The lot of the half tribe of Manasses.
The half tribe of Manasses (eldest sonne of Ioseph) receiue their lotte. 3. including the daughters of Salphaad. 14. with an enlargement of inheritance to the same tribes of Ephraim and Manasses.
1And this lot fell to the tribe of Manasses for he is the firstborn of Joseph to Machir the firstborn of Manasses the father of Galaad, who was a warlike man, and had for possession Galaad and Basan.Questa è la porzione data a sorte alla tribù di Manasse (perocché questi fu primogenito di Giuseppe): a Machir primogenito di Manasse, padre di Galaad, il quale fu uomo guerriero, e possedè il paese di Galaad, e di Basan;AND this lotte fel to the tribe of Manasses (for he is the first borne of Ioseph) to Machir the first borne of Manasses the father of Galaad, who was a warlike man, and had for possession Galaad and Basan:Cecidit autem sors tribui Manasse (ipse enim est primogenitus Joseph): Machir primogenito Manasse patri Galaad, qui fuit vir pugnator, habuitque possessionem Galaad et Basan: 2And to the rest of the children of Manasses according to their families: to the children of Abiezer, and to the children of Helec, and to the children of Esriel, and to the children of Sechem, and to the children of Hepher, and to the children of Semida: these are the male children of Manasses the son of Joseph, by their kindreds.E (data) agli altri discendenti di Manasse famiglia per famiglia a' figliuoli di Abiezer, e ai figliuoli di Helec, ai figliuoli di Esriel, e a' figliuoli di Sechem, e a' figliuoli di Hepher, e a' figliuoli di Semida. Questi sono i figliuoli maschi di Manasse figliuolo di Giuseppe divisi nelle loro famiglie.and to the rest of the children of Manasses according to their families, to the children of Abiezer, and to the children of Helec, and to the children of Esriel, and to the children of Sechem, and to the children of Hepher, and to the children of Semida. these are the children of Manasses the sonne of Ioseph, males by their kinredes.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. 3But Salphaad the son of Hepher the son of Galaad the son of Machir the son of Manasses had no sons, but only daughters: whose names are these, Maala and Noa and Hegla and Melcha and Thersa.Ma Salphaad figliuolo di Hepher figliuolo di Galaad, figliuolo di Machir, figliuolo di Manasse, non ebbe figliuoli, ma sole figlie, i nomi delle quali son questi, Maala, e Noa, ed Hegla, e Melca, e Thersa.But Salphaad the sonne of Hepher the sonne of Galaad the sonne of Machir the sonne of Manasses had no sonnes, but onlie daughters: whose names be these, Maala, and Noa and Hegla and Melcha and Thersa.Salphaad vero filio Hepher filii Galaad filii Machir filii Manasse non erant filii, sed solæ filiæ: quarum ista sunt nomina: Maala et Noa et Hegla et Melcha et Thersa. 4And they came in the presence of Eleazar the priest and of Josue the son of Nun, and of the princes, saying: The Lord commanded by the hand of Moses, that a possession should be given us in the midst of our brethren. And he gave them according to the commandment of the Lord a possession amongst the brethren of their father.Ed elle si presentaron dinanzi ad Eleazaro sommo sacerdote, e a Giosuè figliuolo di Nun, e a' principi, e dissero: Il Signore ordinò per mezzo di Mosè, che fosse data a noi la porzione in mezzo a' nostri fratelli. Diede perciò ad esse (Giosuè) la porzione in mezzo ai fratelli del padre loro secondo il comando del Signore.And they came in the presence of Eleazar the priest, and of Iosue the sonne of Nun, and of the princes, saying: Our Lord commanded by the hand of Moyses, that a possession should be geuen vs in the middes of our brethren. And he gaue them according to the commandement of our Lord a possession in the middes of their fathers brethren.Veneruntque in conspectu Eleazari sacerdotis, et Josue filii Nun, et principum, dicentes: Dominus præcepit per manum Moysi, ut daretur nobis possessio in medio fratrum nostrorum. Deditque eis juxta imperium Domini possessionem in medio fratrum patris earum.
