Joshua 17:1

1 Then allotment was made to the people of Manasseh, for he was 1the firstborn of Joseph. To 2Machir the firstborn of Manasseh, the father of Gilead, 3were allotted Gilead and Bashan, because he was a man of war.

Joshua 17:1 Meaning and Commentary

Joshua 17:1

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. Some think this is given as a reason why he had a double portion, one on the other side Jordan, and another in the land of Canaan:

[to wit], for Machir, the firstborn of Manasseh, the father of Gilead;
who was the only son of Manasseh, and so through him, and by his son Gilead, the whole tribe sprung from that patriarch: and

because he was a man of war, therefore he had Gilead and Bashan;
which were given to his posterity by Moses, and lay on the other side Jordan, see ( Deuteronomy 3:13 Deuteronomy 3:15 ) . This Machir very likely had shown his warlike disposition and courage in Egypt, and had fought under the kings there against the common enemy of that country; for it is highly probable he was dead before the children of Israel came out from thence, but the same warlike spirit continued in his posterity; they had their part assigned them on the other side Jordan, to defend that country, while the tribes of Reuben and Gad attended to the care of their flocks and herds.

Joshua 17:1 In-Context

1 Then allotment was made to the people of Manasseh, for he was the firstborn of Joseph. To Machir the firstborn of Manasseh, the father of Gilead, were allotted Gilead and Bashan, because he was a man of war.
2 And allotments were made to the rest of the people of Manasseh by their clans, Abiezer, Helek, Asriel, Shechem, Hepher, and Shemida. These were the male descendants of Manasseh the son of Joseph, by their clans.
3 Now Zelophehad the son of Hepher, son of Gilead, son of Machir, son of Manasseh, had no sons, but only daughters, and these are the names of his daughters: Mahlah, Noah, Hoglah, Milcah, and Tirzah.
4 They approached Eleazar the priest and Joshua the son of Nun and the leaders and said, "The LORD commanded Moses to give us an inheritance along with our brothers." So according to the mouth of the LORD he gave them an inheritance among the brothers of their father.
5 Thus there fell to Manasseh ten portions, besides the land of Gilead and Bashan, which is on the other side of the Jordan,

Cross References 3

  • 1. Genesis 41:51; Genesis 46:20; Genesis 48:18
  • 2. Genesis 50:23; Numbers 26:29; Numbers 32:39, 40; 1 Chronicles 7:14
  • 3. Deuteronomy 3:13, 15
The English Standard Version is published with the permission of Good News Publishers.