Keraia
Joshua 17

Joshua 17:2

Manasseh’s Western Inheritance · Joshua 17:1–18
Read Joshua 17

Translations

Modern
So this allotment was for the rest of the descendants of Manasseh—the clans of Abiezer, Helek, Asriel, Shechem, Hepher, and Shemida. These are the other male descendants of the clans of Manasseh son of Joseph.
Traditional
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.
Literal
And there was for the remaining sons of Manasseh—for their clans, for the sons of Abiezer, and the sons of Helek, and the sons of Asriel, and the sons of Shechem, and the sons of Hepher, and the sons of Shemida; these were the sons of Manasseh son of Joseph, males by their clans.
Latin
…et reliquis filiorum Manasse juxta familias suas, filiis Abiezer, et filiis Helec, et filiis Esriel, et filiis Sechem, et filiis Hepher, et filiis Semida. Isti sunt filii Manasse filii Joseph, mares, per cognationes suas.

Original

Hebrew
English
So this allotment was for the rest of the descendants of Manasseh—the clans of Abiezer, Helek, Asriel, Shechem, Hepher, and Shemida. These are the other male descendants of the clans of Manasseh son of Joseph.

Notes

Joshua 16:1–17:18

Joseph had two sons, Manasseh and Ephraim (Genesis 41:50–52). Half of those descended from Manasseh received their inheritance east of the Jordan River. The tribe of Ephraim and the rest of Manasseh's tribe now received their land. This made the total number of land portions twelve, fulfilling Jacob's blessing to Joseph (Genesis 49:22–26). Like Judah in the south, Joseph’s tribes led from their central position in the north.

Joshua 14:1–19:51

  • The allotment of land to the tribes on the west side of the Jordan describes what God intended for each tribe to possess.

  • The one narrating the story begins this section with Caleb receiving land and ends with Joshua receiving land (14:6–15; 19:49–51). Only Caleb and Joshua had shown faith in God that Israel could conquer the land (Numbers 13:30; 14:6–9).

Joshua 13:1–21:45

  • As he had promised, God brought Israel into the land. Joshua then focused on dividing the land among Israel's tribes.

  • The tribal allowances made the covenant of the Israelites with God real. It showed the fulfillment of God's promise to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. Since God owned the land, giving it to the tribes was a gift. God gave them the land to live in and guided its distribution.

  • In these lists of tribal allowances, the author describes some borders in great detail, allowing them to be mapped. With others, they are less plainly defined.

Theme notes and profiles

Joshua Inheriting the Land

People

Abiezer: Clan of Manasseh, home of Gideon Asriel: Son of Manasseh, founder of the Asrielite clan Helek: Son of Gilead, ancestor of the Helekites Hepher: Son of Gilead, ancestor of the Hepherites Joseph: Son of Jacob, ruler in Egypt Manasseh: Firstborn son of Joseph, blessed by Jacob Shechem: Son of Gilead and Manassite clan Shemida: Son of Gilead, great-grandson of Manasseh

Glossary

Abiezer Allotment of the Land Asriel, Asrielite Ephraim (Place) Gilgal Helek, Helekite Joshua (Person) Joshua, Book of Judges, Book of Machir Manasseh, Tribe of Sharon Shechem (Person) Shemida, Shemidah, Shemidaite Tribe of Dan

Topics

Abiezer: Also Called Jeezer, Progenitor of the Abiezrites Asriel: Also Called Ashriel, Son of Manasseh Children: Female: Inherited Property in Default of Sons Helek: Son of Gilead Hepher: Son of Gilead, and Ancestor of Zelophehad Shechem: Ancestor of the Shechemites Shemida: Son of Gilead the Tribe of Manasseh: Inheritance of the Other Half