Bible Commentaries

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.

For he was the firstborn of Joseph. — And so had right to a double portion. Deuteronomy 21:17

For Machir the firstborn of Manasseh. — Indeed, his only son. See the like expression in Matthew 1:25 .

Because he was a man of war. — Machir was: or if he was dead by this time, - as he was, or else he was very old, - by Machir is meant his posterity the Machirites (Numbers 26:29 ; compare Judges 5:14 ).

Therefore he had Gilead, — i.e., Half Gilead; for Reuben had the other half.

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There was also [a lot] for the rest of the children of Manasseh by their families; for the children of Abiezer, and for the children of Helek, and for the children of Asriel, and for the children of Shechem, and for the children of Hepher, and for the children of Shemida: these [were] the male children of Manasseh the son of Joseph by their families.

For the rest of the children of Manasseh. — That is, for his grand-children by Gilead, Numbers 26:29 who were yet unprovided of a portion, and were to receive it beyond Jordan in the land of Canaan.

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But Zelophehad, the son of Hepher, the son of Gilead, the son of Machir, the son of Manasseh, had no sons, but daughters: and these [are] the names of his daughters, Mahlah, and Noah, Hoglah, Milcah, and Tirzah.

But Zelophehad. — These daughters of his are commended by their names, by their masculine faith, and by their modesty in suing for their portion. See their plea and success in Numbers 27:1-3 , …

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And they came near before Eleazar the priest, and before Joshua the son of Nun, and before the princes, saying, The LORD commanded Moses to give us an inheritance among our brethren. Therefore according to the commandment of the LORD he gave them an inheritance among the brethren of their father.

He gave them an inheritance. — But with this caution, that they should not marry out of their own tribe. Numbers 36:6

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And there fell ten portions to Manasseh, beside the land of Gilead and Bashan, which [were] on the other side Jordan;

And there fell ten portions to Manasseh. — Six to his six sons, Joshua 17:2 and the rest to Zelophehad’s daughters.

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Because the daughters of Manasseh had an inheritance among his sons: and the rest of Manasseh’s sons had the land of Gilead.

Because the daughters of Manasseh. — Here was no Salic law to exclude them. In many women, besides their sex, there is nothing womanlike, or weak souls have no sexes; and women’s bodies are of a more exact composition, …

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And the coast of Manasseh was from Asher to Michmethah, that [lieth] before Shechem; and the border went along on the right hand unto the inhabitants of Entappuah.

And the coast of Manasseh was from Asher. — Which was a town, say some, seated at the south-east end of Manasseh’s lot.

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[Now] Manasseh had the land of Tappuah: but Tappuah on the border of Manasseh [belonged] to the children of Ephraim;

Belonged to the children of Ephraim. — These two tribes were one within another, yet did not well agree.

“ Fratrum concordia rara est. ”

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