16. wife of] But in verse 15, Maacah is sister of Machir. The text of verses 15, 16 has probably suffered some disturbance.
¹⁷And the sons of Ulam; Bedan. These were the sons of Gilead the son of Machir, the son of Manasseh.
17. the sons of Ulam] Sons of Ulam are mentioned (viii. 40) among the descendants of Benjamin: a variation in the tradition of their descent.
¹⁸And his sister Hammolecheth bare Ishhod, and Abiezer[¹], and Mahlah.
[¹] In Numbers xxvi. 30, Iezer.
18. Abiezer] Gideon’s family; Judges vi. 11; compare Joshua xvii. 2.
¹⁹And the sons of Shemida were Ahian, and Shechem, and Likhi, and Aniam.
19. Shechem] This name represents the Israelite portion of the inhabitants of Shechem: the rest of the inhabitants were Hivites or Canaanites. See Judges ix.
20–27.
The Line of Ephraim to Joshua.
20–27. The section presents several difficulties, arising either from the attempt to combine various threads of traditions or possibly from textual corruption. Note that Ezer and Elead, who in verse 21 are removed by several generations from Ephraim, are in verse 22 f. treated as his immediate sons.