New American Standard Bible 1995

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Joshua

14

:

4

For the sons of Joseph were two tribes, Manasseh and Ephraim, and they did not give a portion to the Levites in the land, except cities to live in, with their pasture lands for their livestock and for their property.

Lexicon

Verse part Definition: Part of speech: Strong's: Hebrew: Transliteration:
For the sons son Noun H1121 בְנֵֽי־ ve·nei-
of Joseph "he increases," a son of Jacob, also the name of several Isr. Noun H3130 יֹוסֵ֛ף yo·v·sef
Analysis:
Read more about: Joseph
were two two (a card. number) Noun H8147 שְׁנֵ֥י she·nei
Analysis:

Two: Two divergent opinions

The classic example for the number "two" is found in Matthew chapter 26. There, Yeshua says to His disciples,

"You know that after two days comes the Passover, and the Son of Man will be given over for crucifixion."  Matthew 26:2

The phrase "after two days" is somewhat meaningless because after two days can mean three or more days. The period is unspecified. The reason for such ambiguous language is because the purpose of the number two in this passage is not solely numerical. This means that the text is not intending to provide the reader with some definite information concerning a time period. Rather, the purpose of the number two in this context is one of the numerological meanings of the number two.  Often the number two relates to two divergent opinions. In the aforementioned verse, the author wants to inform the reader that there are two very different understandings for this coming Passover. Yeshua wants to emphasize that He is going up to Jerusalem in order to die as the true Passover sacrifice. Even though Yeshua states this emphatically, the disciples did not receive this. In fact, the disciples did not perceive at all what was going to take place during Passover in regard to Yeshua. In other words, Yeshua and the disciples have two divergent opinions concerning the Passover.

This same principle is also found in the Hebrew Bible (Old Covenant). In the book of Amos one reads,

"Can two walk together without them having agreed" Amos 3:3

The word which was translated into English with the phrase "them having agreed" is נועדו. The root of this word is יעד, which relates to a specific destination. The word which precedes this word is בלתי and in this context the word implies a change to the condition. In other words, had there not been a change in the condition, then the two could not walk together, i.e. they could not have arrived at the common destination.

The concept of divergent or different is also seen in the book of Genesis. In speaking about the sun and moon one reads, "And God made two great lights…" (Genesis 1:16). Obviously the sun and moon are very different, as one is a source of light, while the latter just reflects light. Also in the book of Genesis, one encounters the account of the flood. Here Noah is commanded to bring onto the ark two sorts of each type of animal. In this passage, the two relates to two different (or divergent) kinds of the same sort, i.e. male and female. 

Likewise, two angels came to Sodom, demonstrating that the people of Sodom had a very different way of living from that of the Law of God. Once again, the reader should not assume that every occurrence of the number two in the Bible demands this interpretation. However, one will find in a great majority of Biblical passages, the reader will be assisted in arriving at the proper interpretation, when he considers this divergent quality for the number two. 

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tribes, a staff, rod, shaft, branch, a tribe Noun H4294 מַטֹּ֖ות mat·to·vt
Manasseh "causing to forget," a son of Joseph, also a tribe desc. from him, also a king of Judah , also two Isr. Noun H4519 מְנַשֶּׁ֣ה me·na·sheh
Analysis:
Read more about: Manasseh, Manasseh
and Ephraim, a son of Joseph, also his desc. and their territory Noun H669 וְאֶפְרָ֑יִם ve·'ef·ra·yim;
Analysis:
Read more about: Ephraim
and they did not give to give, put, set Verb H5414 נָתְנוּ֩ na·te·nu
a portion portion, tract, territory Noun H2506 חֵ֨לֶק che·lek
to the Levites desc. of Levi Adjective H3881 לַלְוִיִּ֜ם lal·vi·yim
in the land, earth, land Noun H776 בָּאָ֗רֶץ ba·'a·retz
except that, for, when Conjunction H3588 כִּֽי־ ki-
cities city, town Noun H5892 עָרִים֙ a·rim
to live to sit, remain, dwell Verb H3427 לָשֶׁ֔בֶת la·she·vet,
in, with their pasture lands a common, common land, open land Noun H4054 וּמִ֨גְרְשֵׁיהֶ֔ם u·mig·re·shei·hem,
for their livestock cattle Noun H4735 לְמִקְנֵיהֶ֖ם le·mik·nei·hem
and for their property. something gotten or acquired, acquisition Noun H7075 וּלְקִנְיָנָֽם׃ u·le·kin·ya·nam.

Locations

Ephraim

EPHRAIM (2)(1) A position apparently of some importance, since the position of Baal-hazor (probably = Tell `Asur) where Abraham's sheep-farm was located, is determined by relation to it (2 Samuel 13:23). That it lay North of Jerusalem seems to be indicated in 2 Samuel 13:34. It may be identical with the Ephraim of Eusebius, Onomasticon, 20 Roman miles North... View Details

People

Joseph

  Joseph There are three famous people in the Bible named Joseph: All three of their profiles are shown below: Joseph, a son of Jacob/Israel Joseph was one of 12 sons of Jacob. He was the first born son of Rachel (Gen 30:22-24). He received preferential treatment which angered his ten older brothers. His brothers faked his death to their father Jacob, and sold him to a caravan of Ishmaelite traders who were on their way to Egypt. God ga... View Details

Manasseh

Manasseh [N] [H] [S] who makes to forget. "God hath made me forget" (Heb. nashshani),  Genesis 41:51 .  The elder of the two sons of Joseph. He and his brother Ephraim were afterwards adopted by Jacob as his own sons ( 48:1 ). There is an account of his marriage to a Syrian ( 1 Chronicles 7:14 ); and the only thing afterwards recorded of him is, that his grandchildren were "... View Details

Manasseh

Manasseh [N] [H] [S] who makes to forget. "God hath made me forget" (Heb. nashshani),  Genesis 41:51 .  The elder of the two sons of Joseph. He and his brother Ephraim were afterwards adopted by Jacob as his own sons ( 48:1 ). There is an account of his marriage to a Syrian ( 1 Chronicles 7:14 ); and the only thing afterwards recorded of him is, that his grandchildren were "... View Details

Parallel Verses

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New American Standard Bible 1995 For the sons of Joseph were two tribes, Manasseh and Ephraim, and they did not give a portion to the Levites in the land, except cities to live in, with their pasture lands for their livestock and for their property.
King James Bible For the sons children of Joseph were two tribes, Manasseh and Ephraim, and Ephraim: therefore they did not give a portion to gave no part unto the Levites in the land, except save cities to live dwell in, with their pasture lands suburbs for their livestock cattle and for their property.substance.
Hebrew Greek English For the sons of Joseph were two tribes, Manasseh and Ephraim, and they did not give a portion to the Levites in the land, except cities to live in, with their pasture lands for their livestock and for their property.