The Tribe of Manasseh, one of the twelve tribes of Israel, traces its lineage to Manasseh, the firstborn son of Joseph and Asenath, the daughter of Potiphera, priest of On (Genesis 41:50-52). As part of the larger narrative of the Israelites' exodus from Egypt, the tribe of Manasseh played a significant role in the unfolding of God's promises to the descendants of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.

Numerical Strength and Military Prowess

Upon leaving Egypt, the tribe of Manasseh was counted among the Israelites in the census taken at Mount Sinai. According to the Book of Numbers, the census recorded the number of men aged twenty years and older who were able to go to war. The tribe of Manasseh had 32,200 men fit for military service (Numbers 1:34-35). This figure highlights the tribe's substantial contribution to the overall military strength of the Israelites during their wilderness journey.

Inheritance and Division of Land

The tribe of Manasseh was unique in that it received a double portion of inheritance, reflecting the blessing given by Jacob to Joseph's sons, Ephraim and Manasseh (Genesis 48:5-6). This double portion was manifested in the allocation of land on both sides of the Jordan River. Half of the tribe settled in the land of Gilead and Bashan, east of the Jordan, while the other half received territory in the Promised Land west of the Jordan (Joshua 13:29-31; 17:1-11).

Leadership and Influence

The tribe of Manasseh was influential in the leadership and governance of the Israelites. Notably, Gideon, one of the judges of Israel, hailed from the tribe of Manasseh. His leadership was instrumental in delivering Israel from the oppression of the Midianites (Judges 6:11-16). Gideon's account underscores the tribe's capacity for leadership and its role in the spiritual and military victories of Israel.

Spiritual Legacy

The tribe of Manasseh, like the other tribes, was called to uphold the covenantal relationship with Yahweh. Despite moments of faithfulness, the tribe also experienced periods of idolatry and disobedience, as recorded in the historical narratives of the Old Testament. Nevertheless, the tribe's legacy is intertwined with the broader narrative of Israel's journey from slavery in Egypt to the establishment in the Promised Land.

Conclusion

The tribe of Manasseh, with its significant numerical strength and strategic inheritance, played a vital role in the early history of Israel. Its contributions to the military, leadership, and spiritual life of the nation are woven into the fabric of the biblical narrative, reflecting both the blessings and challenges faced by the people of God as they journeyed from Egypt to the land promised to their forefathers.Numbers 1:34,35
Of the children of Manasseh, by their generations, after their families, by the house of their fathers, according to the number of the names, from twenty years old and upward, all that were able to go forth to war;
Torrey's Topical Textbook

How Joshua, the Commander of the Hebrews, Made War with The
... by long sieges, both on account of the strength of their ... The half-tribe of Manasseh
had the land from Jordan to ... Now when the tribe of Reuben, and that of Gad ...
/.../josephus/the antiquities of the jews/chapter 1 how joshua the.htm

The Training of a Statesman.
... the traditional father of Ephraim and Manasseh, imply that ... or from desert tribe to
tribe came occasional ... Others, coming with greater strength perhaps to the ...
/.../kent/the making of a nation/study viii the training of.htm

Scriptural Poems; Being Several Portions of Scripture Digested ...
... dwelt a man, His name Manoah, of the tribe of Dan ... God, remember me, I pray, This
once give strength, that I ... were begun; The which he call'd Manasseh, for, said ...
/.../scriptural poems being several portions.htm

The Hebrews and the Philistines --Damascus
... the river Kishon."O my soul, march on with strength."Then did ... not certain that all
the families which constituted the half-tribe of Manasseh took their ...
/.../chapter iiithe hebrews and the.htm

Babylonia and Assyria
... They were inhabited by the Semitic tribe of the ... Esar-haddon had dealt leniently with
Manasseh of Judah ... submitted to the foreign rule; its strength was exhausted ...
/.../early israel and the surrounding nations/chapter vi babylonia and assyria.htm

The Assumption of Moses
... Joash, Amaziah, Uzziah, Jotham, Ahaz, Hezekiah, Manasseh, Amon, Josiah. ... And herein
lies our strength. ... signifies, "there shall be a man of the tribe of Levi who ...
//christianbookshelf.org/deane/pseudepigrapha/the assumption of moses.htm

The Iranian Conquest
... entrusted with the government of a mountain tribe dwelling to ... hero of the dynasty
who had conquered Egypt had not ventured to measure his strength with the ...
/.../chapter ithe iranian conquest.htm

The Power of Assyria at Its Zenith; Esarhaddon and Assur-Bani-Pal
... The Treres were probably the predominating tribe among the ... border to hasten his attack
on Egypt (673 BC ... having issued with honour from this trial of strength. ...
/.../chapter iithe power of assyria 2.htm

Tiglath-Pileser iii. And the Organisation of the Assyrian Empire ...
... were weaker or poorer than themselves, leaving them with ... came in time to form a tribe
by themselves ... from useless angles which might detract from its strength. ...
/.../chapter iitiglath-pileser iii and the.htm

The Medes and the Second Chaldaean Empire
... aid"The Scythian invasion"Judah under Manasseh and Amon ... allowed them to regain their
strength, and one ... to win two victories, one upon leaving the mountains ...
/.../chapter iiithe medes and the.htm

Who was King Manasseh in the Bible? | GotQuestions.org

What can we learn from the tribe of Manasseh? | GotQuestions.org

Who was Manasseh in the Bible? | GotQuestions.org

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