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.
English Standard Version (ESV)
The text highlights that Machir, the firstborn of Manasseh, received the prominent territories of Gilead and Bashan specifically because he was "a man of war." This reveals a practical consideration in God’s distribution of land: valor and martial readiness were valued qualities that determined the assignment of strategic and potentially challenging regions.
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.
English Standard Version (ESV)
After distributing land to Ephraim, the narrative turns to Manasseh, Joseph's firstborn, to whom a portion in Canaan is now allotted. This territory, including Gilead and Bashan, is specifically given to Machir, Manasseh's firstborn, because of his military prowess. The subsequent verses will clarify how this inheritance is further divided and address the unique claim of the daughters of Zelophehad within Manasseh's portion.
Why is Manasseh, the firstborn of Joseph, mentioned even though Jacob blessed Ephraim ahead of him? What does this tell us about God's order versus human preference?
Joshua 17:1 opens by stating Manasseh was the firstborn of Joseph. This is significant because Jacob, in Genesis 48, laid his right hand on Ephraim, the younger, to bless him, signifying a preference that would lead to Ephraim becoming a greater, more numerous tribe. However, this verse reminds us that the literal order of birth, primogeniture, still held importance in the division of the land.
God's Order vs. Human Preference
Ask a follow-up
Machir, Manasseh's firstborn, receives the significant territories of Gilead and Bashan. Why was his 'man of war' status the key factor in this allocation?
Joshua 17:1 states that to Machir, the firstborn of Manasseh and father of Gilead, 'were allotted Gilead and Bashan, because he was a man of war.' This highlights a crucial principle in the allocation of the Promised Land: military strength and strategic importance played a role.
Land for the Valiant
This verse mentions Machir, the 'father of Gilead,' and later verses detail the rest of Manasseh's sons. How does this passage reveal inheritance as a family and tribal matter?
Joshua 17:1, while naming Machir as the recipient of Gilead and Bashan, implicitly speaks for the inheritance of his descendants, the tribe of Manasseh. The subsequent verses (though not provided here, they are contextually linked) detail divisions for other families within Manasseh, including how the daughters of Zelophehad received their portion.
The Family Unit in Inheritance
Understand the original words
goral · Hebrew Noun
A portion of land or a share of possessions assigned to a person or group, often by divine decree or lot, representing God's provision for His people.
bekor · Hebrew Noun/Adjective
Referring to the first-born son, who held a place of preeminence, double portions of inheritance, and leadership responsibilities in ancient Near Eastern families.
This verse highlights how the historical reality of military prowess and the established lineage of Manasseh, particularly through his son Machir and grandson Gilead, directly influenced the land distribution in Canaan, even amidst complex tribal relationships and Jacob's prophetic blessing favouring Ephraim.
c. 1400 BC
Joseph's Descendants Born in Egypt
Manasseh, Joseph's firstborn son, and his son Machir are born in Egypt, setting the stage for their lineage within the Joseph tribe.
c. 1446 BC
Exodus from Egypt
The Israelites leave Egypt. The tribes of Reuben and Gad, along with the half-tribe of Manasseh, are later granted lands east of the Jordan River.
c. 1406 BC
Conquest of Transjordan
The forefathers of the Manasseh tribe, specifically Machir's descendants like Jair and Nobah, conquer the lands of Gilead and Bashan from the Amorites.
c. 1405 BC
Jacob's Blessing and Primogeniture
Jacob blesses Joseph's sons, Manasseh and Ephraim, intentionally placing his right hand on Ephraim, the younger, signifying a future prominence for Ephraim's tribe.
c. 1399 BC— this verse
Division of Canaan Begins
Joshua, acting as leader, begins the process of allotting land in the Promised Land to the twelve tribes of Israel according to God's command and the census.
c. 1399 BC
Daughters of Zelophehad Claim Inheritance
The daughters of Zelophehad, lacking brothers, petition Joshua and Eleazar for their father's inheritance, setting a precedent for female inheritance rights.
This passage explains Jacob's deliberate preference for Ephraim over Manasseh, despite Manasseh being the firstborn, adding context to why Manasseh's inheritance might be handled differently or emphasized.
Numbers 32:41This verse directly links the settlement of Gilead and Bashan to Jair, a descendant of Manasseh, showing the long-standing connection of Manasseh's lineage to this warlike territory.
Deuteronomy 3:13This passage mentions the allotment of Gilead and Bashan to the half-tribe of Manasseh, providing the foundational decree for the inheritance described in Joshua 17:1.
Joshua 17:3-4These verses highlight the unique situation of Zelophehad's daughters inheriting land, which directly relates to the distribution and challenges within Manasseh's inheritance as detailed in this section.
calvinJoshua 17:1-10: "There was also a lot for the tribe of Manasseh; for he was the firstborn of Joseph; to wit, for Machir the firstborn of Manasseh, the father of Gilead: because he was a man of war, therefore he had Gilead and Bashan."
There was also a lot for the tribe of Manasseh; for he was the firstborn of Joseph; to wit, for Machir the firstborn of Manasseh, the father of Gilead: because he was a man of war, therefore he had Gilead and Bashan.
Fuit quoque sors tribui Manasse (ipse en…
bensonJoshua 17:1: "There was also a lot for the tribe of Manasseh; for he was the firstborn of Joseph; to wit, for Machir the firstborn of Manasseh, the father of Gilead: because he was a man of war, therefore he had Gilead and Bashan."
Joshua 17:1 . There was also a lot for the tribe of Manasseh — That half of it which had no portion on the other side Jordan. For he was the firstborn of Joseph — The sense of this, as it here stands, is very obscure. But if the particle כי , ki, here rendered for, b…
The text highlights that Machir, the firstborn of Manasseh, received the prominent territories of Gilead and Bashan specifically because he was "a man of war." This reveals a practical consideration in God’s distribution of land: valor and martial readiness were valued qualities that determined the assignment of strategic and potentially challenging regions.
After distributing land to Ephraim, the narrative turns to Manasseh, Joseph's firstborn, to whom a portion in Canaan is now allotted. This territory, including Gilead and Bashan, is specifically given to Machir, Manasseh's firstborn, because of his military prowess. The subsequent verses will clarify how this inheritance is further divided and address the unique claim of the daughters of Zelophehad within Manasseh's portion.
After distributing land to Ephraim, the narrative turns to Manasseh, Joseph's firstborn, to whom a portion in Canaan is now allotted. This territory, including Gilead and Bashan, is specifically given to Machir, Manasseh's firstborn, because of his military prowess. The subsequent verses will clarify how this inheritance is further divided and address the unique claim of the daughters of Zelophehad within Manasseh's portion.
"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." — The text highlights that Machir, the firstborn of Manasseh, received the prominent territories of Gilead and Bashan specifically because he was "a man of war." This reveals a practical consideration…
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Last reviewed October 2026