5And there fell ten portions to Manasses, beside the land of Galaad and Basan beyond the Jordan.E alla tribù di Manasse toccarono dieci porzioni oltre la terra di Galaad, e di Basan di là dal Giordano.And the cordes fel to Manasses ten, beside the Land of Galaad and Basan beyond Iordan.Et ceciderunt funiculi Manasse, decem, absque terra Galaad et Basan trans Jordanem. 6For the daughters of Manasses possessed inheritance in the midst of his sons. And the land of Galaad fell to the lot of the rest of the children of Manasses.Imperocché le figlie di Manasse ebber la loro porzione ereditaria insieme co' figliuoli di lui. E la terra di Galaad toccò in sorte agli altri figliuoli di Manasse.For the daughters of Manasses possessed inheritance in the middes of his sonnes. And the Land of Galaad fel to the lotte of the children of Manasses that remayned.Filiæ enim Manasse possederunt hæreditatem in medio filiorum ejus. Terra autem Galaad cecidit in sortem filiorum Manasse qui reliqui erant. 7And the border of Manasses was from Aser, Machmethath which looketh towards Sichem: and it goeth out on the right hand by the inhabitants of the fountain of Taphua.E i confini di Manasse furono da Aser a Machmethath che guarda Sichem, e si estendono a destra presso gli abitanti del fonte di Taphua.And the border of Manasses from Aser, was Machmat hath which looketh to Sichem: and goeth out on the right hand beside the inhabitantes of the Fountaine of Taphua.Fuitque terminus Manasse ab Aser, Machmethath quæ respicit Sichem: et egreditur ad dexteram juxta habitatores fontis Taphuæ. 8For the lot of Manasses took in the land of Taphua, which is on the borders of Manasses, and belongs to the children of Ephraim.Imperocché la terra di Taphua era toccata in sorte a Manasse, ma Taphua, che è presso i confini di Manasse, fu de' figliuoli di Ephraim.For in the lotte of Manasses was fallen the Land of Taphua, which is beside the borders of Manasses, the childrens of Ephraim.Etenim in sorte Manasse ceciderat terra Taphuæ, quæ est juxta terminos Manasse filiorum Ephraim. 9And the border goeth down to the valley of the reeds, to the south of the torrent of the cities of Ephraim, which are in the midst of the cities of Manasses: the border of Manasses is on the north side of the torrent, and the outgoings of it are at the sea:E i confini (di Manasse) scendono dalla valle del canneto verso il mezzodì del torrente, e delle città di Ephraim, che sono in mezzo alle città di Manasse. Il confine di Manasse è dalla parte settentrionale del torrente, donde va a finire al mare:And the border of the Reede valley went downe into the south of the torrent of the cities of Ephraim, which are in the middes of the cities of Manasses: the border of Manasses on the North of the torrent, and the issue therof goeth to the sea:Descenditque terminus vallis arundineti in meridiem torrentis civitatum Ephraim, quæ in medio sunt urbium Manasse: terminus Manasse ab aquilone torrentis, et exitus ejus pergit ad mare:
10So that the possession of Ephraim is on the south, and on the north that of Manasses, and the sea is the border of both, and they are joined together in the tribe of Aser on the north, and in the tribe of Issachar on the east.Talmente che la porzione di Ephraim è dalla parte di mezzodì, e quella di Manasse da settentrione, e l'una e l'altra sono chiuse dal mare, e si congiungono da settentrione colla tribù di Aser, e da levante colla tribù d'Issachar.so that the possession of Ephraim is on the South, and on the North of Manasses, and the sea incloseth both, and they be ioyned one to an other in the tribe of Aser on the Noth, and in the tribe of Islachar on the East.ita ut possessio Ephraim sit ab austro, et ab aquilone Manasse, et utramque claudat mare, et conjungantur sibi in tribu Aser ab aquilone, et in tribu Issachar ab oriente. 11And the inheritance of Manasses in Issachar and in Aser, was Bethsan and its villages, and Jeblaam with its villages, and the inhabitants of Dor, with the towns thereof: the inhabitants also of Endor with the villages thereof: and in like manner the inhabitants of Thenac with the villages thereof: and the inhabitants of Mageddo with their villages, and the third part of the city of Nopheth.E Manasse ebbe in Issachar, e in Aser di suo retaggio Bethsan co' suoi villaggi, e Jeblaam co' suoi villaggi, e gli abitanti di Dor co' loro borghi, e anche gli abitanti di En-dor co' loro borghi: e parimente gli abitanti di Thenac co' loro borghi, e gli abitatori di Mageddo co' loro borghi, e la terza parte della città di Nopheth.And the inheritance of Manasses in Issachar and in Aser was Bethlan and the villages therof, and Ieblaam with the villages therof, and the inhabitantes of Dor, with the townes therof, the inhabitantes also of Endor with the townes therof. and in like maner the inhabitantes of Thenac with the townes therof, and the inhabitantes of Mageddo with the townes therof, and the third part of the citie of Nopheth.Fuitque hæreditas Manasse in Issachar et in Aser, Bethsan et viculi ejus, et Jeblaam cum viculis suis, et habitatores Dor cum oppidis suis, habitatores quoque Endor cum viculis suis: similiterque habitatores Thenac cum viculis suis, et habitatores Mageddo cum viculis suis, et tertia pars urbis Nopheth. 