Son of Manasseh; father (ie re-founder) of Gilead
Machir
Named in 17 verses across 6 books, first in Genesis 50:23.
מָכִירMachir
מָכִירִיMachirite
Also called Machirite.
The name means “selling; knowing.” Hitchcock's Bible Names, 1869
- Father
- Manasseh
- Mother
- Aramitess
- Brothers and sisters
- Asriel
- Married to
- Maacah
- Children
- Gilead, Gilead, Daughter of Machir, Peresh, Sheresh, Hammolecheth
- People
- Tribe of Manasseh
About Machir Written by AI
Machir was the son of Manasseh and the father (ie re-founder) of Gilead, making him a significant ancestor of the tribe of Manasseh (Genesis 50:23; Numbers 26:29; 1 Chronicles 7:14). He is mentioned numerous times throughout the Old Testament, often in relation to the settlement and inheritance of the tribe of Manasseh. Machir's descendants, known as the Machirites, formed a substantial portion of the tribe (Numbers 26:29; Joshua 17:1). They were known for their military prowess and were praised in the Song of Deborah (Judges 5:14). The Machirites, along with the Reubenites and Gadites, conquered and settled in the land of Gilead, east of the Jordan River (Numbers 32:39 to 40; Deuteronomy 3:15; Joshua 13:31). Machir's daughters, Mahlah, Noah, Hoglah, Milcah, and Tirzah, appealed to Moses for the right to inherit their father's property in the absence of male heirs, setting a precedent for inheritance laws (Numbers 27:1; 36.1; Joshua 17:3). Machir's descendants continued to play a role in the tribe of Manasseh, with some even marrying into the tribe of Judah (1 Chronicles 2:21).
Drafted by an AI model for STEPBible's TIPNR (Tyndale House Cambridge, CC BY 4.0). Check it against the verses below.
Easton's Bible Dictionary, 1897
This entry is on the name Machir, and may cover more than one person or place by that name.
Sold. (1.) Manasseh’s oldest son (Josh. 17:1), or probably his only son (see 1 Chr. 7:14, 15; comp. Num. 26:29-33; Josh. 13:31). His descendants are referred to under the name of Machirites, being the offspring of Gilead (Num. 26:29). They settled in land taken from the Amorites (Num. 32:39, 40; Deut. 3:15) by a special enactment (Num. 36:1-3; Josh. 17:3, 4). He is once mentioned as the representative of the tribe of Manasseh east of Jordan (Judg. 5:14).
(2.) A descendant of the preceding, residing at Lo-debar, where he maintained Jonathan’s son Mephibosheth till he was taken under the care of David (2 Sam. 9:4), and where he afterwards gave shelter to David himself when he was a fugitive (17:27).
M. G. Easton, Illustrated Bible Dictionary, third edition (1897), public domain, from CrossWire. Shown as written; its Scripture quotes are from older translations.
Where the Bible names him
- Genesis 50:23
He saw Ephraim’s sons to the third generation, and indeed the sons of Machir son of Manasseh were brought up on Joseph’s knees.
- Numbers 26:29
These were the descendants of Manasseh: The Machirite clan from Machir, the father of Gilead, and the Gileadite clan from Gilead.
- Numbers 27:1
Now the daughters of Zelophehad son of Hepher, the son of Gilead, the son of Machir, the son of Manasseh, belonged to the clans of Manasseh son of Joseph. These were the names of his daughters: Mahlah, Noah, Hoglah, Milcah, and Tirzah. They approached
- Numbers 32:39
The descendants of Machir son of Manasseh went to Gilead, captured it, and drove out the Amorites who were there.
- Numbers 32:40
So Moses gave Gilead to the clan of Machir son of Manasseh, and they settled there.
- Numbers 36:1
Now the family heads of the clan of Gilead son of Machir son of Manasseh, one of the clans of Joseph, approached Moses and the leaders who were the heads of the Israelite families and addressed them,
- Deuteronomy 3:15
To Machir I gave Gilead,
- Joshua 13:31
half of Gilead; and Ashtaroth and Edrei, the royal cities of Og in Bashan. All this was for the clans of the descendants of Machir son of Manasseh, that is, half of the descendants of Machir.
- Joshua 17:1
Now this was the allotment for the tribe of Manasseh as Joseph’s firstborn son, namely for Machir the firstborn of Manasseh and father of the Gileadites, who had received Gilead and Bashan because Machir was a man of war.
- Joshua 17:3
But Zelophehad son of Hepher (the son of Gilead, the son of Machir, the son of Manasseh) had no sons but only daughters. These are the names of his daughters: Mahlah, Noah, Hoglah, Milcah, and Tirzah.
- Judges 5:14
Some came from Ephraim, with their roots in Amalek; Benjamin came with your people after you. The commanders came down from Machir, the bearers of the marshal’s staff from Zebulun.
- 1 Chronicles 2:21
Later, Hezron slept with the daughter of Machir the father of Gilead. He had married her when he was sixty years old, and she bore to him Segub.
- 1 Chronicles 2:23
But Geshur and Aram captured Havvoth-jair, along with Kenath and its sixty surrounding villages. All these were descendants of Machir the father of Gilead.
- 1 Chronicles 7:14
The descendants of Manasseh: Asriel through his Aramean concubine. She also gave birth to Machir the father of Gilead.
- 1 Chronicles 7:15
Machir took a wife from among the Huppites and Shuppites. The name of his sister was Maacah. Another descendant was named Zelophehad, who had only daughters.
- 1 Chronicles 7:16
Machir’s wife Maacah gave birth to a son, and she named him Peresh. His brother was named Sheresh, and his sons were Ulam and Rekem.
- 1 Chronicles 7:17
The son of Ulam: Bedan. These were the sons of Gilead son of Machir, the son of Manasseh.
From STEPBible's TIPNR, Tyndale House Cambridge (CC BY 4.0): names, family, references and the AI written article. Verse text is the BSB.