put for the whole tribe. The first-born - So even only sons are sometimes called, as Matt. i, 25. He - That is, Machir, had given great proof of his valour (though the particular history be not mentioned) and his posterity were no degenerate sons, but had his valiant blood still running in their veins.
There was also a lot for the tribe of Manasseh,.... As well as for the tribe of Ephraim: for he was the firstborn of Joseph; and therefore ought to have his part and share in the lot of the children of Joseph, though Ephraim was preferred before him in the blessing of Jacob.
The Nineteenth Century2 voices
A commentator
Jamieson, Fausset & Brown1802–1910
Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible (1871)
Machir--his descendants. the father of Gilead--Though he had a son of that name (Nu 26:29; 27:1), yet, as is evident from the use of the Hebrew article, reference is made, not to the person, but the province of Gilead. "Father" here means lord or possessor of Gilead.
There was also a lot for the tribe of Manasseh - It was necessary to mark this because Jacob, in his blessing, (Gen 48:19, Gen 48:20), did in a certain sense set Ephraim before Manasseh, though the latter was the first-born; but the place here shows that this preference did not affect the rights of primogeniture. For Machir - because he was a man of war - It is not likely that Machir himself was now alive; if he were, he must have been nearly 200 years old: It is therefore probable that what is spoken here is spoken of his children, who now possessed the lot that was originally designed for their father, who it appears had signalized himself as a man of skill and valor in some of the former wars, though the circumstances are not marked. His descendants, being of a warlike, intrepid spirit, were well qualified to defend a frontier country, which would be naturally exposed to invasion.
How the passage was read
What the Jewish commentators add
To Mochir, the firstborn of Menashe. Since he was the firstborn, he was the first to take a portion in the days of Moshe, on the other side of the Jordan, and thus Gilod and Boshon were his portion.
This section is reception history: how the passage was read and kept in the Jewish tradition. Where a reading parts from an essential of the Christian faith, the section says so at that point.
Texts and citation data: Sefaria; each excerpt follows its version’s licence. 2 further sources are cited on this chapter that carry no English text this site may quote or only restate the verse.
The words behind it
22 Hebrew wordsEvery Hebrew word of this verse in the order it stands, with what it means and the door to its own study. The last column counts the times a word stands in the whole Bible: the rarer the word, the more the places it appears belong together.
| Hebrew | Sound | Meaning | Word study | In the Bible |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| וַיְהִ֤י | vayhi | and it belonged | H1961 → | 3559 times |
| הַגּוֹרָל֙ | hagoral | the lot | H1486 → | 78 times |
| לְמַטֵּ֣ה | lemateh | to [the] tribe of | H4294 → | 252 times |
| מְנַשֶּׁ֔ה | menasheh | Manasseh | H4519 → | 146 times |
| כִּי־ | ki- | for | H3588 → | 4482 times |
| ה֖וּא | hu' | he | H1931 → | 1879 times |
| בְּכ֣וֹר | bekhor | [was] [the] firstborn of | H1060 → | 122 times |
| יוֹסֵ֑ף | yosef | Joseph | H3130 → | 213 times |
| לְמָכִיר֩ | lemakhir | to Makir | H4353 → | 22 times |
| בְּכ֨וֹר | bekhor | [the] firstborn of | H1060 → | 122 times |
| מְנַשֶּׁ֜ה | menasheh | Manasseh | H4519 → | 146 times |
| אֲבִ֣י | ʾavi | [the] father of | H1 → | 1212 times |
| הַגִּלְעָ֗ד | hagilad | <the> Gilead | H1568 → | 134 times |
| כִּ֣י | ki | for | H3588 → | 4482 times |
| ה֤וּא | hu' | he | H1931 → | 1879 times |
| הָיָה֙ | hayah | he was | H1961 → | 3559 times |
| אִ֣ישׁ | ʾish | a man of | H376 → | 1663 times |
| מִלְחָמָ֔ה | milchamah | war | H4421 → | 320 times |
| וַֽיְהִי־ | vayhi- | and it belonged | H1961 → | 3559 times |
| ל֖וֹ | lo | to <the> him | ||
