Numbers 26:29 kjv
Of the sons of Manasseh: of Machir, the family of the Machirites: and Machir begat Gilead: of Gilead come the family of the Gileadites.
Numbers 26:29 nkjv
The sons of Manasseh: of Machir, the family of the Machirites; and Machir begot Gilead; of Gilead, the family of the Gileadites.
Numbers 26:29 niv
The descendants of Manasseh: through Makir, the Makirite clan (Makir was the father of Gilead); through Gilead, the Gileadite clan.
Numbers 26:29 esv
The sons of Manasseh: of Machir, the clan of the Machirites; and Machir was the father of Gilead; of Gilead, the clan of the Gileadites.
Numbers 26:29 nlt
These were the clans descended from Manasseh: The Makirite clan, named after their ancestor Makir.
The Gileadite clan, named after their ancestor Gilead, Makir's son.
Numbers 26 29 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Gen 41:51 | Joseph named the firstborn Manasseh, saying, "God has made me forget all my hardship..." | Manasseh's birth and meaning of his name, 'causing to forget'. |
| Gen 50:23 | Joseph saw the third generation of Ephraim's children; also the children of Machir... | Machir, son of Manasseh, mentioned early as a progenitor. |
| Num 1:35 | Of the sons of Joseph: of Manasseh, their generations... forty-nine thousand nine hundred. | First census counts Manasseh's descendants. |
| Num 32:39-40 | And the sons of Machir the son of Manasseh went to Gilead and captured it... | Machir's descendants' conquering and settlement of Gilead. |
| Deut 3:12-16 | And this land we took in possession at that time... half the tribe of Manasseh. | Moses allocates land in Gilead to half-Manasseh. |
| Josh 17:1-6 | This was the lot for the tribe of Manasseh, for he was the firstborn of Joseph... | Detailed inheritance of Manasseh's clans in Canaan, including Gilead. |
| Josh 17:3-4 | But Zelophehad... had no sons, but daughters only... | The case of Zelophehad's daughters inheriting land due to the lack of male heirs within Manasseh. |
| Judg 5:14 | From Ephraim their root went down into the valley... from Machir commanders came down. | Machir's military contribution to Israel, emphasizing strength. |
| Judg 10:3-5 | After him arose Jair the Gileadite, who judged Israel for twenty-three years... | The Judges, notably Jair, are linked to Gilead. |
| Judg 11:1-11 | Now Jephthah the Gileadite was a mighty warrior... | Another prominent Judge from Gilead. |
| 2 Sam 2:29 | Then Joab pursued Abner... he crossed over the Jordan... through all Bithron and to Mahanaim. | Reference to Gilead's geography east of the Jordan. |
| 2 Sam 17:27-29 | When David came to Mahanaim, Shobi... from Rabbah of the Ammonites, and Machir... | Machir is listed among those providing provisions for David. |
| 1 Ki 4:13 | Ben-Geber, in Ramoth-gilead... pertains to the towns of Jair the son of Manasseh... | Gilead region tied to specific administration and Manasseh's lineage. |
| 2 Ki 10:32-33 | In those days the Lord began to cut off parts of Israel; and Hazael defeated them... | Loss of Transjordanian territory including Gilead. |
| 1 Chr 2:21 | Afterwards Hezron went in to the daughter of Machir the father of Gilead... | Further genealogical connection reinforcing Machir as father of Gilead. |
| 1 Chr 7:14 | The sons of Manasseh: Asriel, whom his Aramean concubine bore; she bore Machir... | Reinforcement of Machir's paternal lineage within Manasseh. |
| 1 Chr 7:15-17 | Machir took a wife for Huppim and for Shuppim... and the name of his sister was Maacah. | More detailed, though complex, genealogy of Machir and Gilead. |
| 1 Chr 27:20 | For Manasseh, Iddo the son of Zechariah for the half-tribe of Manasseh... | Listing of tribal leaders. |
| Isa 17:9-10 | In that day their strong cities will be like the forsaken places of the Horeb and the branches. | Prophetic allusions to destruction in Gilead region due to idolatry. |
| Jer 8:22 | Is there no balm in Gilead? Is there no physician there? Why then is not the health of... | Symbolic reference to Gilead known for its medicinal balm. |
| Mic 7:14 | Shepherd your people with your staff... in the midst of Carmel and Gilead, as in days of old. | Prophetic promise of restoration to former pastures like Gilead. |
| Zech 10:10 | I will bring them back from the land of Egypt and gather them from Assyria... and into Gilead and Lebanon. | Prophetic gathering of scattered Israel, including to Gilead. |
| Rev 7:6 | From the tribe of Manasseh, twelve thousand... | Manasseh listed among the tribes sealed in the last days. |
Numbers 26 verses
Numbers 26 29 Meaning
Numbers 26:29 specifies the lineage descending from Manasseh through his son Machir and grandson Gilead. It details the formation of two significant clans within the tribe of Manasseh: the Machirites and the Gileadites. This verse identifies the specific family groups eligible for census enrollment, military service, and most importantly, land inheritance in the Promised Land. The inclusion of Gilead's direct descent underscores his prominence as an ancestor to a major geographical territory associated with his name.
