CHAP. XVII.
Vers. 1. THere was also a lot for the tribe of Manasseh, (for he was the first-born of Joseph) to wit, for Machir the first born of Manasseh, &c.] This clause, for he was the first born of Joseph, is added, to imply that though Jacob had prophesied that Ephraims dignitie should be the greater, Gen. 49.19. His younger brother shall be greater then he, and his seed shall become a multi∣tude of nations, yet Manasseh being one of Josephs sonnes, yea his first born, he was also to have the portion of a tribe as well as Ephraim, according as Jacob had pro∣phesied of them, Gen. 48.5, 6. And now thy two sonnes Ephraim and Manasseh, which were born unto thee in the land of Egypt, before I came unto thee into Egypt, are mine: As Reuben and Simeon, they shall be mine. And thy issue which thou begettest after them shall be thine. Now the lot that fell to Manasseh is said to have been for Machir the first born of Manasseh, because Manasseh had no other sonnes but Machir onely, and therefore sometimes Machir seems to be put for the whole tribe of Manasseh, Judges 5.14. Out of Machir came down gov••rnours; and amongst his po∣sterity it seems that Manassehs portion was now wholly divided. But then it may be questioned by some why Machir is here called the first born of Manasseh. To which I answer, that the child that first openeth the wombe is usually in the Scripture called the first born, though there were no more born after him.
Because he was a man of war therefore he had Gilead and Bashan.] That is, be∣cause Machir the father of Gilead was a man of warre Many conceive that Ma∣chir had no other sonnes but Gilead, and that all Manassehs portion was divided amongst Gileads posteritie. But this we may well doubt, 1. Because Gen. 50.23. there is mention made of Machirs children. 2. Because Num. 26.29. we reade of a family of the Machirites distinct from those that were called by the names of the sonnes of Gilead; concerning which, see the note on the place. However, the poste∣rity of Machir had the land of Gilead and Bashan, that is, the half of it, settled up∣on them (which is here mentioned by the way, that after he might proceed to speak of their dividing to the other half of this tribe, their portion of the land within Jordan) and that because Machir was a man of warre, that is, because the Machi∣rites were men of warre, and did themselves win Gilead and dispossesse the enemie of it. See the notes, Numb. 32.39, 40.
Vers. 4. Therefore according to the commandment of the Lord, he gave them an inheritance, &c.] See Numb. 27.7.
Vers. 5. And there fell ten portions to Manasseh.] That is, the land was di∣vided into six parts according to the number of the sonnes of Gilead mentioned verse 2. and Hephers part was divided into five parts, and given to his sonne Ze∣lophehads five daughters; and so there were ten portions in all.