But if the Hebrews lost ground in the south, they
materially enlarged their borders in the north of the land
eastward of Jordan. Various Manassite families, finding their
holdings at home too small, crossed the Jordan and founded
colonies at Bashan and northern Gilead. Although this
colonisation, on account of the rivalry of the Aramaeans, who
were also pressing forward in this direction, was but
imperfectly successful, it nevertheless was of very great
importance, inasmuch as it seemed to give new strength to the bonds
that united the eastern with the western tribes. Not only was
Gilead not lost; it even became a very vigorous member of the
body politic. /1/
*****************************
1. It is probable that Manasseh's migration to the territory
eastward of Jordan took place from the west, and later than the
time of Moses. The older portions of the Hexateuch speak not of
two and a half but only of two trans-Jordanic tribes, and exclude
Manasseh; according to them the kingdom of Sihon alone was subdued
by Moses, not that of Og also, the latter, indeed, being a wholly
legendary personage.
Pages:
962
963
964
965
966
967
968
969
970
971
972
973
974
975
976
977
978
979
980
981
982
983
984
985
986