Numbers 2:20

Summary

The verse specifies that the tribe of Menasheh ("Manasseh", H4519G) is positioned next to a preceding group (implied by the suffix "on him/it"), and names Gamli'el ("Gamaliel", H1583) son of Pedahtzur ("Pedahzur", H6301) as the nasi' ("leader", H5387A) of the descendants of Manasseh.

Key words

• 'a.lav ("on him/it", H5921A + H9033) — preposition with 3rd person masculine singular suffix, indicating spatial proximity ("next to it/him") to a previously mentioned reference point, not stated within this verse itself.
• matteh ("tribe of", H4294H) — construct singular noun, grammatically bound to Menasheh, forming "tribe of Manasseh."
• nasi' ("leader", H5387A) — absolute singular noun, functions as the predicate title applied to Gamaliel.
• liv.nei ("of the descendants of", H9005 + H1121G) — preposition le- attached to a construct plural noun, marking the group over which the nasi' has this role ("leader belonging to the sons of Manasseh").
• ben ("son of", H1121A) — construct singular noun linking Gamli'el to his patronym Pedahtzur, the standard genealogical formula.

What the text says

The Hebrew sentence is built from two coordinated clauses joined by ve- ("and", H9002). The first clause, ve-'alav matteh Menasheh, uses the prepositional phrase 'alav ("on him/it") with its pronominal suffix to establish a positional relationship — the tribe of Manasseh is located "upon/next to" an antecedent not specified inside this verse (the suffix requires prior context, likely a preceding tribal unit). The construct chain matteh Menasheh ("tribe of Manasseh") is straightforward, with matteh governing the following proper name.

The second clause, ve-nasi' liv.nei Menasheh Gamli'el ben-Pedahtzur, presents a nominal (verbless) sentence typical of Biblical Hebrew genealogical and administrative lists: the subject nasi' liv.nei Menasheh ("leader of the sons of Manasseh") stands first, followed by the predicate identifying who holds that role, Gamli'el ben-Pedahtzur. The construct liv.nei Menasheh uses bene ("sons/descendants of", H1121G) rather than repeating matteh, shifting from tribal-territorial language (matteh) to genealogical language (bene) when specifying leadership. The final phrase ben-Pedahtzur follows the standard "PN1 son of PN2" formula for identifying an individual by patronym.

Differences between versions

The LXX renders the opening phrase as οἱ παρεμβάλλοντες ἐχόμενοι φυλῆς Μανασσή ("those encamping next to the tribe of Manasseh"), introducing an explicit participial subject ("those encamping") absent from the Hebrew, which instead uses only the prepositional suffix 'alav. The Vulgate similarly supplies cum eis tribus filiorum Manasse ("with them, the tribe of the sons of Manasse"), adding filiorum ("of the sons") where the Hebrew has only matteh Menasheh without bene. Both versions thus expand the compact Hebrew construct phrase with additional explanatory elements not present in the Hebrew wording of this clause.