The tribe of Manasseh, one of the twelve tribes of Israel, was allotted a significant portion of land in the Promised Land, both on the east and west sides of the Jordan River. This allocation was in accordance with the inheritance given to the descendants of Joseph, as Manasseh was one of Joseph's two sons, the other being Ephraim. The boundaries of Manasseh's territory are detailed in the Book of Joshua and reflect the tribe's importance and size.

Western Manasseh:

The western portion of Manasseh's territory was located in the central part of Canaan, sharing borders with several other tribes. According to Joshua 17:7-10 , the boundary of Manasseh extended from Asher to Michmethath, which is east of Shechem. The border then went southward to include the inhabitants of En-tappuah. The land of Tappuah belonged to Manasseh, but Tappuah itself, on the border of Manasseh, belonged to the Ephraimites. The boundary continued to the Brook Kanah, with cities to the south belonging to Ephraim, though they were within the cities of Manasseh. The border of Manasseh was on the north side of the brook and ended at the sea. Manasseh's territory also included the land of Issachar and Asher, with Beth-shean, Ibleam, Dor, Endor, Taanach, and Megiddo, each with their surrounding settlements.

Eastern Manasseh:

The eastern portion of Manasseh's territory was located on the east side of the Jordan River, in the region known as Gilead and Bashan. This area was granted to the half-tribe of Manasseh by Moses before the Israelites crossed the Jordan into Canaan. Numbers 32:39-42 describes how the descendants of Machir, the son of Manasseh, went to Gilead, captured it, and dispossessed the Amorites who were there. Moses gave Gilead to Machir, and he settled there. Jair, a descendant of Manasseh, captured their settlements and called them Havvoth-jair. Nobah went and captured Kenath and its villages and called it Nobah after his own name.

Significance and Challenges:

The territory of Manasseh was strategically significant, encompassing fertile lands and key trade routes. However, the tribe faced challenges in fully possessing their inheritance. Joshua 17:12-13 notes that the Manassites were unable to drive out the Canaanites from certain cities, and the Canaanites persisted in dwelling in that land. When the Israelites grew stronger, they subjected the Canaanites to forced labor but did not drive them out completely.

The dual inheritance of Manasseh, both east and west of the Jordan, highlights the tribe's prominence and the fulfillment of Jacob's blessing over Joseph's sons, Ephraim and Manasseh, as recorded in Genesis 48. The tribe's extensive territory and its challenges in securing it reflect the broader narrative of Israel's conquest and settlement in the Promised Land.