Joshua 17:1

1 And the borders of the tribe of the children of Manasse, (for he the first-born of Joseph,) to Machir the first-born of Manasse the father of Galaad, for he was a warrior, in the land of Galaad and of Basan.

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 And the borders of the tribe of the children of Manasse, (for he the first-born of Joseph,) to Machir the first-born of Manasse the father of Galaad, for he was a warrior, in the land of Galaad and of Basan.

2 And there was assigned to the other sons of Manasse according to their families; to the sons of Jezi, and to the sons of Kelez, and to the sons of Jeziel, and to the sons of Sychem, and to the sons of Symarim, and to the sons of Opher: these the males according to their families.

3 And Salpaad the sons of Opher had no sons but daughters: and these the names of the daughters of Salpaad; Maala, and Nua, and Egla, and Melcha, and Thersa.

4 And they stood before Eleazar the priest, and before Joshua, and before the rulers, saying, God gave a charge by the hand of Moses, to give us an inheritance in the midst of our brethren: so there was given to them by the command of the Lord an inheritance among the brethren of their father.

5 And their lot fell from Anassa, and plain of Labec of the land of Galaad, which is beyond Jordan.

Footnotes

• [a]. to.