“So the lot was made for the rest of the sons of Manasseh according to their families: for the sons of Abiezer and for the sons of Helek and for the sons of Asriel and for the sons of Shechem and for the sons of Hepher and for the sons of Shemida; these were the male descendants of Manasseh the son of Joseph according to their families.” (v.2) This verse describes how the territory west of the Jordan was distributed among the remaining clans of the tribe of Manasseh. Manasseh, as a son of Joseph, received a considerable inheritance due to the special blessing Jacob bestowed upon Joseph (Genesis 48). Each subfamily—Abiezer, Helek, Asriel, Shechem, Hepher, and Shemida—represents a branch of Manasseh’s lineage, tying back to Joseph, who lived roughly in the eighteenth or seventeenth century BC. This territorial allotment highlights God’s provision and the fulfillment of ancient promises given to Joseph and his descendants (Genesis 50).
The mention of “the rest of the sons of Manasseh” connects this verse to the broader land allocations described in the Book of Joshua, when Israel took possession of the Promised Land. This land, situated in the fertile regions of Canaan (modern-day Israel and Palestinian territories), later formed part of the Northern Kingdom after Israel’s division. By listing the descendants’ names in detail, the passage emphasizes that God cares about each family line. Their unique distributions underscore Israel’s collective identity—one family under the covenant, yet made up of distinct tribes and clans. In the days of Joshua (circa 1400 BC), this process of allocation helped shape the genealogical and geographical framework for the emerging nation of Israel.
Furthermore, this verse exemplifies how each individual family line had a role to play in the unfolding redemptive story. Centuries after these tribal arrangements, Jesus the Messiah emerged from the tribe of Judah (Matthew 1). Still, the story of Joseph’s descendants, including Manasseh, points to the preservation of the family of Israel as a whole—foreshadowing the unity God desires for His people. While each tribe and sub-tribe had its own piece of land, they remained part of God’s larger narrative, ultimately leading to the coming of Christ, who unites all people under a new covenant (Galatians 3).
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Joshua 17:2 meaning
“So the lot was made for the rest of the sons of Manasseh according to their families: for the sons of Abiezer and for the sons of Helek and for the sons of Asriel and for the sons of Shechem and for the sons of Hepher and for the sons of Shemida; these were the male descendants of Manasseh the son of Joseph according to their families.” (v.2) This verse describes how the territory west of the Jordan was distributed among the remaining clans of the tribe of Manasseh. Manasseh, as a son of Joseph, received a considerable inheritance due to the special blessing Jacob bestowed upon Joseph (Genesis 48). Each subfamily—Abiezer, Helek, Asriel, Shechem, Hepher, and Shemida—represents a branch of Manasseh’s lineage, tying back to Joseph, who lived roughly in the eighteenth or seventeenth century BC. This territorial allotment highlights God’s provision and the fulfillment of ancient promises given to Joseph and his descendants (Genesis 50).
The mention of “the rest of the sons of Manasseh” connects this verse to the broader land allocations described in the Book of Joshua, when Israel took possession of the Promised Land. This land, situated in the fertile regions of Canaan (modern-day Israel and Palestinian territories), later formed part of the Northern Kingdom after Israel’s division. By listing the descendants’ names in detail, the passage emphasizes that God cares about each family line. Their unique distributions underscore Israel’s collective identity—one family under the covenant, yet made up of distinct tribes and clans. In the days of Joshua (circa 1400 BC), this process of allocation helped shape the genealogical and geographical framework for the emerging nation of Israel.
Furthermore, this verse exemplifies how each individual family line had a role to play in the unfolding redemptive story. Centuries after these tribal arrangements, Jesus the Messiah emerged from the tribe of Judah (Matthew 1). Still, the story of Joseph’s descendants, including Manasseh, points to the preservation of the family of Israel as a whole—foreshadowing the unity God desires for His people. While each tribe and sub-tribe had its own piece of land, they remained part of God’s larger narrative, ultimately leading to the coming of Christ, who unites all people under a new covenant (Galatians 3).