12Neither could the children of Manasses overthrow these cities, but the Chanaanite began to dwell in his land.E non poterono i figliuoli di Manasse distruggere queste città; ma i Cananei cominciarono ad abitare nel loro paese.Neither could the children of Manasses ouerthrow the cities, but the Chananeite began to dwel in his Land.Nec potuerunt filii Manasse has civitates subvertere, sed cœpit Chananæus habitare in terra sua. 13But after that the children of Israel were grown strong, they subdued the Chanaanites, and made them their tributaries, and they did not kill them.Quando poi i figliuoli d'Israele si furono rinforzati, soggettarono i Cananei, e se li fecero tributarii, e non gli uccisero.But after that the children of Israel grew to be strong, they subdewed the Chananeites, and made them their tributaries, neither did they kil them.Postquam autem convaluerunt filii Israël, subjecerunt Chananæos, et fecerunt sibi tributarios, nec interfecerunt eos.
14And the children of Joseph spoke to Josue, and said: Why hast thou given me but one lot and one portion to possess, whereas I am of so great a multitude, and the Lord hath blessed me?Ma i figliuoli di Giuseppe parlarono a Giosuè, e dissero: Per qual motivo hai tu dato a me una sola porzione tirata a sorte, essendo io una moltitudine così grande per la benedizione datami dal Signore?And the children of Ioseph spake to Iosue, and said: Why hast thou geuen me the possession of one lotte and corde, wheras I am of so great a multitude, and our Lord hath blessed me?Locutique sunt filii Joseph ad Josue, et dixerunt: Quare dedisti mihi possessionem sortis et funiculi unius, cum sim tantæ multitudinis, et benedixerit mihi Dominus ? 15And Josue said to them: If thou be a great people, go up into the woodland, and cut down room for thyself in the land of the Pherezite and the Raphaims: because the possession of mount Ephraim is too narrow for thee.Disse loro Giosuè: Se tu se' un gran popolo, va al bosco, e taglia, e fatti largo nella terra de' Pherezei, e de' Raphaimi: giacché angusta regione è per te il monte di Ephraim.To whom Iosue said: If thou be a great people, goe vp into the wood, and cutte thee roome in the Land of the Pherezeite and Raphaims: because the possession of mount Ephraim is narrow for thee.Ad quos Josue ait: Si populus multus es, ascende in silvam, et succide tibi spatia in terra Pherezæi et Raphaim: quia angusta est tibi possessio montis Ephraim. 16And the children of Joseph answered him: We cannot go up to the mountains, for the Chanaanites that dwell in the low lands, wherein are situate Bethsan with its towns, and Jezrael in the midst of the valley, have chariots of iron.Gli risposero i figliuoli di Giuseppe: Noi non potremo salire sulla montagna, mentre i Cananei che abitano nella pianura (dov'è Bethsan coi suoi villaggi, e Jezrael, che tiene il mezzo della valle) hanno cocchi armati di ferro.To whom the children of Ioseph answered: We can not goe vp to the mountaines, wheras the Chananeite that dwel in the champayne countrie, wherein are situated Bethsan with the townes therof, and Iezrael possessing the middes of the valley, vse yron chariottes.Cui responderunt filii Joseph: Non poterimus ad montana conscendere, cum ferreis curribus utantur Chananæi, qui habitant in terra campestri, in qua sitæ sunt Bethsan cum viculis suis, et Jezraël mediam possidens vallem. 17And Josue said to the house of Joseph, to Ephraim and Manasses: Thou art a great people, and of great strength, thou shalt not have one lot only:E Giosuè disse alla casa di Giuseppe, Ephraim, e Manasse: Tu sei un popolo numeroso, e molto forte; tu non avrai una sola porzione:And Iosue said to the house of Ioseph, of Ephraim and Manasses: Thou art a great people, and of great strength, thou shalt not haue one lotte,Dixitque Josue ad domum Joseph, Ephraim et Manasse: Populus multus es, et magnæ fortitudinis: non habebis sortem unam,
18But thou shalt pass to the mountain, and shalt cut down the wood, and make thyself room to dwell in: and mayst proceed farther, when thou hast destroyed the Chanaanites, who as thou sayest have iron chariots, and are very strong.Ma salirai al monte, e taglierai, e ti farai luogo pulito da abitare, e potrai allargarti, quando avrai sterminati i Cananei, i quali tu dici che hanno cocchi armati di ferro, e che sono fortissimi.but thou shalt passe to the mountaine, and shalt cutte and make glades for thee to inhabite: and mayest procede farder, when thou hast subuerted the Chananeite, whom thou sayest to haue yron chariotes, and to be very strong.sed transibis ad montem, et succides tibi, atque purgabis ad habitandum spatia: et poteris ultra procedere cum subverteris Chananæum, quem dicis ferreos habere currus, et esse fortissimum.
