Numbers 26:29 - The sons of Manasseh: of Machir, the family of the Machirites; and Machir became the father of Gilead; of Gilead, the family of the Gileadites.

Generated Verse: Numbers 26:29

What does "Numbers 26:29" mean?


This verse from Numbers 26:29 is part of a census taken of the Israelite tribes after a plague. It's a genealogical statement that traces the lineage of a specific clan within the tribe of Manasseh. Let's break it down:

"The sons of Manasseh:" This establishes that the following information pertains to the descendants of Manasseh, one of the two sons of Joseph (who was a son of Jacob/Israel). Manasseh and Ephraim were adopted by Jacob and became two of the twelve tribes of Israel.

"of Machir, the family of the Machirites;" This tells us that Machir was a prominent son of Manasseh. The term "Machirites" refers to the descendants and clan of Machir.

"and Machir became the father of Gilead;" This indicates that Machir was the father of Gilead. Gilead becomes an important figure and region later in the Old Testament.

"of Gilead, the family of the Gileadites." This indicates that the descendants of Gilead formed a significant clan or family, known as the "Gileadites."

In essence, this verse is outlining a specific lineage: Manasseh -> Machir -> Gilead. It's a way of tracking the population growth and tribal affiliations within the tribe of Manasseh. It highlights the importance of lineage and clan identity in ancient Israelite society. Gilead, as Machir's son, then establishes the Gileadites as a distinct group within the Manasseh tribe. Understanding this verse is important to understanding the genealogy of the area of Giliead and that the inhabitants are decendents of Manasseh.

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