Reference: Manasseh (1)
Fausets
("causing to forget".) Joseph's firstborn by Asenath, whose birth "made him forget all his toil and all (the sorrow he endured through) his father's house" (Ge 41:51). Jacob adopted them as his own, though "horn in Egypt" and by an alien to Israel (Ge 48:5,9); "as Reuben and Simeon they shall be mine," i.e. patriarchal heads of tribes, as Jacob's immediate sons were; Manasseh and Ephraim gave their names to separate tribes. Joseph had the portion of the firstborn by having the double portion, i.e. two tribal divisions assigned to his sons (1Ch 5:1-2; compare De 21:17). When Joseph took Ephraim in his right toward Israel's left hand, and Manasseh in his left toward Israel's right hand, Israel put his right upon Ephraim the younger, and his left upon Manasseh wittingly, notwithstanding Joseph's remonstrance. Their name should be a formula of blessing, "God make thee as Ephraim and Manasseh," and they should "grow as fish do increase" (a natural image near the fish abounding Nile): Ge 48:16,20.
The term "thousands" is especially applied to Manasseh (De 33:17; Jg 6:15 margin.) Manasseh's son by an Aramitess (Syrian) concubine, Machir, had children "borne upon Joseph's knees" (Ge 50:23), i.e. adopted as his from their birth. Manasseh, Ephraim, and Benjamin, the three sprung from Rachel, marched W. of the tabernacle. Moses in his last blessing (De 33:13-17) gives Joseph (i.e. Ephraim and Manasseh) the "precious things of the earth" by "the good will of Him that dwelt in the bush, "in contrast to Joseph's past "separation from his brethren," his horns like the two of the wild bull (not "unicorn"), namely, "the ten thousands of Ephraim and the thousands of Manasseh shall push," etc. At Sinai Manasseh numbered 32,200 (Nu 1:10,35; 2:20-21; 7:54-59), Ephraim 40,500. But 40 years later, at Jordan, Manasseh 52,700, Ephraim 32,590 (Nu 26:34-37).
Manasseh here resumes his place as firstborn (his having two portions of Canaan, one on each side of Jordan, being also a kind of privilege of the firstborn), probably as having been foremost in the conquest of Gilead, the most impregnable portion of Palestine, as Lejah (asylum) the modern name of Argob implies; their inheritance was northern Gilead, Argob, and Bashan (Nu 32:39-42; De 3:4,13-15; Jos 17:1). Gideon, the greatest of the judges, and one whose son all but established hereditary monarchy in their line, and Jephthah, were samples of their warriors. They advanced from Bashan northwards to the base of Mount Hermon (1Ch 5:23). When David was crowned at Hebron western Manasseh sent 18,000, eastern Manasseh with Gad and Reuben 120,000 armed men (1Ch 12:31,37). Moreover, a prince of each of the two sections of Manasseh stands on a level with the princes of entire tribes (1Ch 27:20-21).
But because of apostasy from the God of their fathers to the gods of the people whom He destroyed before them, Manasseh was first cut short by the Syrian Hazael (2Ki 10:32), then God stirred up the spirit of Pul and of Tiglath Pileser of Assyria to carry the eastern half of Manasseh, Reuben, and Gad captives to Halah, Habor, Hara, and the river Gozan (1Ch 5:25-26). Manasseh failed to occupy all the territory assigned to them. "Geshur and Aram (Syria) took the 23 towns of Jair and the 37 of Kenath and her daughters, 60 in all, from them"; so 1Ch 2:23 ought to be translated In Jg 10:4 we find Jair the judge in possession of 30 of them, recovered from the enemy. Reuben, Gad, and Manasseh successfully warred with and dispossessed the Hagarites with Jetar, Nephish, and Nodab (1Ch 5:18-22). The western half of Manasseh failed for long to dispossess completely the Canaanites (Jg 1:27; Jos 17:11-12).
On their complaining that but one portion had been allotted to them, and that the Canaanite chariots prevented their occupying the Esdraelon and Jordan plains, Joshua advised them to go into the wooded mountain, probably Carmel. Accordingly their towns Taanach, Megiddo, Ibleam, and Endor are in the region of Carmel, within the allotments of other tribes. Bethshean was in the hollow of the Ghor or Jordan valley, the connecting point between the eastern and the western Manasseh. Kerr shows that the land of Manasseh, instead of crossing the country from E. to W., occupied only half that space, and lay along the sea to the W., bounded on the E. by the range of Mount Carmel.