17:1
Year of the World 2560.
Menochius
Born. Machir was the only son of Manasses. But the Scripture uses the word first-born for such, as it does for our Saviour, Matthew 1:(Menochius)
Calmet
If Machir was living when Moses assigned the territory to the half tribe of Manasses, he must have been 180 years old. (Calmet)
Haydock
But he probably received the inheritance only in his posterity. (Haydock)
Calmet
Galaad did not give his name to the country, as it was called so in the days of Jacob. Perhaps he took his name from the land, as many noblemen do, though he is styled Galaad before the war against Sehon commenced, Numbers 26:29. By giving Ephraim the preference before his elder brother, Jacob did not deprive the latter of his birth-right. (Calmet)
Calmet
In effect, Manasses was partly (Haydock) provided for before Ephraim received any portion. (Calmet)
Haydock
This, however, was a privilege, and not a right. He had also two allotments, because his numbers required so much land. (Haydock)
17:2
Calmet
Children here comprises grandchildren, etc. These who are specified sprang from Galaad or from Jair, as they all dwelt on the east side of the Jordan, 1 Paralipomenon 5:23., and 7:14. (Calmet)
17:4
Father, adjoining to Ephraim. See Numbers xxvii., and xxxvi.
17:5
Haydock
Jordan. Some of the families, which had possessions there already, were permitted to have a share on the west side also. Here Manasses had ten portions, schoenus, or cords, which Herodotus (II. 6,) reckons to contain each 60 stadia; so that he would have 600 stadia, (Calmet) or at least half of that quantity, Josue 15:58. (Herodotus ii.) (Haydock)
Masius
There were six sons and five daughters to be provided for. But the portion of Hepher, the father of Salphaad, being given to his granddaughters, he is not counted. (Masius)
Selden
The Jews say the five daughters had only four portions, two for their grandfather, who, they say, was the eldest of the family; one for their father, and another for their uncle, who died without children. (Selden)
Calmet
But of this no proof is adduced. (Calmet)
The five daughters would only have the one portion, which would have been enjoyed by the father. (Menochius) See 1 Paralipomenon 5:23.
17:7
Calmet
Aser was contiguous to Machmethath, 15 miles from Sichem, towards Scythopolis. (St. Jerome) (Calmet)
Calmet
The limits of Manasses are described from the south, where he joins Ephraim, Josue 16:6. (Calmet)
17:8
Taphua; which city, though situated in the territory of Manasses, belonged to Ephraim, (Worthington) as the Hebrew intimates.
17:10
Menochius
East. These two tribes are contiguous to the tribe of Joseph, taken all together, ver. 14. (Menochius)
Calmet
Aser extended as far as Mount Carmel, which was not far from Dor, a city of Manasses, ver. 11., Josue 19:26. The tribes of Issachar and of Zabulon seem, indeed, to come between Manasses and Aser; so that we might say, that the tribe of Joseph finding itself too much straitened, was forced to seek for more room in the cities of the other tribes, which we find it really inhabited, ver. 11. We might avoid all difficulties, by translating "they invaded (or made an irruption into) the tribe of Aser," etc., as the Hebrew will allow. Thus Dan conquered Lais, which lies at so great a distance from his own portion, and the tribes of Juda and Simeon were frequently intermixed. (Calmet)
Menochius
Aser and Manasses may, however, have been really united on the north-west, or Mediterranean point. (Menochius)
17:11
Haydock
In Aser. The following towns were upon the frontiers of these two tribes, (Menochius) or they properly belonged to them respectively. But the children of Manasses took possession of them, after conquering by degrees, the former inhabitants, who were suffered to live among them, as the Jebusites were for some time, at Jerusalem, Josue 15:63. (Haydock)
Haydock
Bethsan, or Scythopolis, as it was called by the Greeks, after the Scythians had invaded those countries, (Herodotus 50:105,) in the year of the world 3391, almost 100 years from the destruction of the kingdom of Israel. Unless these Scythians may rather be the Cutheans, who were sent to people the kingdom of Samaria, most of whom embraced the Jewish religion, while those of Bethsan adhered to their ancient idolatry, and therefore retained their name. Even in the days of Josephus, most of the inhabitants were heathens: the kings of Juda were not able to subdue them entirely. Bethsan was situated to the south of the sea of Tiberias, 600 stadia from Jerusalem; (2 Machabees 12:29,) that is, about 37 leagues, (Calmet) or 111 miles. (Haydock)
Dor, nine miles north of Caesarea.
