_Born. Machir was the only son of Manasses. But the Scripture uses the word first-born for such, as it does for our Saviour, Matthew i. (Menochius) --- If Machir was living when Moses assigned the territory to the half tribe of Manasses, he must have been 180 years old. (Calmet) --- But he probably... [ Continue Reading ]
_Children here comprises grandchildren, &c. These who are specified sprang from Galaad or from Jair, as they all dwelt on the east side of the Jordan, 1 Paralipomenon v. 23., and vii. 14. (Calmet)_... [ Continue Reading ]
_Father, adjoining to Ephraim. See Numbers xxvii., and xxxvi._... [ Continue Reading ]
_Jordan. Some of the families, which had possessions there already, were permitted to have a share on the west side also. Here Manasses had ten portions, sch\'9cnus, or cords, which Herodotus (ii. 6,) reckons to contain each 60 stadia; so that he would have 600 stadia, (Calmet) or at least half of t... [ Continue Reading ]
_Aser was contiguous to Machmethath, 15 miles from Sichem, towards Scythopolis. (St. Jerome) (Calmet) --- The limits of Manasses are described from the south, where he joins Ephraim, chap. xvi. 6. (Calmet)_... [ Continue Reading ]
_Taphua; which city, though situated in the territory of Manasses, belonged to Ephraim, (Worthington) as the Hebrew intimates._... [ Continue Reading ]
CHAPTER XVII. _ East. These two tribes are contiguous to the tribe of Joseph, taken all together, ver. 14. (Menochius) --- Aser extended as far as Mount Carmel, which was not far from Dor, a city of Manasses, ver. 11., chap. xix. 26. The tribes of Issachar and of Zabulon seem, indeed, to come betwe... [ Continue Reading ]
In Aser. The following towns were upon the frontiers of these two tribes, (Menochius) or they properly belonged to them respectively. But the children of Manasses took possession of them, after conquering by degrees, the former inhabitants, who were suffered to live among them, as the Jebusites were... [ Continue Reading ]
_Could, because they would not, Judges i. 27. The children of Manasses took these cities; but not putting the inhabitants to death, the latter got possession again, as was the case with respect to many other cities taken (Calmet) and destroyed (Haydock) by Josue. Hebrew, "the Chanaanites consented t... [ Continue Reading ]
_Spoke. Septuagint, "contradicted Josue." In effect, they spoke with a good deal of emotion. --- Portion. Hebrew, "cord." (Calmet) --- They addressed themselves to the general, before their territory was divided. (Masius) --- Or they insinuate that the portion allotted to them both, would scarcely s... [ Continue Reading ]
_Thee. Destroy the Pherezite, &c., (Menochius) take their cities, and destroy the inhabitants, like so many trees, or cut down the wood to build houses, and in order to cultivate the land for the production of corn and grass._... [ Continue Reading ]
Iron, armed with scythes, who will obstruct our passage to the mountains, as we dare not encounter them in the open field. (Haydock) (4 Kings xx. 23.) --- Hebrew, "the hill is not enough for us, (or it will not be found, or be attacked by us) and all the Chanaanites," &c. (Calmet) --- Septuagint, "t... [ Continue Reading ]
_Mountain, probably of Gelboe, as that of Ephraim was not sufficient, ver. 15. Gelboe extended almost as far as Bethsan, and it would afford a fine opportunity of attacking the nations below. Josue persists in his first resolution; and though of the same tribe, he is so little actuated by partiality... [ Continue Reading ]