The Tribe of Manasseh, one of the twelve tribes of Israel, holds a significant place in biblical prophecy and history. Manasseh was the firstborn son of Joseph and Asenath, the daughter of Potiphera, priest of On (Genesis 41:50-51). As such, the tribe is often associated with Joseph's legacy and the blessings pronounced upon him and his descendants.

Jacob's Blessing:

The patriarch Jacob, also known as Israel, bestowed a unique blessing upon Manasseh and his younger brother Ephraim. In Genesis 48, Jacob adopts Joseph's sons as his own, ensuring their inclusion among the tribes of Israel. During the blessing, Jacob intentionally crosses his hands, placing his right hand on Ephraim, the younger, and his left on Manasseh, the elder. Joseph attempts to correct his father, but Jacob insists, saying, "I know, my son, I know. He too will become a people, and he too will be great. Nevertheless, his younger brother will be greater than he, and his descendants will become a multitude of nations" (Genesis 48:19). This prophetic act indicates that while Manasseh would become a great people, Ephraim would surpass him in prominence.

Moses' Blessing:

In Deuteronomy 33, Moses pronounces blessings on the tribes of Israel before his death. For Joseph, which includes both Ephraim and Manasseh, Moses declares: "May his land be blessed by the LORD with the precious dew from heaven above and the deep waters that lie beneath, with the bountiful harvest from the sun and the abundant yield of the seasons" (Deuteronomy 33:13-14). This blessing emphasizes prosperity and abundance, suggesting a future of material and agricultural wealth for the descendants of Manasseh.

Territorial Inheritance:

The tribe of Manasseh received a significant portion of land as their inheritance, divided between the western and eastern sides of the Jordan River. The half-tribe of Manasseh settled in the land of Bashan and Gilead, east of the Jordan, while the other half occupied territory west of the Jordan, alongside Ephraim (Joshua 13:29-31; 17:1-11). This division of land fulfilled the earlier blessings and prophecies, as the tribe became influential in both regions.

Prophetic Implications:

The prophecies concerning Manasseh extend beyond the immediate blessings of Jacob and Moses. In the broader context of Israel's history, the tribe's fortunes waxed and waned, reflecting the nation's spiritual fidelity and apostasy. The division of the kingdom after Solomon's reign saw the northern tribes, including Manasseh, forming the Kingdom of Israel. This kingdom eventually fell to Assyrian conquest, leading to the dispersion of the ten tribes, often referred to as the "Lost Tribes of Israel."

Eschatological Considerations:

In eschatological terms, the tribe of Manasseh is mentioned in the Book of Revelation. In the vision of the 144,000 sealed servants of God, 12,000 are sealed from the tribe of Manasseh (Revelation 7:6). This inclusion signifies the tribe's enduring place in God's redemptive plan and the ultimate restoration of Israel.

The predictions and blessings concerning the tribe of Manasseh highlight themes of prosperity, division, and restoration, reflecting the broader narrative of Israel's history and God's covenantal promises.Genesis 48:20
And he blessed them that day, saying, In you shall Israel bless, saying, God make you as Ephraim and as Manasseh: and he set Ephraim before Manasseh.
Torrey's Topical Textbook

Genesis 49:22-26
Joseph is a fruitful bough, even a fruitful bough by a well; whose branches run over the wall:
Torrey's Topical Textbook

Deuteronomy 33:13-17
And of Joseph he said, Blessed of the LORD be his land, for the precious things of heaven, for the dew, and for the deep that coucheth beneath,
Torrey's Topical Textbook

The Jewish Institutions and Laws of Far Higher Antiquity than the ...
... Jephtha the Gileadite, of the tribe of Manasseh; and he ... son of a Jewish mother, of
the tribe of Dan ... the other an Arcadian, who uttered many predictions to many. ...
/.../the stromata or miscellanies/chapter xxi the jewish institutions and.htm

The Medes and the Second Chaldaean Empire
... to his aid"The Scythian invasion"Judah under Manasseh and Amon ... and include letters
exchanged with provincial governors, augural predictions, consultation of ...
/.../chapter iiithe medes and the.htm

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