Here Saul consulted the witch, 1 Kings 38:7.
Thenac, near Legion, and the torrent of Cisson, where Barac gained a victory, Judges 5.
Calmet
Nopheth, means "a canton," and thus Manasses may have had three portions of land round the three aforesaid cities, in which sense it is translated, Josue 11:2. (Calmet; Masius)
Haydock
But Serarius takes Nopheth to mean a city, (Menochius) agreeably to the Septuagint, "the third part of Naphetha, and its villages." (Haydock)
Bonfrere
The other two parts of the city might be occupied by Zabulon. (Bonfrere)
Haydock
No mention is made of Nopheth, Judges 1:27. (Haydock)
17:12
Menochius
Could, because they would not, Judges 1:27. The children of Manasses took these cities; but not putting the inhabitants to death, the latter got possession again, as was the case with respect to many other cities taken (Calmet) and destroyed (Haydock) by Josue. Hebrew, "the Chanaanite consented to dwell," etc. The Israelites spared their lives on their paying tribute; and this prevarication was the cause of their being afterwards reduced to submit to the yoke of these nations. (Calmet) (Judges 2:20., Deuteronomy 20:16.) (Menochius)
Haydock
The Chanaaite dwelt with Manasses for a time; (Worthington) perhaps they were never wholly expelled. (Haydock)
17:14
Spoke. Septuagint, "contradicted Josue." In effect, they spoke with a good deal of emotion.
Calmet
Portion. Hebrew, "cord." (Calmet)
Masius
They addressed themselves to the general, before their territory was divided. (Masius)
Calmet
Or they insinuate that the portion allotted to them both, would scarcely suffice for one tribe, and there was but little room for them to enlarge their dominions by subduing the Chanaanites, as the rest might do. Manasses was most concerned, as his numbers had increased 20,500 since he left Egypt, while his brother had diminished, Numbers 26:34. (Calmet)
Haydock
But then he had an extensive country on the other side of the Jordan. (Haydock)
17:16
Thee. Destroy the Pherezite, etc., (Menochius) take their cities, and destroy the inhabitants, like so many trees, or cut down the wood to build houses, and in order to cultivate the land for the production of corn and grass.
17:17
Iron, armed with scythes, who will obstruct our passage to the mountains, as we dare not encounter them in the open field. (Haydock) (4 Kings 20:23.)
Calmet
Hebrew, "the hill is not enough for us, (or it will not be found, or be attacked by us) and all the Chanaanites," etc. (Calmet)
Haydock
Septuagint, "the mountain of Ephraim will not contain us; all the Chanaanites who dwell in the land of Emek, (or of the valley) in Bethsan, and its villages, and in the vale of Jezrael, have chosen cavalry and iron." (Haydock)
Calmet
They are invincible. (Calmet)
Haydock
The slothful man saith there is a lion without, Proverbs 22:13. Josue over-rules the cowardly objection, and argues, from their own boasting, that they were numerous enough to overcome all their opponents. He was himself of the tribe of Ephraim. (Haydock)
Valley, extending about 10,000 paces from Bethsan to Legion. Jezrael was in the middle of it, and is attributed to Issachar, Josue 19:18. But it was probably on the frontiers of Manasses, who seems to have spoken as if it would belong to the first who had driven out the Chanaanites. The kings of Israel had a palace at Jezrael, and the vineyard of Naboth being contiguous to it, gave occasion to the sin of Jazabel, and to the destruction of Achab's family, 3 Kings 21:1. In this vale, Gedeon routed the Madianites, Judges 6:33.
