5 And ten inheritances, &c.) In this place are numbered seven stocks or houses in the posterity of Manasseh: Machir his eldest son is placed by himself. Now it is demanded, how the inheritance was divided into ten parts: Some interpreters do craftily make as though they saw not this doubt: other, because they cannot lose the knot, invent very trifling expositions. Surely it were against all reason, that four lots were given to five daughters. And it is no more agreeable to truth, that because their father was the eldest, therefore they had his part doubled. This is out of doubt, that Gilead the son of Machir, which was the great grandfather to these women, of whom we speak, did choose his seat in the mount Gilead & Bashan. Therefore, seeing he had by privilege, without casting of lots, obtained an inheritance already, he ought not to cast lots in the land of Canaan: except peradventure he placed but half his family beyond Jordan. For Hepher was one of his sons, but not his only son: like as the issue of the other five brethren might be divided into more heads, according to which number the division was made: For we cannot tell, in what degree the families were taken, unto whom their portion fell out in the land of Canaan. And we read none other thing here, but that ten lots were cast among the sons of Manasseh, beside that region which they had obtained before, beyond Jordan. Therefore it is in vain to contend about the number, the certainty whereof we can not gather out of this present history: for this before all things must be observed, unto how many families the partition was made common. And it may be, that the daughters of Selophehad had their patrimony given them there. For they are said in deed to have dwelled among their fathers brethren: but the place is not assigned ⟨image 82⟩where. Howsoever it is, I doubt not, but a mutual equality was observed, that seeing the rest were provided for beyond Jordan, they divided the land that was subject to casting of lots into ten families, whose names are not here rehearsed.
5 And ten inheritances, &c.) In this place are numbred seuen stockes or houses in the posteritie of Manasse: Machir his eldest sonne is placed by himselfe. Now it is demanded, how the inheritance was diuided into tenne partes: Some interpreters doe craftily make as though they sawe not this doubt: other, because they cannot lose the knot, inuent verie trifling expositions. Surely it were against all reson, that foure lots were geuen to fiue daughters. And it is no more agreable to truth, that because their father was the eldest, therfore they had his part doubled. This is out of doubt, that Gilead the sonne of Machir, which was the great grandfather to these women, of whom we speake, did choose his seate in the mount Gilead & Basan. Therefore, seeing he had by priuiledge, without casting of lottes, obteined an inheritance alreadie, he ought not to cast lots in the land of Chanaan: except peraduenture he placed but halfe his familie beyond Iordan. For Hepher was one of his sonnes, but not his only sonne: like as the issue of the other fiue brethren might be diuided into more heades, according to which number the diuision was made: For we cannot tell, in what degree the families were taken, vnto whom their portion fell out in the land of Chanaan. And we reade none other thing here, but that tenne lottes were cast among the sonnes of Manasse, beside that region which they had obteined before, beyond Iordan. Therefore it is in vaine to contend about the number, the certeintie whereof wee can not gather out of this present historie: for this before all things must be obserued, vnto how many families the partition was made cōmon. And it may be, that the daughters of Selophehad had their patrimonie geuen them there. For they are saide in deede to haue dwelled among their fathers brethren: but the place is not assigned ⟨image 82⟩where. Howsoeuer it is, I doubt not, but a mutuall equalitie was obserued, that seing the rest were prouided for beyond Iordan, they diuided the land that was subiect to casting of lots into ten families, whose names are not here rehearsed.