Numbers 26 29 Context
Numbers chapter 26 records the second census of Israel, taken nearly forty years after the first census at Sinai (Numbers 1). This census occurred on the plains of Moab, prior to their entry into the Promised Land, after the plague for immorality at Peor and after the death of the wilderness generation. Its primary purposes were to determine the number of fighting men (those twenty years old and upward) available for the conquest of Canaan, to provide a basis for distributing the land proportionally among the tribes and clans (Num 26:52-56), and to establish the generational continuity of the covenant promises.
Historically, this generation represented the fulfillment of God's covenant with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob – that their descendants would become a great nation and inherit the land. The detailed genealogical listing of families within each tribe, such as those of Manasseh in verse 29, was crucial for defining the specific land boundaries and family inheritances. The prominence of Gilead, an ancestral name that also referred to a major Transjordanian region, foreshadowed the future settlement of part of Manasseh's tribe east of the Jordan River.
Numbers 26 29 Word analysis
The sons of Manasseh:
- "sons": bānim (בָּנִים) - descendants, offspring, children. Signifies not just immediate male issue but also the continuing generations that form the family unit, establishing their tribal identity and inheritance rights. This reinforces the covenantal promise of a numerous offspring.
- "Manasseh": Mĕnaššeh (מְנַשֶּׁה) - "causing to forget." One of the two tribal sons of Joseph (Gen 41:51). His descendants formed a significant and distinct tribe in Israel, eventually settling on both sides of the Jordan. This foundational name roots the family in Israel's early history and God's provision for Joseph.
of Machir, the family of the Machirites:
- "Machir": Mākîr (מָכִיר) - "sold" or "one who sells/knows." He was Manasseh's firstborn son. His immediate listing signifies his seniority and prominence as a patriarch of a major clan.
- "the family of the Machirites": mishpaḥat hamMāḵîrī (מִשְׁפַּחַת הַמָּכִרִי) - "the clan/family of the Machirite." This emphasizes the administrative unit (mishpachah) through which land was allotted and the census was organized. It underlines a cohesive, identifiable group deriving its identity from a common ancestor. This structure was vital for maintaining order and justice in Israelite society.
and Machir begot Gilead:
- "begot": yālad (יָלַד) - bore, gave birth to, caused to come forth. This direct lineal connection highlights Gilead's place in the succession.
- "Gilead": Gil‘ād (גִּלְעָד) - "rugged region" or "heap of witness." This is critical because Gilead is both an individual in the lineage and a major geographical region located east of the Jordan River. The direct linking of the person 'Gilead' as the son of Machir directly connects this family branch to the future Transjordanian territory. It solidifies the claim and identity of the clan with a specific, fertile region known for its pasture and balm (Jer 8:22). This name is very significant in Israel's history for both people and land.
of Gilead, the family of the Gileadites:
- "of Gilead, the family of the Gileadites": mishpaḥat hagGil‘ādî (מִשְׁפַּחַת הַגִּלְעָדִי) - "the clan/family of the Gileadite." This identifies a large and distinct subclan or primary division under Machir. The 'Gileadites' became a powerful and identifiable group within the tribe of Manasseh, strongly associated with the Transjordan region, even taking on their name from the patriarch and the land they would inhabit (Josh 17:1-6, Num 32:39-40). Their name reflects a blend of ancestral identity and territorial possession, deeply tying the people to the promised land.
Numbers 26 29 Bonus section
The half-tribe of Manasseh, explicitly formed from these descendants, is unique among the Israelite tribes for inheriting territory on both sides of the Jordan River (Josh 17). This division reflects the large number and strong desire of some of Machir's descendants to settle the fertile lands of Gilead even before the main conquest of Canaan (Num 32). This verse, by foregrounding the Gileadites, subtly introduces this significant territorial split. Furthermore, the detailed genealogical attention to Manasseh in Numbers and Chronicles (1 Chr 7:14-19) indicates their political and military importance within ancient Israel. The name Gilead also appears throughout Israel's history associated with Judges like Jephthah and Jair, reinforcing the enduring significance of this specific family and region within the biblical narrative.
Numbers 26 29 Commentary
Numbers 26:29 is not merely a genealogical record; it is a foundational statement about the orderly inheritance and tribal identity of Manasseh. Coming at a critical juncture before the entry into Canaan, this verse affirms God's faithfulness in preserving His people and meticulously preparing them for the promised land. The listing of Machirites and especially Gileadites solidifies their claim and readiness to receive their allotted territories. The mention of Gilead as both a person and the progenitor of the 'Gileadites' inherently links this prominent clan with the distinct region east of the Jordan, prefiguring the land distribution. This highlights that Israel's possession of the land was not chaotic conquest but an ordered fulfillment of divine promise through established family lines, contrasting sharply with the often-fluid tribal structures of contemporary Near Eastern societies. The structure reinforces the notion that each Israelite was part of an identifiable unit, essential for both military mustering and righteous land allocation, underscoring the divine order underpinning their national formation.