Topical Bible: the Tribe of Manasseh: Often at War With Ephraim

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The Tribe of Manasseh, one of the twelve tribes of Israel, holds a significant place in biblical history. Named after Manasseh, the firstborn son of Joseph and Asenath, the tribe is often noted for its size, territorial holdings, and frequent conflicts with the Tribe of Ephraim, its brother tribe.

Ancestry and Blessing

Manasseh was the elder son of Joseph, born in Egypt before the arrival of Jacob's family during the famine. Despite being the firstborn, Manasseh received a lesser blessing from Jacob compared to his younger brother, Ephraim. In Genesis 48:19 , Jacob prophesied, "His younger brother will be greater than he, and his descendants will become a multitude of nations." This blessing set the stage for future tensions between the two tribes.

Territorial Holdings

The Tribe of Manasseh was unique in that it held land on both sides of the Jordan River. The half-tribe of Manasseh settled in the land of Gilead, east of the Jordan, while the other half settled in the fertile regions of Canaan, west of the Jordan. This dual inheritance is detailed in Joshua 13:29-31 and Joshua 17:1-18 . The vast territory allowed Manasseh to become one of the most influential tribes, but it also led to challenges in maintaining unity and defense.

Conflict with Ephraim

The relationship between Manasseh and Ephraim was marked by rivalry and conflict, often stemming from their shared ancestry and Jacob's prophetic blessing. Judges 8:1-3 recounts an instance where the Ephraimites confronted Gideon, a judge from Manasseh, for not including them in the battle against the Midianites. Gideon's diplomatic response quelled the immediate tension, but underlying rivalries persisted.

Another significant conflict is recorded in Judges 12:1-6 , where Jephthah, a leader from Gilead (part of Manasseh), clashed with the Ephraimites. The Ephraimites accused Jephthah of not calling them to fight against the Ammonites, leading to a fierce battle in which the Gileadites defeated Ephraim. This conflict further exemplified the ongoing strife between the two tribes.

Role in the Kingdom of Israel

During the period of the united monarchy, the Tribe of Manasseh played a crucial role in the kingdom's military and political affairs. However, the division of the kingdom after Solomon's reign saw Manasseh as part of the northern kingdom of Israel, where it continued to be a significant force.

Spiritual and Cultural Contributions

Despite the conflicts, the Tribe of Manasseh contributed to the spiritual and cultural heritage of Israel. The tribe produced notable leaders and warriors, and its members participated in the religious life of the nation. The tribe's dual inheritance and strategic location also facilitated trade and cultural exchange.

Prophetic Significance

In the prophetic literature, the Tribe of Manasseh is often mentioned alongside Ephraim, symbolizing the northern kingdom of Israel. The prophets frequently called for repentance and warned of impending judgment due to the tribes' idolatry and disobedience. Yet, there is also a promise of restoration and unity, as seen in passages like Ezekiel 37:16-19 , where the reunification of Ephraim and Manasseh is envisioned as part of the future hope for Israel.

The Tribe of Manasseh, with its complex history and relationship with Ephraim, remains a testament to the intricate dynamics of the tribes of Israel and their enduring legacy in biblical history.

Torrey's Topical Textbook

Judges 12:1,6
And the men of Ephraim gathered themselves together, and went northward, and said to Jephthah, Why passed you over to fight against the children of Ammon, and did not call us to go with you? we will burn your house on you with fire.
Torrey's Topical Textbook

Isaiah 9:21
Manasseh, Ephraim; and Ephraim, Manasseh: and they together shall be against Judah. For all this his anger is not turned away, but his hand is stretched out still.
Torrey's Topical Textbook

Library

How Joshua, the Commander of the Hebrews, Made War with The
... tribes should be divided by estimation of its goodness, rather than the largeness
of its measure, it often happening that ... The half-tribe of Manasseh had the ...
/.../josephus/the antiquities of the jews/chapter 1 how joshua the.htm

The Cities of Refuge
... the tribe of Gad, and Golan in Bashan out of the tribe of Manasseh.9. These ... epoch
and beginning another, just as a king's accession is often attended with ...
/.../maclaren/expositions of holy scripture f/the cities of refuge.htm

The Jewish Institutions and Laws of Far Higher Antiquity than the ...
... by Jephtha the Gileadite, of the tribe of Manasseh; and he ... son of a Jewish mother,
of the tribe of Dan ... By copyists they were often confounded, as here by Clement ...
/.../the stromata or miscellanies/chapter xxi the jewish institutions and.htm

Deuteronomy
... separately characterized in language which is often simply a ... temporary distress,
and the banner tribe is Ephraim ... terrible reign of his son Manasseh, the efforts ...
/.../mcfadyen/introduction to the old testament/deuteronomy.htm

The Training of a Statesman.
... the traditional father of Ephraim and Manasseh, imply that ... Nile or from desert tribe
to tribe came occasional ... the shaping of that will is often a statesman's ...
/.../kent/the making of a nation/study viii the training of.htm

The Hebrews and the Philistines --Damascus
... Taanach and Megiddo in that plain of Kishon which had often served as ... certain that
all the families which constituted the half-tribe of Manasseh took their ...
/.../chapter iiithe hebrews and the.htm

Scriptural Poems; Being Several Portions of Scripture Digested ...
... dwelt a man, His name Manoah, of the tribe of Dan ... But as it often haps, his father's
love Did in his ... famine were begun; The which he call'd Manasseh, for, said ...
/.../scriptural poems being several portions.htm

Tiglath-Pileser iii. And the Organisation of the Assyrian Empire ...
... Kings of Judah;** these, in time of war,*** were reinforced ... sharzaba, or captain
of the troops, often took his ... of Jehoshaphat, a member of the tribe of Judah ...
/.../chapter iitiglath-pileser iii and the.htm

The Medes and the Second Chaldaean Empire
... the necessity for a double and often contradictory narrative ... the policy initiated
by his predecessor Manasseh; but when ... sound of the trumpet, the alarm of war. ...
/.../chapter iiithe medes and the.htm

The Iranian Conquest
... a Turanian soldier, Bratrok-resh, in a war against the ... The question has often been
asked whether Zoroaster belongs ... nation and forming a special tribe, that of ...
/.../chapter ithe iranian conquest.htm