Lexical Summary chatsi Hammanachti: Half of the Manassite Original Word: חֲצִי הַמְּנַחְתִּי Strong's Exhaustive Concordance Chatsi-ham-Menachtite or descendant of Chatsi-ham-Menuchoth -- half of the ManahethitesPatronymically from Chatsiy ham-Mnuchowth; a Chatsi-ham-Menachtite or descendant of Chatsi-ham-Menuchoth -- half of the Manahethites. see HEBREW Chatsiy ham-Mnuchowth NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Originfrom chatsi and Manachti, q.v. Brown-Driver-Briggs מָנַחְתִּי adjective, of a people perhaps from foregoing, only with article as collective noun ׳חֲצִי הַמּ 1 Chronicles 2:54 of a Judaean tribe (ᵐ5 Μαλαθει, A ᵐ5L Μαναθ(ι)); so read also probably for חֲצִי הַמְּנֻחוֺת see :52 (ᵐ5 Μωναιω, A Αμμανιθ). Topical Lexicon Occurrence Only found in 1 Chronicles 2:54, translated in the Berean Standard Bible as “half the Manahathites.” Historical Context within the Genealogy of Judah The phrase sits in the Chronicler’s record of Caleb’s descendants through Hur (1 Chronicles 2:50-55). Salma, “the father of Bethlehem,” is credited with several village-clans—Bethlehem, the Netophathites, Atroth-beth Joab, “half the Manahathites,” and the Zorites. Earlier in the same paragraph Shobal of Kiriath-jearim is linked to another “half of the Manahathites” (1 Chronicles 2:52). Together the two halves trace a single parent clan that split to populate separate districts: one aligned with Kiriath-jearim, the other with Bethlehem. Geographical Setting Although Manahath has not been firmly located, its association with Bethlehem, Netophah, Zorah, and Kiriath-jearim points to Judah’s central highlands south-west of Jerusalem. These settlements flanked key trade and pilgrimage routes later traveled by David (1 Samuel 17:15) and the Ark of the Covenant (2 Samuel 6:2), underscoring the strategic placement of the clan. Clan Dynamics and Administrative Significance Fractional designations (“half”) appear elsewhere in biblical rosters, marking divisions of labor, land, and lineage (e.g., Nehemiah 3:12). By recording each subdivision, the Chronicler preserves property rights, military obligations, and eventual temple service roles. The accuracy signals a covenant community that valued every household’s stake in the promises of God. Theological Reflections 1. Particular Providence: The Lord’s covenant care reaches down to the smallest clan fraction (Psalm 147:4). Ministry Applications • Record and Remember: Churches should preserve membership rolls and spiritual genealogies, valuing each name as Scripture does. Key Verse “The descendants of Salma: Bethlehem, the Netophathites, Atroth-beth Joab, half the Manahathites, and the Zorites.” 1 Chronicles 2:54 Forms and Transliterations הַמָּנַחְתִּ֖י המנחתי ham·mā·naḥ·tî hammanachTi hammānaḥtîLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel TextsEnglishman's Concordance 1 Chronicles 2:54 HEB: יוֹאָ֑ב וַחֲצִ֥י הַמָּנַחְתִּ֖י הַצָּרְעִֽי׃ KJV: and half of the Manahethites, the Zorites. INT: Atroth-beth-joab and half of the Manahethites the Zorites 1 Occurrence |
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