17:18
Calmet
Mountain, probably of Gelboe, as that of Ephraim was not sufficient, ver. 15. Gelboe extended almost as far as Bethsan, and it would afford a fine opportunity of attacking the nations below. Josue persists in his first resolution; and though of the same tribe, he is so little actuated by partiality towards his brethren, that they alone seem to have been dissatisfied with their portion. (Calmet)
17:8
The land or territorie of Taphua fallig to the lotte of Manasses, yet Taphua (that is the citie it selfe) was the childrens of Ephraim.
17:12
The Chananeite remained in the Land of Manasses, for a time.
17:1
1. FOR HE IS THE FIRSTBORN OF JOSEPH. — He gives the reason why the tribe of Manasseh was one of the tribes which divided Canaan by lot, namely because although Manasseh was not the son of the patriarch Jacob, but his grandson, yet because he was the son of Joseph, Jacob had adopted him as his son, and by equal right with his other sons had commanded him to divide and inherit Canaan immediately, Genesis xlviii. TO MACHIR THE FIRSTBORN (or rather only-begotten) OF MANASSEH. — For he left no other son than Machir, who was the father of Gilead. "Who (Gilead) was a man of war," not in Canaan, but in Egypt under Pharaoh in the wars of the Ephraimites, who are said to have been slain in I Paralipomenon chapter vii, 21. For Gilead was born in Egypt while Joseph his grandfather was still living; wherefore he could serve Pharaoh in wars before the persecution of the Hebrews began in Exodus i. It appears that Gilead died in Egypt, or certainly in the desert; for in the departure of Moses and the Hebrews from Egypt, he, if he still lived, would have been 440 years old; but in the entrance of the Hebrews into Canaan he would have been 480 years old, which age befell no one in that age.
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4. THE LORD COMMANDED, — Numbers xxvii. See the things said there.
17:5
5. AND THE PORTIONS OF MANASSEH FELL TEN, BESIDES THE LAND OF GILEAD AND BASHAN BEYOND THE JORDAN. — "Portions," that is, portions, or hereditary lots; for formerly the boundaries and inheritances were measured out with cords, just as now they are measured with rods or measuring staves, although this measurement of so great a land was not made with cords (for this would have been too long and laborious), but by visual inspection and estimation of space. It is therefore a catachresis. Moreover, the tribe of Manasseh was divided into two parts. For half the tribe obtained Gilead and Bashan on this side of the Jordan, the other half obtained its portions beyond the Jordan, and these ten, because ten portions were to be given to ten families of Manasseh, namely to five sons, that is, Abiezer, Helek, Asriel, Shechem and Semida, verse 2, and to five daughters of Zelophehad, namely Mahlah, Noah, Hoglah, Milcah and Tirzah; for the sixth son Hepher generated no sons except Zelophehad, who left only these five daughters after him, and substituted them for himself, verse 3.
17:8
8. FOR IN THE LOT OF MANASSE THE LAND OF TAPPUAH HAD FALLEN, WHICH (the land of Tappuah) IS NEAR THE BORDERS OF MANASSE, AND IS OF THE CHILDREN OF EPHRAIM. — Whence from the Hebrew you may thus translate clearly: The land of Tappuah was his, that is, of Manasse: but Tappuah was in the border of Manasse, and was of the children of Ephraim. The sense is, as if to say, The land near the city of Tappuah was of the children of Ephraim; whence in the following verse it is said that certain cities of Ephraim (as was Tappuah) were in the midst of the cities of Manasse. He said the same thing in chapter xvi, verse 9. The reason was that the tribe of Ephraim was more numerous and populous than could conveniently dwell entirely in the region which had fallen to it by lot; wherefore it was necessary to enlarge its too narrow borders, so that it might occupy and inhabit certain cities in the lot of Manasse, yet leaving the fields adjacent to the tribe of Manasse itself, because the fields which had fallen to the tribe of Ephraim were so fertile that they sufficed to feed the whole tribe. Thus Masius and others.
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11. AND THE INHERITANCE OF MANASSE WAS IN ISSACHAR AND IN ASER. — "In," that is, near, or in the border and as it were in the embrace of the tribes of Issachar and Aser, in the manner that in Hebrew it is said the golden urn holding manna, and the rod of Aaron were in the ark, that is, near the ark; for in the ark were only the tables of the law. Hebrews ix, 4. See the things said there. "Bethshan," which was afterwards called Scythopolis, that is, the city of the Scythians, because it was inhabited by Scythians, as St. Augustine indicates, Questions viii in the book of Judges; Josephus, book V of Antiquities, chapter i; Herodotus, book i, and others.
