Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Joshua 13:31
And half Gilead, and Ashtaroth, and Edrei, cities of the kingdom of Og in Bashan, [were pertaining] unto the children of Machir the son of Manasseh, [even] to the one half of the children of Machir by their families.
31. Ashtaroth ] See ch. Jos 12:4, so called doubtless from being a seat of the worship of Ashtoreth, the principal female divinity of the Phnicians, the Astarte of the Greeks and Romans. The only trace of the name yet recovered is Tell-Ashterah or Asherah.
and Edrei ] See above, ch. Jos 12:4. The northern part of Gilead was given to Machir, the eldest son of the patriarch Manasseh (1Ch 7:14), or rather the half of his male descendants. They consisted of seven families, whose heads are named 1Ch 5:24. So great was their power, that the name of Machir occasionally supersedes that of Manasseh. They took the bold “tract of Argob sixty great cities (Deu 3:14), among the most difficult, if not the most difficult, district in the whole country.” Thus it is plain that the half tribe of Manasseh occupied by far the largest extent of land on the east of the Jordan. It embraced ( a) the inaccessible heights and impassable ravines of Gilead; and ( b) the almost impregnable tract of Argob, where “all is stone,” “an ocean of basaltic rocks and boulders tossed about in the wildest confusion.” “The same martial spirit, which fitted the western Manasseh to defend the passes of Esdraelon, fitted ‘Machir, the firstborn of Manasseh, the father of Gilead,’ to defend the passes of Haurn and Anti-Libanus; ‘because he was a man of war, therefore he had Gilead and Bashan.’ ” Stanley’s Lectures, I. 219. Of the development of the tribe subsequently we have a remarkable illustration at the time of the coronation of David at Hebron. On that occasion, “while the western Manasseh sent 18,000, and Ephraim itself but 20,800, the eastern Manasseh, with Gad and Reuben, mustered to the number of 120,000, thoroughly armed a remarkable demonstration of strength, still more remarkable when we remember the fact that Saul’s house, with the great Abner at its head, was then residing at Mahanaim on the border of Manasseh and Gad.” See Smith’s Bib. Dict. Art. “Manasseh.”
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
The children of Machir; whom before he called the children of Manasseh, he now calls the children of machir, because Machir was the most eminent, and, as it may seem, the only surviving son of Manasseh, Num 26:29; 1Ch 7:14-16. For the other half of Machirs or Manassehs children, see Jos 17:1, &c.
Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole
And half Gilead,…. The other half not given to the Gadites, who had that half of it which Sihon possessed, and the tribe of Manasseh that half of it which Og possessed, see De 3:12;
and Ashtaroth, and Edrei, cities of the kingdom of Og in Bashan; which are particularly mentioned, because royal cities, Jos 13:10; see De 1:4;
[were pertaining] unto the children of Machir the son of Manasseh; and who was his only son; however, to his posterity only was this inheritance given, though not to them all:
[even] to one half of the children of Machir, by their families; which seems to confirm it that Manasseh had no other son, since his whole posterity, both the half tribe on the other side, as well as that in the land of Canaan, were denominated from him; though he seems to have had another son, who perhaps died without issue, 1Ch 7:14.
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
31. Half Gilead The northern half, for the southern was assigned to Gad. Jos 13:25.
Ashtaroth Generally supposed to be identical with the Ashteroth-karnaim of Gen 14:5. It was doubtless so called from being the seat of worship of the Phenician goddess Ashtoreth, the Greek Astarte. Its ruins are supposed to lie at the modern Tell-Astereh, some fifteen miles east of the Sea of Galilee. Edrei was the other chief city of the kingdom of Bashan, and here King Og was defeated and slain. Num 21:33-35. It was a stronghold among the rocks, and its ruins have been found in the modern Edra, thirty miles or more northeast of the Sea of Galilee. J.L. Porter visited the ruins a few years ago and thus wrote: “The situation is most remarkable; without a single spring of living water; without river or stream; without access, except over rocks and through defiles all but impassable; without tree or garden. In selecting the site everything seems to have been sacrificed to security and strength. The huge masses of shattered masonry could scarcely be distinguished from the rocks that encircled them, and all, ruins and rocks alike, are black as if scathed by lightning.”
Unto the children of Machir “Because he was a man of war, therefore he had Gilead and Bashan.” Jos 17:1.
Even to the one half The heads of the families of this half are named in 1Ch 5:24.]
Fuente: Whedon’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
Ver. 31. Half of the children of Machir, by their families Jair had the honour to be included, though of the tribe of Judah, because he had contributed to the conquest of the country, Num 32:41-42.; and was moreover great grand-son, by the grand-mother’s side, of Machir, who married Hezron, of the tribe of Judah, 1Ch 2:21.
Note; It is repeatedly mentioned, that the Levites had no lot among their brethren; but they had a better, Jehovah, who was their portion; and by his service they were liberally provided for. Note; They who have a portion in the Lord need not envy the world the possession of the land.
See commentary on Jos 13:29
Fuente: Commentary on the Holy Bible by Thomas Coke
Jos 13:31 And half Gilead, and Ashtaroth, and Edrei, cities of the kingdom of Og in Bashan, [were pertaining] unto the children of Machir the son of Manasseh, [even] to the one half of the children of Machir by their families.
Ver. 31. Mackir the son of Manasseh. ] Whose children had taken Gilead: and therefore had the like right to it as Jacob had to that portion of ground which he gave to their great-grandfather Joseph.
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
Machir. Compare Num 32:39.
Fuente: Companion Bible Notes, Appendices and Graphics
Ashtaroth: Jos 12:4
the children of Machir by: Num 32:39, Num 32:40
Reciprocal: Gen 14:5 – Ashteroth Deu 3:4 – all his cities Deu 3:10 – Edrei Jos 22:9 – the country of Gilead Jdg 5:17 – Gilead 1Ch 7:14 – Machir Oba 1:19 – Benjamin
Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
Jos 13:31. Children of Machir Whom before he called the children of Manasseh, he now calls the children of Machir, because Machir was the most eminent, and, as it may seem, the only surviving son of Manasseh, Num 26:29; 1Ch 7:14-16.
Fuente: Joseph Bensons Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
13:31 And half Gilead, and Ashtaroth, and Edrei, cities of the kingdom of Og in Bashan, [were pertaining] unto the {h} children of Machir the son of Manasseh, [even] to the one half of the children of Machir by their families.
(h) Meaning, his nephews and posterity.