For he was Joseph’s firstborn. Scripture explains why Manasseh was divided into two halves. Because he was Joseph’s firstborn, he was prominent, renowned among the mighty, and numerous in population. Therefore, Machir his firstborn—who was a man of war—received Gilead and Bashan. The Sages likewise received the tradition that the tribe of Manasseh was divided in two because Joseph had caused the tribes to tear their garments. Scripture explains why Ephraim’s tribe was not divided, but Manasseh’s was: for he was Joseph’s firstborn.

And it was. Accordingly, the inheritance described here belonged to those who remained. Among them were six male ancestral houses, as indicated by “the males according to their families.” In addition, there were female heirs, as Scripture proceeds to explain regarding Zelophehad.

Among their father’s brothers. The Sages explained (Bava Batra 118b) that in addition to receiving Zelophehad’s inheritance, since he had been among those who left Egypt, they received together with Zelophehad’s brothers a share in Hepher’s inheritance. Thus, Scripture says, “among their father’s brothers.”

Ten. Six portions were allotted to the six ancestral houses, while Zelophehad’s daughters received four portions, as the Sages explained (Bava Batra 118a). According to the plain meaning, the ten portions were: 1) from Michmethath to En-tappuah; 2) the land of Tappuah as far as the Brook of Kanah; 3) from the Brook of Kanah northward along the brook as far as the sea; 4) Beth-shean and its towns; 5) Ibleam and its towns; 6) Dor and its towns; 7) En-dor and its towns; 8) Taanach and its towns; 9) Megiddo and its towns; and 10) the three regions. Thus, there were ten districts, each constituting its own distinct tract and measured portion.

For the daughters. According to the Sages’ interpretation, Scripture explains that the total of ten included the portions received by Zelophehad’s daughters. According to my interpretation, it explains why so many separate tracts were necessary: because daughters too inherited among the sons.

Those who remained. I have established that notar, “that which remains,” denotes what is secondary. Above (verse 2), Scripture called all the children of Manasseh “those who remained,” because Machir, by virtue of his valor, had taken his portion first. Here it calls the children of Machir “those who remained” because they were few in comparison with the six ancestral houses.

From Asher. For Asher lay north of Manasseh. The transverse boundary separating Ephraim from Manasseh extended from Ataroth-addar to Beth-horon, except that near Beth-horon a strip belonging to Ephraim extended farther westward as far as Michmethath, as explained above (16:5–6). From Michmethath in the north, the boundary line proceeded from north to south as far as En-tappuah. The entire territory from Ataroth-addar to Tappuah in the south, enclosed within the line running from Michmethath to Tappuah, belonged to Manasseh. Thus, Manasseh’s territory separated Ephraim’s main boundary from the cities set apart for Ephraim.

To Manasseh. The northern breadth of Manasseh’s territory, extending from Michmethath to the sea, belonged entirely to Manasseh. The southern breadth, however, extending from Tappuah to the sea, was divided: its northern half belonged to Manasseh, while its southern half belonged to Ephraim, where the cities set apart for Ephraim were located.

The land of Tappuah. The region north of Tappuah belonged to Manasseh.

But Tappuah. The city itself, which lay on the southern side along Manasseh’s border, belonged to the children of Ephraim.

And it descended. Likewise, the southern boundary, divided between Manasseh and Ephraim, descended as far as the Brook of Kanah. There, south of the brook, these cities belonged to Ephraim among the cities of Manasseh. That is, these were the cities set apart for Ephraim already mentioned above (16:8). The territory north of the brook belonged to Manasseh as far as the Great Sea.

Southward. That is, as far as the sea the territory remained divided: the region southward belonged to Ephraim, while the region northward belonged to Manasseh, and the sea formed the western boundary of both.

And with Asher. Having described Manasseh’s southern boundary—which initially belonged exclusively to Manasseh from Ataroth-addar to Tappuah, while from Tappuah to the sea it was shared with Ephraim—and having already indicated the general southern boundary shared by the children of Joseph at the beginning of chapter 16, Scripture had not yet described Manasseh’s northern boundary. It therefore states that on the north Manasseh bordered Asher, which lay north of Manasseh, as explained below (19:14). On the east, the line running from north to south along Manasseh’s eastern side began at Michmethath, which projected northward beyond Ephraim’s border. Consequently, above Michmethath lay the territory of Issachar, which bordered Ephraim on the east, as explained below (19:17).

And there were. In addition, Manasseh possessed further territories within the neighboring tribes of Issachar and Asher.

The three regions. That is, three adjoining districts forming a single province, which was therefore called “the Three Regions.”

But they were unable. Manasseh’s territories within Issachar and Asher were given to them only afterward, when Joshua told them, “its extensions shall be yours,” as related in the following verses. Nevertheless, the children of Manasseh were unable to dispossess the inhabitants, etc.

Why have you given me an inheritance of only one lot? I have already explained that although separate lots were drawn for Ephraim and Manasseh, they nevertheless received one tract and one general territory, which was merely divided into two portions. We also explained (at the beginning of chapter 14) that the lot indicated only where each tribe’s territory would be located; afterward, Joshua could enlarge or reduce its portion according to the tribe’s population. The children of Joseph were as numerous as the population of two tribes, thereby fulfilling Genesis 48:5:

And I am a numerous people. According to the number of individuals, their allotted territories should have been doubled.

And he said. He answered them: It is impossible to add to your inheritance by giving you land outside your territory, for Joshua could assign you land only within your own region, not within another tribe’s boundary. But since you are a numerous people, take axes and cut down the forest, and the land now occupied by forest trees will become fields of grain. Thus, he said:

Go up into the forest and clear land for yourself there. That is, there you shall create new land filled with fields and vineyards by cutting down the trees and uprooting them. For Mount Ephraim is too confined for you—it presses upon you, as in Joshua 10:

“And it did not hasten to set for approximately a whole day”)—it awaits you to clear it and make it inhabited land.

And the children of Joseph said. They answered him: Your proposal that we clear the hill country and convert its forest into inhabited land will not suffice, for the hill country will not be enough for us, since our population is still too numerous.

Second, all the Canaanites dwelling in the valley have iron chariots. They live beyond that hill country, and it would be better for the forest to remain as a barrier between us and them, preventing them from advancing and ravaging the land with their instruments of destruction.

And Joshua said. Joshua then saw that it was necessary to enlarge their territory by adding cities from Asher and Issachar—Beth-shean and the other cities that he added to Manasseh, as explained above (verse 11). He said to them: Since you possess two advantages—first, you are a numerous people in quantity; and second, you possess great strength in quality and might—therefore, you shall not have only one lot; that is, you may add territory to your allotted portion.

For the hill country. First, because you are a numerous people, the hill country shall be yours to meet your needs; although it is forested, you shall clear it and build inhabited cities there.

Second, because you possess great strength, its extensions shall be yours. I grant you also the territory beyond the hill country—namely, the valley and the cities within the portions of Asher and Issachar that were enumerated above (verse 11). Those tribes will not object to my reducing their inheritance, for the Canaanite possesses iron chariots and is strong in his own right; they themselves cannot dispossess him and will rejoice that you will drive him out. This explains what Scripture stated above (Joshua 17:11):

And Manasseh possessed territories within Asher and Issachar—yet even they did not dispossess the Canaanites from them.