17:14
14. AND THE CHILDREN OF JOSEPH (namely the Manassites and Ephraimites) SPOKE TO JOSHUA AND SAID: WHY HAST THOU GIVEN ME BUT ONE LOT AND ONE PORTION TO POSSESS, SEEING I AM A GREAT MULTITUDE, AND THE LORD HATH BLESSED ME? — as if to say, Why to us, who make two tribes, namely Ephraim and Manasse, hast thou given such narrow limits, that they appear to be of one cord, that is, of one lot and one tribe, because they scarcely suffice for one tribe alone; when nevertheless, God blessing us, we have grown into a great multitude? They say this, not because the regions assigned to each tribe by lot would not suffice for both tribes, but because very many were possessed by the Canaanites, whom they despaired of being able to expel, because they held fortresses and cities in the mountains and rocks fortified by position and art. They hoped that they would obtain from Joshua, as their fellow-tribesman (for Joshua was of the tribe of Ephraim), that certain peaceful regions from the other tribes would be assigned to them. But Joshua stood firm, and would not take anything from the other tribes to give to his own. He therefore gave nothing to flesh and blood, but all to justice, and confirmed the just distribution already made. Whence he says:
17:15
15. IF THOU BE A GREAT PEOPLE, GET THEE UP TO THE FOREST, AND CUT DOWN FOR THYSELF IN THE LAND OF THE PHEREZITES AND THE RAPHAIM, — as if to say, If thou aboundest in men, and seekest wider spaces for dwelling, do not demand them from the other tribes with injury to them, but occupy, cultivate, and build the spaces assigned to thee in the land of the Pherezites and Raphaim, after expelling them and cutting them down like a forest. It is a metaphor; for he calls the land occupied by the Canaanites a forest, because just as a forest must be cut down so that the place may be ploughed; so the Pherezites must be cut down, so that the Josephites might occupy their land.
17:16
16. WE CANNOT GO UP TO THE MOUNTAINS, FOR THE CANAANITES THAT DWELL IN THE PLAINS HAVE CHARIOTS OF IRON. — These were scythed chariots, which armed with scythes and swords were sent against enemies, cutting down and as it were reaping men and whatever lay in their way. Such were used by Darius king of the Persians fighting against Alexander the Great. Hear Curtius, book IV: "He himself had scythed chariots before him, which at a given signal he sent all against the enemy. The charioteers rushed with loosened reins, so that with their impetus not yet sufficiently foreseen they might crush more. Some therefore were torn by spears projecting far beyond the pole, others by scythes sent forth on either side." Xenophon, book VI of the Cyropaedia, makes Cyrus the inventor of these chariots; but from this it is clear that in the time of Joshua, who preceded Cyrus by nine hundred years, the Canaanites used such chariots. Moreover, the terror of these chariots soon vanished; for against them they opposed soldiers with long spears in close formation, who would pierce the bellies of the horses, and thus with them killed or wounded, their chariots would be rendered useless. Alexander the Great invented this, as Curtius testifies, book IV, and Diodorus Siculus, book XVII: "The foot soldiers," he says, "of the whole phalanx he warned that when the chariots had been driven closer, they should join their shields and strike them vigorously with their sarissae, so that the horses, terrified by this noise, would drag the chariots backward, which indeed happened thus."
17:17
17. AND JOSHUA SAID. — Joshua, moved by no reply of the Manassites, stands firm, and gives them no other answer than that which he had already given, namely that they should open up spaces for themselves with arms.
Machine translation from the Latin, not reviewed.
17:1
2. Name of the son of Machir, descendant of Manasseh, and head of an Israelite house (Num. 26:29; Josh. 17:1). Name of the father of Jephthah (Judg. 11:1 ff.).
… The genealogy of the others, given the lacunae in the texts, cannot be established with certainty, and seems to represent, besides kinship of families, also political and regional dependencies (Num. 26:28-34; Josh. 17:1-2).
17:2
Gedeon (Hebrew Gidh'ōn; Septuagint GEBEŌN, Vulgate Gedeon)
… caused by incursions of Midianites, Amalekites and Transjordanian bedouins (Judg. 6:3). Oppressed by calamity, the Israelites returned to the Lord, who raised up a new "judge" in Gideon, son of Joash, a descendant of Manasseh in the Abiezrite branch (cf. Josh. 17:2). While Gideon was under the terebinth of Ephrah (a locality not identified, but undoubtedly in the Cisjordanian part of the tribe of Manasseh) an angel of the Lord revealed to him …
17:3
Thersa (Heb. Tirzah; Gr. Θεραΐ)
… Tirzah; Gr. Θεραΐ). - A city of ancient Palestine (Josh. 12:24), located in the territory of the tribe of Manasseh (Num. 27:1; Josh. 17:3), chosen by Jeroboam as the capital of the Kingdom of Israel (1 Kings 14:17).
