The genealogical architecture of the tribe of Manasseh reveals the meticulous care with which the Lord preserved the identities of the families who inherited the land of promise. Within these records, Shemida appears as a significant branch of the house of Gilead, representing the expansion and the division of the tribe of Manasseh during the era of the conquest.
We encounter Shemida in the genealogical records of the Chronicles, which document the mighty clans that sustained the tribe through the generations. The scripture identifies his parentage and tribal affiliation directly: “And the sons of Gilead the son of Machir the son of Manasseh were, Iezer, and Helek, and Asriel, and Shechem, and Shemida, and Hepher, and Shemida” (1 Chronicles 7:17–19). As a son of Gilead, Shemida stood as a leading figure in the westward movement of the half-tribe of Manasseh, ensuring that his family branch was established and accounted for in the land division overseen by Joshua.
Shemida represents the vital, foundational figures who carried the name of their house into the new territory. His descendants formed a distinct clan within the tribe, known as the Shemidaites, who were counted among the primary families responsible for the military and agricultural integrity of the Manassite inheritance. By his place in the sacred registry, Shemida is confirmed as a man who anchored his household in the covenant, ensuring that the identity of his specific clan was preserved and integrated into the structure of the nation of Israel.
Shemida’s name is recorded in the official archives of God’s people, confirming that his life—his stewardship of the territory allocated to his house, and his commitment to the continuity of his family branch—was observed and valued by the Almighty, who keeps the record of every man who fulfills his role within the tribe.
Every Individual Named Shemida
In strict keeping with the precise genealogical archives of the Old Testament scriptures, the name Shemida identifies a single, stable patriarchal leader whose house became a foundational clan of the tribe:
- Shemida the Manassite Patriarch: A son of Gilead and a leader within the tribe of Manasseh. His descendants, the Shemidaites, were a recognized clan among the families of the half-tribe of Manasseh that settled in the land of Canaan (Numbers 26:32; 1 Chronicles 7:19).