Introduction:
Manasseh, a significant figure in biblical history, is primarily known as the firstborn son of Joseph and Asenath, and the founder of one of the twelve tribes of Israel. His name, meaning "causing to forget," reflects Joseph's sentiment of forgetting his hardships in Egypt (Genesis 41:51). Manasseh's legacy is multifaceted, encompassing his role as a patriarch, the tribe that bears his name, and the later King Manasseh of Judah.

1. Manasseh, Son of Joseph:
Manasseh was born in Egypt before the onset of the seven years of famine. As Joseph's firstborn, he was initially positioned to receive the primary blessing. However, during Jacob's blessing of Joseph's sons, Ephraim, the younger brother, was given precedence over Manasseh (Genesis 48:13-20). This act of crossing his hands to bless Ephraim over Manasseh was a significant moment, symbolizing the divine choice that often defies human expectations.

2. The Tribe of Manasseh:
The tribe of Manasseh is one of the twelve tribes of Israel, descending from Manasseh, the son of Joseph. The tribe was unique in that it was divided into two half-tribes, with one portion settling east of the Jordan River and the other in the Promised Land west of the Jordan. This division is detailed in the Book of Numbers and Joshua, where the land allotments are described (Numbers 32:33, Joshua 17:1-18).

3. Manasseh, King of Judah:
Manasseh, the son of Hezekiah, reigned as king of Judah for 55 years, the longest of any Judean king (2 Kings 21:1). His reign is noted for its initial period of idolatry and apostasy, as he rebuilt high places, erected altars to Baal, and even practiced child sacrifice (2 Kings 21:2-6). Despite his early transgressions, the biblical narrative in 2 Chronicles 33:12-13 recounts his repentance and subsequent reforms, highlighting the themes of divine mercy and forgiveness.

4. Manasseh in Prophecy and Legacy:
The tribe of Manasseh, along with Ephraim, is often mentioned in prophetic literature as representative of the northern kingdom of Israel. The blessings and prophecies concerning Manasseh emphasize both the tribe's strength and its role in the broader narrative of Israel's history (Deuteronomy 33:17).

Conclusion:
Manasseh's story, both as an individual and as a tribe, is woven into the fabric of Israel's history. From the patriarchal blessings to the complex legacy of King Manasseh, the narrative underscores themes of divine providence, repentance, and the unfolding of God's plan through the generations. The accounts of Manasseh serve as a reminder of the enduring impact of faithfulness and the possibility of redemption, even amidst failure.Numbers 1:34,35
Of the children of Manasseh, by their generations, after their families, by the house of their fathers, according to the number of the names, from twenty years old and upward, all that were able to go forth to war;
Nave's Topical Index

Numbers 26:29-34
Of the sons of Manasseh: of Machir, the family of the Machirites: and Machir begat Gilead: of Gilead come the family of the Gileadites.
Nave's Topical Index

The Bible Canon from the Fourth Century to the Reformation.
... In his enumeration of the forty-four books of the Old Testament, he gives, after ...
in an appendix, the fourth book of Esdras, the prayer of Manasseh, the Epistle ...
/.../davidson/the canon of the bible/chapter vii the bible canon.htm

The Antiquities of the Jews
... CHAPTER 8. Concerning Sanballat And Manasseh, And The Temple Which They Built On
Mount Gerizzim; As Also How Alexander Made ... An Enumeration Of The High Priests. ...
//christianbookshelf.org/josephus/the antiquities of the jews/

Estimate of the Scope and Value of Jerome's Writings.
... His knowledge was vast and many-sided [See especially the enumeration of Christian ...
added in the sons of Ephraim and Manasseh, who were subsequently born in ...
/.../jerome/the principal works of st jerome/v estimate of the scope and.htm

Chapter xxv
... just among those tribes that lay nearest to Midian"Judah, Manasseh, Reuben ... The beth
sphaerae or "beth of enumeration" occurs in "according to their settlements ...
//christianbookshelf.org/leupold/exposition of genesis volume 1/chapter xxv.htm

The Old Testament and Archeology
... has nothing to say directly about the exodus; but in the enumeration of his ... of the
Hittites who assisted him in his building enterprises was Manasseh, king of ...
/.../the christian view of the old testament/chapter iv the old testament.htm

Jeremiah
... was a good king; but the idolatries of his grandfather Manasseh had only too ... of the
oracles is exceedingly clumsy, preceding as it does the enumeration in xxv ...
/...//christianbookshelf.org/mcfadyen/introduction to the old testament/jeremiah.htm

On the Formation of the Character of Believers, and on Giving of ...
... A Prayer Containing the Memorial of His Providence, and an Enumeration of the ... Hezekiah
in his sickness, and concerning Sennacherib; [3515] of Manasseh in the ...
/.../various/constitutions of the holy apostles/sec ii on the formation of.htm

The Pentateuch.
... A full enumeration of the numerous incidents which it records, and of the new
ordinances ... to the tribes of Reuben and Gad and the half-tribe of Manasseh, and a ...
/.../barrows/companion to the bible/chapter xix the pentateuch.htm

The Call of Matthew - the Saviour's Welcome to Sinners - Rabbinic ...
... into this Psalm, [2429] It is a good thing to confess [2430] unto the Lord.' [2431]
[2432] Manasseh, when in ... [2401] So in too many passages for enumeration. ...
/.../edersheim/the life and times of jesus the messiah/chapter xvii the call of.htm

The Hebrews and the Philistines --Damascus
... to this, the tribes were very unequal in size: Ephraim, Gad, and Manasseh comprised
many ... in Jacob's blessing (Genesis 49:5-7) and in the enumeration of the ...
/.../chapter iiithe hebrews and the.htm

Who was Ephraim in the Bible? | GotQuestions.org

How did Isaiah die? | GotQuestions.org

What can we learn from the tribe of Joseph? | GotQuestions.org

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