17:5
… The southern boundary, the northern one of Ephraim, ran from Janoah, Tinnath-Silo, near Shechem and along the brook Qānah reached the Mediterranean (Josh. 17:5-10); to the west it bordered on the tribe of Asher and to the north on that of Issachar. …
17:6
With the simple name of G. there is sometimes designated either 1) 'Aǧlūn (Num. 32:39-40; Deut. 3:15; Josh. 17:6) or the Belqā (Num. 32:1; Josh. 13:25). The "mountain of G.", in which the last conversation between Jacob and Laban took place (Gen. 31:21-25) is the whole of Transjordan, and …
17:7
3. A border city of the tribe of Manasseh (Josh. 17:7), probably the present-day Teiasir "on the road from Neapolis to Scythopolis" (St. Jerome, L. de situ et nomin. locorum hebr.; PL 23, 871), 15 miles (about 22 km.) north of Nablus. …
Its boundaries are indicated in Jos. 16:1-8; 17:7-10, but with no little obscurity.
17:11
Beth-shan (Hebrew Beth-Šē'ān or Beth-Šān; Septuagint Βαθθάγ, Βηθάγ; Arabic Bejān)
Although in the territory of Issachar, it was assigned to the tribe of Manasseh (Jos. 17, 11), but it could not be taken (ibid. 17, 12, 16; Iudc. 1, 27). At the death of Saul it seems to have been in the hands of the Philistines, who hung the corpse of Saul and of his …
ENDOR. - A city in the territory of the tribe of Issachar, but given to the tribe of Manasseh (Josh. 17:11). Sisera and Jabin "were defeated at the torrent Kishon near E." (Ps. 83:10): indeed E. closes the eastern plain traversed by the Kishon, into whose waters the corpses of the slain …
… Joshua killed its king (Josh. 12:21), but M., although assigned to the Manassites (Josh. 17:11; 1 Chron. 7:29), remained Canaanite until the battle of Sisera "at the waters [Kishon] of M." (Judg. 5:19). Fortified by Solomon (1 Kings 9:15), it became the administrative seat of …
… It also infiltrated into the tribes of Asher and Issachar (ibid. 17:11; I Chron. 7:29), without however succeeding in occupying the fortified cities of Bethshan, Ibleam, Dor, Taanach and Megiddo (Josh. 17:12-13; Judg. 1:27-28).
17:12
Beth-shan (Hebrew Beth-Šē'ān or Beth-Šān; Septuagint Βαθθάγ, Βηθάγ; Arabic Bejān)
Although in the territory of Issachar, it was assigned to the tribe of Manasseh (Jos. 17, 11), but it could not be taken (ibid. 17, 12, 16; Iudc. 1, 27). At the death of Saul it seems to have been in the hands of the Philistines, who hung the corpse of Saul and of his three sons on the walls of B. (I Sam. 31, …
… It also infiltrated into the tribes of Asher and Issachar (ibid. 17:11; I Chron. 7:29), without however succeeding in occupying the fortified cities of Bethshan, Ibleam, Dor, Taanach and Megiddo (Josh. 17:12-13; Judg. 1:27-28).
17:14
From the very beginning, the Ephraimites had bloody struggles with the Canaanites (Jos. 17:14-18), relegated to Gezer as tributaries. …
17:15
Perizei (Heb. Pērizai; Septuagint ΦΕΡΕΙ͂ΑΊΟΙ)
… There they were defeated by Joshua (Josh. 11:3; 17:15) and, later, by the tribe of Judah (Judg. 1:4-5). Nevertheless, even in the time of Solomon the P. are spoken of as tributaries of the kingdom (1 Kings 9:20-21; 2 Chron. 8:7-8); …
Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · Vulgata Clementina · original Douay-Rheims (Douay 1609-10), transcription by EEBO-TCP (CC0) · La Sacra Bibbia, tradotta dalla Volgata da Antonio Martini (1769-1781) (LaParola (laparola.net), Martini OSIS text, Public domain (LaParola's electronic edition marks it 'Dominio pubblico')). Public domain.