The sons of Manasseh: of Machir, the clan of the Machirites; and Machir was the father of Gilead; of Gilead, the clan of the Gileadites.
English Standard Version (ESV)
The verse highlights a recurring pattern where a grandson's name becomes synonymous with a clan, demonstrating how lineage and significant individuals shaped the identity of Israelite families. This detail can be easily overlooked amidst the extensive lists of names, but it reveals the dynamic way ancestral heritage was remembered and passed down.
The sons of Manasseh: of Machir, the clan of the Machirites; and Machir was the father of Gilead; of Gilead, the clan of the Gileadites.
English Standard Version (ESV)
This passage is part of a census taken after a devastating plague, serving as a re-establishment of Israel's tribal rolls and an assessment for dividing the Promised Land. It details the descendants of Joseph's sons, Manasseh and Ephraim, tracing lineages through clans and families to assign inheritances. The verses immediately before list other tribes, while those following continue the enumeration of Joseph's descendants and the other tribes of Israel, culminating in the total number of men fit for military service.
Ever wondered how family lines are traced through generations? This verse offers a glimpse into ancient genealogy.
This verse focuses on the lineage within the tribe of Manasseh. It names Machir as the son of Manasseh and the father of Gilead.
The Structure of Inheritance
This kind of detailed lineage was crucial for understanding inheritance rights and tribal identity in ancient Israel.
Why do certain names, like Machir and Gilead, appear and reappear in the biblical narrative?
The repetition of names and the formation of 'clans' or 'families' from them served a vital purpose in organizing the people of Israel.
From Individual to Tribe
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These designations weren't just labels; they represented distinct family groups within the larger tribe of Manasseh. This structure helped in administering justice, distributing land, and maintaining the unique identity of each lineage as they prepared to enter the Promised Land.
This detailed census in Numbers 26, just before Israel entered the Promised Land, highlights God's faithfulness in preserving and multiplying His people, despite the judgment that fell on the previous generation. The specific enumeration of families within Manasseh, like the Machirites and Gileadites, sets the stage for their future inheritance and identity in the land.
c. 1446 BC
Exodus from Egypt and Wilderness Wandering
Following their liberation from slavery in Egypt, the Israelites journeyed through the wilderness for 40 years. This period was marked by divine guidance, but also by disobedience and judgment, leading to the death of the initial generation.
c. 1406 BC
Census at Sinai
The first census of Israel was taken at Mount Sinai shortly after the Exodus. This census was primarily to establish military strength and was comprised of men eligible for service.
c. 1406-1367 BC
Conquest of Canaan Begins
After the death of Moses, Joshua led the Israelites in the conquest of the Promised Land. The land was gradually subdued and then allotted to the tribes.
c. 1367 BC
Division of Land
The land of Canaan was divided by lot among the twelve tribes of Israel, with specific portions assigned to each based on their numbers recorded in the second census.
c. 1367 BC— this verse
Second Census of Israel
This census was taken in the plains of Moab, just before entering the Promised Land. It was commanded by God after a devastating plague and served to establish inheritance rights and reflect the new generation.
This passage provides a similar genealogical listing of Joseph's descendants, including Manasseh and his sons, highlighting the continuation of tribal structures through generations.
Joshua 17:1This passage further details the inheritance of Manasseh, referencing Machir and his descendants, which reinforces the lineage and importance of these family lines in the promised land.
1 Chronicles 7:14-16This parallel account offers a more detailed, though sometimes complex, genealogy of Manasseh's descendants, including Machir and his sons, providing further context on the establishment of these family clans.
Numbers 32:39-40This passage shows the descendants of Machir and Gilead settling east of the Jordan, illustrating the geographic and historical significance of these family lines within the broader context of Israel's settlement.
calvinNumbers 26:1-65: "And it came to pass after the plague, that the LORD spake unto Moses and unto Eleazar the son of Aaron the priest, saying,"
And the sons of Eliab; Nemuel, and Dathan, and Abiram. This is that Dathan and Abiram which were famous in the congregation, who strove against Moses and against Aaron in the company of Korah, when they strove against the Lord:
Filii autem Eliab, Nebuel, Dathan et Abiron: isti sunt Dathan et Abiron majores synagogae qui rixati sunt contra Mosen et…
pooleNumbers 26:29: "Of the sons of Manasseh: of Machir, the family of the Machirites: and Machir begat Gilead: of Gilead come the family of the Gileadites."
Gilead is here mentioned as Machir’s only son, and therefore some conceive that the family of the Machirites, and of the Gileadites, are one and the same family, only called by two names; first Machirites, but afterwards Gileadites. Others make them distinct families, because Machir had other children, Genesis 1:23 1 Chronicles 7:14-16 , which…
The verse highlights a recurring pattern where a grandson's name becomes synonymous with a clan, demonstrating how lineage and significant individuals shaped the identity of Israelite families. This detail can be easily overlooked amidst the extensive lists of names, but it reveals the dynamic way ancestral heritage was remembered and passed down.
This passage is part of a census taken after a devastating plague, serving as a re-establishment of Israel's tribal rolls and an assessment for dividing the Promised Land. It details the descendants of Joseph's sons, Manasseh and Ephraim, tracing lineages through clans and families to assign inheritances. The verses immediately before list other tribes, while those following continue the enumeration of Joseph's descendants and the other tribes of Israel, culminating in the total number of men fit for military service.
This passage is part of a census taken after a devastating plague, serving as a re-establishment of Israel's tribal rolls and an assessment for dividing the Promised Land. It details the descendants of Joseph's sons, Manasseh and Ephraim, tracing lineages through clans and families to assign inheritances. The verses immediately before list other tribes, while those following continue the enumeration of Joseph's descendants and the other tribes of Israel, culminating in the total number of men fit for military service.
"The sons of Manasseh: of Machir, the clan of the Machirites; and Machir was the father of Gilead; of Gilead, the clan of the Gileadites." — The verse highlights a recurring pattern where a grandson's name becomes synonymous with a clan, demonstrating how lineage and significant individuals shaped the identity of Israelite families. This…
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Last reviewed October 2026