Tribe of Manasseh
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The half of this tribe, identified as the family of Machir, along with Reuben and Gad, had their territory assigned them by Moses on the east of the Jordan ([Joshua 13:7-14]); but it was left for Joshua to define the limits of each tribe. This territory on the east of the River Jordan was more valuable and of larger extent than all that was allotted to the nine and a half tribes in the land of Israel. It is sometimes called "the land of Gilead," and is also spoken of as "on the other side of Jordan." The portion given to the half tribe of Manasseh was the largest on the east of Jordan. It embraced the whole of Bashan. It was bounded on the south by Mahanaim, and extended north to the foot of Lebanon. Argob, with its sixty cities, that "ocean of basaltic rocks and boulders tossed about in the wildest confusion," lay in the midst of this territory.
According to critical scholarship, the tribal confederation of the Israelites changed over time, as evidenced, amongst other instances, by the very ancient Song of Deborah. In this, Machir is treated as a tribe in its own right, and thus is seen as only later merging with Manasseh, possibly via marriage. Thus originally, in some academic views, Manasseh was only a tribe on the west of the Jordan, but later, after merging with Machir, ending up with the half-tribe on the east.
The whole "land of Gilead" having been conquered, the two and a half tribes left their wives and families in the fortified cities there, and accompanied the other tribes across the Jordan, and took part with them in the wars of conquest. The allotment of the land having been completed, Joshua dismissed the two and a half tribes, commending them for their heroic service ([Joshua 22:1-34]). Thus dismissed, they returned over the Jordan to their own inheritance.
On the west of the Jordan the other half of the tribe of Manasseh was associated with Ephraim, and they had their portion in the very center of Israel, an area of about 1,300 square miles (3400 km²), the most valuable part of the whole country, abounding in springs of water. Manasseh's portion was immediately to the north of that of Ephraim ([Joshua 16]). Thus the western Manasseh defended the passes of Esdraelon as the eastern kept the passes of the Hauran.
The Samaritan sect claims most of its adherents as descended from this tribe. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints claims many of its adherents as descended from this tribe. No denomination of Judaism affirms the Samaritan or LDS beliefs.
The Bene Menashe, a group of Mizo converts to Judaism in northeast India, also claim descent from the tribe of Manasseh. In 2005, the Bene Menashe's claims were accepted by Sephardi Chief Rabbi of Israel Shlomo Amar, and have been regarded them as legitimate descendents and survivors of the tribe of Menasse and eligible to enter Israel under the Law of Return (although required to convert to Judaism to be recognized as religiously Jewish).
See also House of Joseph.
References
This entry incorporates text from the public domain Easton's Bible Dictionary, originally published in 1897.
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