Jos 17:7 defines its coast. En Tappuah is Atuf. The town was given to Ephraim, the land N. of it was Manasseh's. Conder thinks that Asher was separated from Manasseh by Zebulun, and that the Asher in Jos 17:10 is Asherham-Michmethah (now Es Sireh) at the N.W. corner of Ephraim. Issachar lay to the E. of Ephraim and Manasseh, along the entire line of the Jordan, from the sea of Chinneroth to the wady Kelt not far from the Salt Sea: thus it was a triangle, its apex at Jericho, its base N. of the Jezreel plain (Palestine Exploration Quarterly Statement, January, 1877, p. 41-50). In the declension of the nation Isaiah (Isa 9:20-21) foretells that the two sons of Joseph, once so intimately united, should be rent into factions thirsting for one another's blood, "they shall eat every man the flesh of his own arm, Manasseh Ephraim, and Ephraim Manasseh, and they together against Judah."
After the fall of the ten tribes, Psalm 80 expresses Judah's prayer of sympathy for her sister: "give ear, O Shepherd of Israel, Thou that leadest Joseph like a flock. ... Before Ephraim and Benjamin and Manasseh (advancing at their head, as formerly in the pillar of cloud in the wilderness) ... come and save us." The book of Numbers (Nu 2:17-24) represents these three kindred tribes together marching after the ark; so in the Psalms. Many out of Manasseh were among the penitents coming southwards to Judah, and joining in the spiritual revivals under Asa (2Ch 15:9), Hezekiah (2Ch 30:1,10-11,18; 31:1), and Josiah (2Ch 34:6-9).
See Verses Found in Dictionary
And he called the name of the first son Manasseh, "For God," said he, "hath made me forget all my labour and all my father's household."
Now therefore thy two sons Manasseh and Ephraim which were born unto thee before I came to thee, into Egypt, shall be mine: even as Reuben and Simeon shall they be unto me.
And Joseph said unto his father, "They are my sons, which God hath given me here." And he said, "Bring them to me, and let me bless them."
And the angel which hath delivered me from all evil, bless these lads: that they may be called after my name, and after my father Abraham and Isaac, and that they may grow and multiply upon the earth."
And he blessed them, saying, "At the example of these, the Israelites shall bless and say, 'God make thee as Ephraim and as Manasseh.'" Thus set he Ephraim before Manasseh.
And Joseph saw Ephraim's children, even unto the third generation. And unto Machir the son of Manasseh were children born, and sat on Joseph's knees.
Among the children of Joseph: In Ephraim, Elishama the son of Ammihud; In Manasseh, Gamaliel the son of Pedahzur;
from twenty and above - were numbered in the tribe of Manasseh thirty two thousand and two hundred.
"And the tabernacle of witness, with the host of the Levites, shall go in the midst of the hosts: as they lie in their tents, even so shall they proceed in the journey, every man in his quarter about their standards. "On the west side, the standard and the host of Ephraim shall lie with their companies; and the captain over the sons of Ephraim, Elishama the son of Ammihud: read more. and his host, and the number of them, forty thousand and five hundred. And fast by him, the tribe of Manasseh; and the captain over the sons of Manasseh, Gamaliel the son of Pedahzur:
And fast by him, the tribe of Manasseh; and the captain over the sons of Manasseh, Gamaliel the son of Pedahzur: and his host, and the number of them, thirty two thousand and two hundred.
and his host, and the number of them, thirty two thousand and two hundred. And the tribe of Benjamin also; and the captain over the sons of Benjamin, Abidan the son of Gedeoni: read more. and his host and the number of them thirty five thousand and four hundred. All the number that pertained unto the host of Ephraim, were a hundred thousand eight thousand and a hundred in their hosts: and they shall be the third in the journey.
