Aramitess
An Aramitess, who was a concubine of Manasseh, gave birth to Machir and Asriel..
Biography
The Aramitess is an unnamed concubine of Manasseh, the eldest son of Joseph, who bore him two sons: Machir and Asriel (1 Chronicles 7:14). She lived during the period of Israel's sojourn in Egypt and the wilderness era. As an Aramean woman, she came from the broader Semitic family of nations related to Israel through Nahor's line. Her union with Manasseh produced Machir, who would become a significant figure, the father of Gilead, after whom an entire region east of the Jordan River was named. Her other son, Asriel, also fathered his own clan within Manasseh. Though she is identified only by her ethnic origin and her role as a mother, her contribution to Israel's genealogy was substantial.
Significance
The Aramitess represents an important thread in the complex genealogical tapestry of the tribe of Manasseh. Her son Machir became the ancestor of the Gileadites (Numbers 26:29), a prominent clan that would later inhabit Transjordan and figure prominently in the conquest and subsequent tribal history of Israel. Theologically, her story reflects the biblical pattern of God working through unexpected and often unnamed figures to accomplish his purposes. As a foreign woman whose offspring entered the covenant lineage of Israel, she anticipates the broader theme of inclusion that runs throughout Scripture, from Ruth the Moabitess to the Gentiles grafted into God's people in the New Testament. Her maternal contribution to Manasseh's genealogy cannot be separated from Israel's national story.
Verse Appearances (1)
1 Chronicles
References
- Orr, J. (ed.) (1915) The International Standard Bible Encyclopedia. Chicago: Howard-Severance Company. [Public Domain]
- Tyndale House, Cambridge (n.d.) Translators Individualised Proper Names with all References (TIPNR). STEPBible. Available at: https://www.stepbible.org. [CC BY 4.0]
- Church of England (1769) The Holy Bible, Authorized (King James) Version. [Public Domain]