_THE LOT OF THE HALF TRIBE OF MANASSEH: POSSESSIONS ARE GIVEN TO THE DAUGHTERS OF ZELOPHEHAD: THE BORDERS OF THE TRIBE OF MANASSEH ARE DESCRIBED. JOSHUA PROMISES TO THE SONS OF JOSEPH, THAT THEY SHOULD NOT HAVE ONE LOT ONLY; AND COMMANDS THEM TO INHABIT THE MOUNTAIN, TILL THEY DRIVE OUT THE CANAANIT... [ Continue Reading ]
_VER._ 1. _THERE WAS ALSO A LOT FOR THE TRIBE OF MANASSEH,_ &C.— As if it were said, "A lot for Manasseh after Ephraim, though Manasseh was the first-born." Or, rather, these words form a parenthesis, as our version gives it, the design of which is, to show the reader that Jacob had testified some p... [ Continue Reading ]
_VER._ 3. _BUT ZELOPHEHAD,_ &C.— Zelophehad, the son of Hepher, having no male issue, his share was subdivided between his five daughters. They had claimed it in the wilderness before the conquest; and God having approved of their plea, they might well plead their right, and assuredly succeed. _Note... [ Continue Reading ]
_VER._ 10. _THEY MET,_ &C.— Or, _and they are bounded by Asher on the north-west, and by Issachar on the north-east._... [ Continue Reading ]
_VER._ 12. _YET THE CHILDREN OF MANASSEH COULD NOT DRIVE OUT,_ &C.— They were unable through negligence, from a want of valour and confidence in the divine promises, and because God, to punish them, refused them that protection and success of which they had rendered themselves unworthy. Judges 2:19.... [ Continue Reading ]
_VER._ 14. _AND THE CHILDREN OF JOSEPH SPAKE UNTO JOSHUA,_ &C.— The children of Ephraim and Manasseh, just spoken of, came to Joshua, and complained, that the portion which had fallen to them in common was hardly sufficient for one of their tribes, by reason of their great numbers: not that the coun... [ Continue Reading ]
_VER._ 15. _AND JOSHUA ANSWERED THEM, IF THOU BE A GREAT PEOPLE,_ &C.— Joshua was not a man calculated to sacrifice his duty to the caprice of the people of his own tribe, and to abuse the authority deposited with him, in order to gratify their inclinations. He answers them, that the will of God, as... [ Continue Reading ]
_VER._ 17, 18. _AND JOSHUA SPAKE,_ &C.— Joshua replies to the solicitations of the children of Joseph, by repeating, that it is not his intention that they should have but one lot, as if they were but one single tribe: nor that they should dwell pent up in a portion too much confined; but that he ch... [ Continue Reading ]