The eighth day, offered Gamaliel, the son of Pedahzur, the chief lord of the children of Manasseh. And his gift was: a silver charger of a hundred and thirty sicles weight; and a silver bowl of seventy sicles of the holy sicle - and both full of fine flour mingled with oil for a meat offering - read more. and a golden spoon of ten sicles full of cense; and an ox, a ram and a lamb of a year old for burnt offerings; and a he-goat for a sin offering; and for peace offerings, two oxen, five rams, five he-goats, and five lambs of one year old. And this was the offering of Gamaliel the son of Pedahzur.
These are the kindreds of Manasseh, in number fifty two thousand and seven hundred. These are the children of Ephraim in their kindreds: Shuthelah, of whom cometh the kindred of the Shuthelahites; and Becher, of whom cometh the kindred of the Becherites; and of Tahan cometh the kindred of the Tahanites. read more. And these are the children of Shuthelah: Eran, of whom cometh the kindred of the Eranites. These are the kindreds of the children of Ephraim, in number thirty two thousand and five hundred. And these are the children of Joseph in their kindreds.
And the children of Machir the son of Manasseh went to Gilead and took it, and put out the Amorites that were therein. And Moses gave Gilead unto Machir the son of Manasseh and he dwelt therein. read more. And Jair the son of Manasseh went and took the small towns thereof, and called them the towns of Jair. And Nobah went and took Kenath with the towns longing thereto, and called it Nobah after his own name.
And we took all his cities the same season, for there was not a city which we took not from them; even three score cities, all the region of Argob, the kingdom of Og in Bashan.
And the rest of Gilead and all Bashan the kingdom of Og, I gave unto the half tribe of Manasseh: all the region of Argob with all Bashan was called the land of Giants. Jair the son of Manasseh took all the region of Argob unto the coasts of Geshuri and Maachathi, and called the towns of Bashan after his own name: the towns of Jair unto this day. read more. And I gave half Gilead unto Machir.
But he shall know the son of the hated for his firstborn, that he give him double of all that he hath. For he is the first of his strength, and to him belongeth the right of the firstbornship.
And unto Joseph he said, "Blessed of the LORD is his land with the goodly fruits of heaven, with dew and with springs that lie beneath: and with fruits of the increase of the sun and with ripe fruit of the months, read more. and with the tops of mountains that were from the beginning and with the dainties of hills that last ever, and with goodly fruit of the earth and of the fullness thereof. And the goodwill of him that dwelleth in the bush shall come upon the head of Joseph and upon the top of the head of him that was separated from among his brethren. His beauty is as a firstborn ox and his horns as the horns of an unicorn. And with them he shall push the nations together, even unto the ends of the world. These are the many thousands of Ephraim and the thousands of Manasseh."
His beauty is as a firstborn ox and his horns as the horns of an unicorn. And with them he shall push the nations together, even unto the ends of the world. These are the many thousands of Ephraim and the thousands of Manasseh."
And the tribe of Manasseh which was the eldest son of Joseph received a lot. And Machir, the eldest son of Manasseh, which was the father of Gilead and a man of war, had Gilead and Bashan.
And the coasts of Manasseh reached from Asher to Michmethath that lieth before Shechem and went along on the righthand, even unto the inhabiters of Entappuah,
so that the south pertained to Ephraim, and the north to Manasseh, and the sea is his border. And they met together in Asher northward, and in Issachar eastward. And Manasseh had in Issachar and in Asher, Bethshean, and her towns: and the inhabiters of Dor, with the towns pertaining to the same: and the inhabiters of Endor with the towns of the same: and the inhabiters of Taanach with her towns and the inhabiters of Megiddo with the towns of the same, even three countries: read more. yet the children of Manasseh could not overcome those cities, but the Cananites began to dwell in the same land.
Neither did Manasseh expel Bethshean with her towns, neither Taanach with her towns, neither the inhabiters of Dor with her towns, neither the inhabiters of Ibleam with her towns, neither the inhabiters of Megiddo with her towns, and so the Cananites went to and dwelt in the said land.
And he answered him, "Oh Lord, wherewith should I save Israel? Behold my kindred is the poorest in Manasseh, and I am the least in my father's house."
And he had thirty sons that rode on thirty ass colts, and had thirty cities for them, which are called the towns of Jair unto this day, and are in the land of Gilead.
In those days the LORD began to cut Israel short, for Hazael slew them in all the coasts of Israel,
And he overcame the Geshurites and the Aramites, and took the towns of Jair from them, and Kenath with the towns that belonged to the same, even three score towns. All these were the sons of Machir the father of Gilead.
