(forgetting), the eldest son of Joseph, (Genesis 41:51; 46:20) born 1715-10 B.C. Both he and
Ephraim were born before the commencement of the famine. He was placed after his younger
brother, Ephraim, by his grandfather Jacob, when he adopted them into his own family, and made
them heads of tribes. Whether the elder of the two sons was inferior in form or promise to the
younger, or whether there was any external reason to justify the preference of Jacob, we are not
told. In the division of the promised land half of the tribe of Manasseh settled east of the Jordan in
the district embracing the hills of Gilead with their inaccessible heights and impassable ravines,
and the almost impregnable tract of Argob. (Joshua 13:29-33) Here they throve exceedingly, pushing
their way northward over the rich plains of Jaulan and Jedur to the foot of Mount Hermon. ( 1
Chronicles 5:23) But they gradually assimilated themselves with the old inhabitants of the country,
and on them descended the punishment which was ordained to he the inevitable consequence of
such misdoing. They, first of all Israel, were carried away by Pul and Tiglath-pileser, and settled
in the Assyrian territories. (1 Chronicles 5:25,26) The other half tribe settled to the west of the
Jordan, north of Ephraim. (Joshua 17:1) ... For further particulars see Ephraim, Ephraim.
Manasses
- Manasseh, king of Judah. (Matthew 1:10)
•Manasseh the son of Joseph. (Revelation 7:6)
Manassites, The
that is, the members of the tribe of Manasseh. (4:43; Judges 12:4; 2 Kings 10:33)
Mandrakes
(Heb. dudraim) are mentioned in (Genesis 30:14,16) and in Song 7:13 The mandrake, Atropa
mandragora, is closely allied to the well-known deadly nightshade, A. bellndonna, and to the tomato,
and belongs to the order Solanaceae, or potato family. It grows in Palestine and Mesopotamia. (It
grows low, like lettuce, which its leaves somewhat resemble, except that they are of a dark green.
The flowers are purple,and the root is usually forked. Its fruit when ripe (early in May) is about the
size of a small apple, 24 inches in diameter, ruddy or yellow and of a most agreeable odor (to
Orientals more than to Europeans) and an equally agreeable taste. The Arabs call it “devil’s apple,”
from its power to excite voluptuousness. Dr. Richardson (“Lectures on Alcohol,” 1881) tried some
experiments with wine made of the root of mandrake, and found it narcotic, causing sleep, so that
the ancients used it as an anaesthetic. Used in small quantities like opium, it excites the nerves, and
is a stimulant.—ED.)
Maneh
(a portion (by weight)). [Weights And Measures AND Measures]
Manger
This word occurs only in (Luke 2:7,12,16) in connection with the birth of Christ. It means a
crib or feeding trough; but according to Schleusner its real signification in the New Testament is
the open court-yard attached to the inn or khan, in which the cattle would be shut at night, and
where the poorer travellers might unpack their animals and take up their lodging, when they mere
either by want of means excluded from the house.
Manna
(what is this?) (Heb. man). The most important passages of the Old Testament on this topic are
the following: (Exodus 16:14-36; Numbers 11:7-9; 11:5,16; Joshua 5:12; Psalms 78:24; 25) From
these passages we learn that the manna came every morning except the Sabbath, in the form of a
small round seed resembling the hear frost that it must be gathered early, before the sun became