Joshua 13:29 - Moses gave an inheritance to the half-tribe of Manasseh. It was for the half-tribe of the children of Manasseh according to their families.

Generated Verse: Joshua 13:29

What does "Joshua 13:29" mean?


This verse from Joshua 13:29 is stating a key fact about the distribution of land in Canaan after the Israelite conquest. Here's a breakdown of what it means:

"Moses gave an inheritance...": This refers back to events that occurred before the Israelites crossed the Jordan River and entered Canaan. Moses, before his death, had already assigned land east of the Jordan River to certain tribes and portions of tribes.
"...to the half-tribe of Manasseh...": The tribe of Manasseh was one of the tribes descended from Joseph (Joseph had two sons, Ephraim and Manasseh, who were each considered to be the heads of separate tribes). A portion of the tribe of Manasseh chose to settle on the east side of the Jordan River.
"...It was for the half-tribe of the children of Manasseh according to their families.": This clarifies that the land allocation was specifically for the eastern half of the tribe of Manasseh. The phrase "according to their families" likely means that the land was further divided among the clans or familial groups within that half-tribe, ensuring that each family unit received a share.

In essence, the verse is a brief statement confirming that the half-tribe of Manasseh that settled east of the Jordan received their land allocation as part of Moses's initial distribution.

Why is this significant?

Fulfillment of Promise: It highlights the fulfillment of God's promise to give the Israelites land.
Tribal Identity and Ownership: The land inheritance was central to a tribe's identity and its ability to sustain itself.
Historical Context: It provides historical context for the subsequent chapters in Joshua, which detail the distribution of land to the tribes who settled on the west side of the Jordan.
Completeness: It helps explain that the Israelites followed Moses's and Joshua's instruction and directives to divide the land.

Essentially, the verse is a small piece of a larger puzzle, confirming the completion of the initial stage of land allocation before Joshua continued the process west of the Jordan River.

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