| הַגִּלְעָ֥ד | hagilad | <the> Gilead | H1568 → | 134 times |
| וְהַבָּשָֽׁן׃ | vehabashan | and <the> Bashan | H1316 → | 60 times |
וַיְהִ֤יand it belonged
vayhiH1961 →3559 times
הַגּוֹרָל֙the lot
hagoralH1486 →78 times
לְמַטֵּ֣הto [the] tribe of
lematehH4294 →252 times
מְנַשֶּׁ֔הManasseh
menashehH4519 →146 times
כִּי־for
ki-H3588 →4482 times
ה֖וּאhe
hu'H1931 →1879 times
בְּכ֣וֹר[was] [the] firstborn of
bekhorH1060 →122 times
יוֹסֵ֑ףJoseph
yosefH3130 →213 times
לְמָכִיר֩to Makir
lemakhirH4353 →22 times
בְּכ֨וֹר[the] firstborn of
bekhorH1060 →122 times
מְנַשֶּׁ֜הManasseh
menashehH4519 →146 times
אֲבִ֣י[the] father of
ʾaviH1 →1212 times
הַגִּלְעָ֗ד<the> Gilead
hagiladH1568 →134 times
כִּ֣יfor
kiH3588 →4482 times
ה֤וּאhe
hu'H1931 →1879 times
הָיָה֙he was
hayahH1961 →3559 times
אִ֣ישׁa man of
ʾishH376 →1663 times
מִלְחָמָ֔הwar
milchamahH4421 →320 times
וַֽיְהִי־and it belonged
vayhi-H1961 →3559 times
ל֖וֹto <the> him
lo
הַגִּלְעָ֥ד<the> Gilead
hagiladH1568 →134 times
וְהַבָּשָֽׁן׃and <the> Bashan
vehabashanH1316 →60 times
A shaded row is a word that stands 400 times or fewer in the Bible.
The walk
8 stopsEach card is a verse this one points to, and under it the verses that one points to in turn. Where several paths arrive at the same place, that place is listed first: the text keeps returning to it.
Through
Genesis 50:23He saw Ephraim’s sons to the third generation, and indeed the sons of Machir son of Manasseh were brought up on Joseph’s knees.
it leads to
- Numbers 32:39
The descendants of Machir son of Manasseh went to Gilead, captured it, and drove out the Amorites who were there.
- Genesis 30:3
Then she said, “Here is my maidservant Bilhah. Sleep with her, that she may bear children for me, so that through her I too can build a family.”
- Job 42:16
After this, Job lived 140 years and saw his children and their children to the fourth generation.
- Numbers 32:39
Through
Genesis 41:51Joseph named the firstborn Manasseh, saying, “God has made me forget all my hardship and all my father’s household.”
it leads to
- Psalms 30:5
For His anger is fleeting, but His favor lasts a lifetime. Weeping may stay the night, but joy comes in the morning.
- Proverbs 31:7
Let him drink and forget his poverty, and remember his misery no more.
- Genesis 41:30
but seven years of famine will follow them. Then all the abundance in the land of Egypt will be forgotten, and the famine will devastate the land.
- Psalms 30:5
Through
Genesis 46:20Manasseh and Ephraim were born to Joseph in the land of Egypt by Asenath daughter of Potiphera, priest of On.
it leads to
- Genesis 41:50–52
Before the years of famine arrived, two sons were born to Joseph by Asenath daughter of Potiphera, priest of On.
- Genesis 41:50–52
Through
Numbers 26:29These were the descendants of Manasseh: The Machirite clan from Machir, the father of Gilead, and the Gileadite clan from Gilead.
it leads to
- Numbers 36:1
Now the family heads of the clan of Gilead son of Machir son of Manasseh, one of the clans of Joseph, approached Moses and the leaders who were the heads of the Israelite families…
- Numbers 36:1
Where this verse is studied
On this page
About Joshua
Who and where
2 names in this verse with a page on the site.
- PersonLate monarchyManassehJudah's longest-reigning and worst king, who filled Jerusalem with innocent blood; the book names his apostasy as the cause of 586…
- PlaceEast of the Sea of Galilee, north of GileadBashanThe fertile tableland east of the Sea of Galilee, the kingdom of Og and the giant clans, taken by Israel before the Jordan crossin…
This page draws on Adam Clarke, Commentary on the Bible; Albert Barnes, Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869); Albert Barnes, Notes on the Old Testament; Jamieson, Fausset & Brown, Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible; John Gill, Exposition of the Old Testament (1748-1763); John Wesley, Explanatory Notes upon the Old Testament; Keil and Delitzsch, Biblical Commentary on the Old Testament: Joshua, Judges, Ruth and Matthew Henry, Commentary on the Whole Bible.