The sons of Reuben, the eldest son of Israel: for he was the eldest. But because he defied his father's bed, his birthright was given unto the sons of Joseph, the son of Israel, and so he is not reckoned unto the birthright. For unto Judah which was mighty among his brethren, was given the principality before him. But the birthright was given Joseph.
The sons of Reuben of Gad and of half the tribe of Manasseh, even of fighting men able to bear shield and sword, and shoot with bow, and taught to make war, were four and forty thousand seven hundred and three score that went out to battle. And they fought with the Hagrities and with Jetur, Naphish and Nodab. read more. And they were helped against them, and the Hagrites were delivered into their hands with all that were with the Hagrites. For they cried to God in their battle, and he heard them, because they trusted to him. And they took of their cattle fifty thousand camels, and two hundred and fifty thousand sheep, and two thousand asses, and of the people a hundred thousand: for there fell many dead because the war was of God. And they dwelt there in their steads until the time that they were carried away. And the children of half the tribe of Manasseh dwelt in the land, from Bashan unto Baalhermon and Senir and unto mount Hermon, and they were many.
But when they had transgressed against the God of their fathers and had gone awhoring after the gods of the people of the land, which God destroyed before them, God stirred up the spirit of Pul, king of Assyria, and the spirit of Tilgathpilneser, king of Assyria, and carried away the Reubenites, the Gadites and the half tribe of Manasseh, and brought them unto Halah, Habor, Hara and to the River Gozan, where they remain unto this day.
And of the half tribe of Manasseh eighteen thousand which were appointed by name to go to make David king.
And of the other side Jordan, of the Reubenites, Gadites and of the half tribe of Manasseh with all manner of instruments of war, a hundred and twenty thousand.
Among the children of Ephraim, Hosea the son of Azaziah. In the half tribe of Manasseh, Joel the son of Pedaiah. Of the half tribe of Manasseh in Gilead, Iddo the son of Zachariah. In Benjamin, Jaasiel the son of Abner.
And he gathered all Judah and Benjamin, and the strangers with them out of Ephraim, Manasseh and Simeon. For there fell many to him out of Israel, when they saw that God was with him.
And Hezekiah sent to all Israel and Judah, and thereto wrote letters to Ephraim and Manasseh, that they should come to the house of the LORD at Jerusalem, to offer Passover unto the LORD God of Israel.
And the posts went from city to city throughout the land of Ephraim and Manasseh and even unto Zebulun. But they laughed them to scorn and mocked them. Nevertheless, yet divers of Asher, Manasseh and of Zebulun meekened themselves and came to Jerusalem.
There was very much people out of Ephraim, Manasseh, Issachar and Zebulun that were not clean, and therefore did eat Passover otherwise than writing specifieth. But Hezekiah prayed for them, and said,
And when they had finished all this, then all Israel that were found in cities of Judah went out and brake the Images and cut down the groves, and all to break the hill altars and the other altars throughout all Judah and Benjamin, Ephraim and Manasseh, until they had made an end of them. And afterward all the children of Israel returned every man to his possession in their own cities.
And even so did he in the cities of Manasseh, Ephraim, Simeon and of Naphtali thereto. And in the wildernesses of them round about he plucked asunder the altars and the groves and did beat them and stamp them to powder, and beat down the idols throughout all the land of Israel: and then returned to Jerusalem again. read more. And in the eighteenth year of his reign when he had purged the land and the temple, he sent Shaphan the son of Azaliah, and Maaseiah the governor of the city, and Joah the son of Joahaz, the recorder, to repair the house of the LORD his God. And when they came to Hilkiah the high priest, men delivered them the money that was brought into the house of God, which the Levites that kept the entries had gathered of the hands of Manasseh and Ephraim and of all that yet remained in Israel and of all Judah and Benjamin and of the inhabiters of Jerusalem.
but robbeth him on the righthand, and doth famish; he eateth on the left hand and he shall not have enough. Every man shall eat the flesh of his own arm. Manasseh shall eat Ephraim and Ephraim Manasseh, and they both shall eat Judah. After all this shall not the LORD's wrath cease, but yet shall his hand be stretched out still.