Bible Figure
Manasseh
biblical figure
Manasseh was Joseph's firstborn son by Asenath and ancestor of the tribe of Manasseh, one of the two tribal lines descended from Joseph.
Biography
Joseph named his firstborn Manasseh before the famine, associating the name with God enabling him to move beyond the pain of his former household. When Jacob later blessed Joseph's sons, he deliberately placed his right hand on the younger Ephraim despite Joseph's objection. Jacob nevertheless promised that Manasseh too would become a great people. Manasseh's descendants formed a large tribe whose inheritance was divided, with half settling east of the Jordan and half receiving territory west of it.
Biblical Significance
Manasseh is central to Joseph's double tribal inheritance. His descendants occupied substantial territory on both sides of the Jordan and played an important role in Israel's tribal history.