And Moses gave an inheritance to the half-tribe of Manasseh. It was allotted to the half-tribe of the people of Manasseh according to their clans.
English Standard Version (ESV)
The most striking detail here is how the inheritance is described as being "according to their clans" for the half-tribe of Manasseh, just as it was for the other tribes. This emphasizes that even within a "half-tribe," the ancient, deeply rooted importance of family lineage and kinship determined the precise distribution of land. It highlights that God's provision wasn't just for a collective group, but for each extended family unit within that group.
And Moses gave an inheritance to the half-tribe of Manasseh. It was allotted to the half-tribe of the people of Manasseh according to their clans.
English Standard Version (ESV)
This passage is part of the large section in Joshua detailing the division of the Promised Land among the Israelite tribes. Following the accounts of how the tribes of Reuben and Gad received their inheritance east of the Jordan River, Moses now allocates land to the half-tribe of Manasseh. This distribution is carefully recorded, specifying that the land is assigned according to their family divisions, ensuring clarity and order as Israel settles into their new home.
Why does the text emphasize that the inheritance was given 'according to their clans'?
God's Orderly Distribution
This verse highlights a crucial aspect of how God's people received their promised land: it wasn't just a free-for-all. The inheritance for the half-tribe of Manasseh, like for others, was meticulously divided. The phrase 'according to their families' or 'clans' points to a system of organization that ensured fairness and recognized kinship.
A System of Belonging
This wasn't just about dividing land; it was about establishing ordered communities. Each clan had a specific place, reinforcing their identity and mutual responsibility. It shows that God cares about the structure of His people, not just the aggregate.
Preventing Strife
By assigning land based on established family structures, Moses, under God's direction, aimed to prevent future disputes. Clear boundaries and recognized ownership within clans helped maintain peace and order within the tribes.
Why is it significant that Moses, not Joshua, is the one giving out these land allotments in this chapter?
A Legacy of Obedience
Joshua 13 marks a transition. While Joshua is the one leading the conquest of Canaan, Moses is recorded here as the one distributing the land east of the Jordan. This is because Moses, according to God's command, had already designated these portions before his death.
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Fulfilling God's Word
Moses' actions here demonstrate his unwavering obedience to God, even in his final days. He meticulously followed God's instructions for dividing the land, ensuring that every tribe received its rightful inheritance based on God's plan.
A Trustworthy Administrator
This act showcases Moses' faithfulness as a steward. Despite the immense task and the complex challenges of leading Israel, he faithfully executed God's will concerning the land, leaving a legacy of order and justice.
Understand the original words
nachal · Hebrew Verb
The act of distributing land or responsibilities by casting lots, a practice used by the Israelites to determine God's sovereign will in matters of division. It signifies that the allocation of the land was not merely human decision but under the direct providence and guidance of the Lord.
shebet · Hebrew Noun
A formal administrative division of the people of Israel descended from the sons of Jacob. The tribes served as the primary socio-political and spiritual infrastructure for the nation, each with a designated place and function within the promised land.
This verse highlights the foundational act of assigning land inherited from Moses, emphasizing the careful, clan-based distribution that followed the conquest of Canaan and the earlier settlement east of the Jordan.
c. 1406 BC
Conquest of Canaan begins
Following Moses' death, Joshua leads the Israelites across the Jordan River to begin the military conquest of the Promised Land.
c. 1406-1400 BC
Division of Land East of Jordan
Before the full conquest, Moses blesses and assigns territories east of the Jordan River to the tribes of Reuben, Gad, and the half-tribe of Manasseh.
c. 1400 BC
Moses' Death
Moses dies on Mount Nebo after viewing the Promised Land, having already initiated the division of land east of the Jordan.
c. 1399 BC— this verse
Moses Assigns Inheritance
In his final days, Moses formally assigns the inheritance for the tribes of Reuben, Gad, and the half-tribe of Manasseh, detailing their borders and cities.
c. 1399 BC
Conquest of Canaan Concludes
The remaining land west of the Jordan is conquered and then systematically divided among the remaining nine and a half tribes.
This passage directly precedes the distribution of land, explaining how the tribes of Reuben and Gad, and the half-tribe of Manasseh, received their inheritance east of the Jordan, providing context for how this land was claimed.
Deuteronomy 3:12-17This passage details Moses' distribution of land to Reuben, Gad, and half of Manasseh in the trans-Jordanic region, establishing the historical precedent for the inheritance described in Joshua 13.
Joshua 14:1-5This section immediately follows the description of land allocation and discusses the division of the remaining land west of the Jordan by lot, highlighting the completeness of the inheritance process initiated by Moses and continued by Joshua.
1 Chronicles 5:1-6This passage recounts the genealogies and inheritance of Reuben, Gad, and Manasseh, emphasizing their strength and the reason for their settlement east of the Jordan, which directly relates to the inheritance Joshua is distributing.
calvinJoshua 13:15-33: "And Moses gave unto the tribe of the children of Reuben inheritance according to their families."
And all the cities of the plain, and all the kingdom of Sihon king of the Amorites, which reigned in Heshbon, whom Moses smote with the princes of Midian, Evi, and Rekem, and Zur, and Hur, and Reba, which were dukes of Sihon, dwelling in the country.
Et omnes urbes planitiei, et universum regnum Sihon regis Aemorrhaei, qui regnabat in Hesbon, quem percussit Moses: et prin…
cambridgeJoshua 13:29: "And Moses gave inheritance unto the half tribe of Manasseh: and this was the possession of the half tribe of the children of Manasseh by their families."
29–32. The Possession of the Half Tribe of Manasseh 29 . the half tribe of Manasseh ] “The fact that it is always called a half tribe appears curious, especially on comparison with the similar, yet widely different, case of Dan, which sent out to the north an army which surprised the Phœnician town of Laish.” Ewald, 11. 299.
The most striking detail here is how the inheritance is described as being "according to their clans" for the half-tribe of Manasseh, just as it was for the other tribes. This emphasizes that even within a "half-tribe," the ancient, deeply rooted importance of family lineage and kinship determined the precise distribution of land. It highlights that God's provision wasn't just for a collective group, but for each extended family unit within that group.
This passage is part of the large section in Joshua detailing the division of the Promised Land among the Israelite tribes. Following the accounts of how the tribes of Reuben and Gad received their inheritance east of the Jordan River, Moses now allocates land to the half-tribe of Manasseh. This distribution is carefully recorded, specifying that the land is assigned according to their family divisions, ensuring clarity and order as Israel settles into their new home.
This passage is part of the large section in Joshua detailing the division of the Promised Land among the Israelite tribes. Following the accounts of how the tribes of Reuben and Gad received their inheritance east of the Jordan River, Moses now allocates land to the half-tribe of Manasseh. This distribution is carefully recorded, specifying that the land is assigned according to their family divisions, ensuring clarity and order as Israel settles into their new home.
"And Moses gave an inheritance to the half-tribe of Manasseh. It was allotted to the half-tribe of the people of Manasseh according to their clans." — The most striking detail here is how the inheritance is described as being "according to their clans" for the half-tribe of Manasseh, just as it was for the other tribes. This emphasizes that even wi…
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Last reviewed October 2026