Bible Strands
Joshua 17:5
Thus ten shares fell to Manasseh, in addition to the land of Gilead and Bashan beyond the Jordan,
Berean Standard Bible
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Study note
Setting — The narrator records this detail during the territorial division of Canaan, following the initial inheritance granted to Manasseh’s daughters. The account addresses the tribal leaders and clans receiving their portions under Joshua’s administration.
The words — חַבְלֵֽי־ (chav.lei-) denotes “allotted portions,” and עֲשָׂרָ֑ה ('a.sa.Rah) specifies the number “ten.” These terms quantify the exact territorial divisions assigned to the tribe.
The thread — This allocation pattern recurs in Joshua 13:29 and Joshua 17:2, which detail the broader distribution to the half-tribe of Manasseh. The structural principle of conditional tribal possession also echoes Numbers 32:30.
Why it lands — The text demands recognition of the precise, command-driven division of territory rather than arbitrary claims. It requires readers to track how specific allotments fulfill prior divine instructions to Moses.
Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.
The Hebrew words
King James Version
And there fell ten portions to Manasseh, beside the land of Gilead and Bashan, which were on the other side Jordan;
Cross-references
- Numbers 32:30 But if they do not arm themselves and go across with you, then they must accept their possession among you in the land of Canaan.”
- Joshua 13:29 This is what Moses had given to the clans of the half-tribe of Manasseh, that is, to half the tribe of the descendants of Manasseh:
- Joshua 17:2 So this allotment was for the rest of the descendants of Manasseh—the clans of Abiezer, Helek, Asriel, Shechem, Hepher, and Shemida. These are the other male descendants of the clans of Manasseh son of Joseph.
- Joshua 17:14 Then the sons of Joseph said to Joshua, “Why have you given us only one portion as an inheritance? We have many people, because the LORD has blessed us abundantly.”