Zelophehad (see Numbers 36:1-13 ). The inheritance here described as being given to the daughters of Zelophehad was so given on condition of their marrying within the limits of their own tribe, a condition which was fulfilled. Thus the name of Zelophehad, and the portion of land belonging to him, was not blotted out from the memory of his descendants. read more
Woman's rights. I. WOMEN HAVE RIGHTS WHICH MEN COMMONLY DENY THEM . The justice of the Mosaic law and the just privileges accorded to women in the Jewish state stand out in favorable contrast with the almost universal injustice which marks the historic relations of men with women. In barbarous nations women are required to do the hardest manual labour. In semi-civilised nations they are kept in ignorance, idleness, and jealous seclusion. In more advanced nations they are... read more
And they came near. In order to demand the fulfilment of the decree of Moses just referred to, to which they appeal in support of their claim (see also Numbers 27:1-7 ). read more
Manasseh, as the “first-born,” was to receive not only the territory on the east of Jordan won by the valor of the Machirites, but also a portion with the other tribes on the west of Jordan, the holy land of promise strictly so called. Thus, though Ephraim took precedence of Manasseh, according to the prediction of Joseph Genesis 48:20, yet Manasseh received “the double portion” which was the special privilege of the first-born Deuteronomy 21:17. read more
For the rest ... - i. e. for those who were not settled on the east of Jordan. read more
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, be translated though, as it often is, and as Bishop Patrick thinks it ought to be here, the meaning is plain, that the second lot was for Manasseh, because, though he was the firstborn of Joseph, yet Jacob had preferred... read more
Joshua 17:2. A lot A distinct inheritance. The rest Namely, those of them which had not received their possessions beyond Jordan. Male children This expression is used to bring in what follows, concerning his female children. read more
Joshua 17:4-6. He gave them That is, Eleazar or Joshua, with the consent of the princes appointed for that work. For after the lot had determined what land every tribe should have, these commissioners considered how many families were in the tribe, and how large they were, and accordingly divided it among them. This is implied, Numbers 26:54-56. Ten portions Five for the sons and five for the daughters; for as for Hepher, both he and his son Zelophehad were dead, and that without sons,... read more
The Joseph tribes (16:1-17:18)Ephraim and the western half of Manasseh together occupied most of the central portion of Canaan between the Jordan River and the Mediterranean Sea (16:1-4). The southern part of this territory belonged to Ephraim (5-10), the northern part to Manasseh (17:1). (The other half of Manasseh had already received its allotment east of Jordan.)Western Manasseh was divided between six major family groups. No details are given concerning portions received by five of these... read more
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The Pulpit Commentary - Joshua 17:2
There was also a lot. Or, and (the lot) was (or fell ) . Abiezer (see 6:11 ; 8:2 ). Gideon, therefore, was of the tribe of Manasseh. He is called Jeezer in Numbers 26:30 . The male children. Rather, the male descendants. None of the persons here mentioned were ( Numbers 26:30 , Numbers 26:31 ; 1 Chronicles 7:18 ) the sons of Manasseh. read more