מַטֶּה

n.m. Ex 4:17 (f. Mi 6:9 according to MT, but dub., v. infr.) 1. staff, rod, shaft. 2. branch. 3. tribe (Ecclus 48:2 staff, 45:6, 25 tribe);—abs. מ׳ Gn 38:25 +; cstr. מַטֵּה Ex 4:20 +; sf. מַטְּךָ Gn 38:18 + 5 times, מַטֶּ֑ךָ Ex 8:1, מַטֵּ֫הוּ Is 10:24 + 10 times; pl. מַטּוֹת 1 K 8:1 +, etc.; sf. מַטּוֹתָם Ex 7:12 Nu 17:21; also מַטָּיו Hb 3:14 (but read מַטֶּיךָ, or—Gr—מַטֹּתֶיךָ);— (cf. מַקֵּל, שֵׁבֶט) staff of traveller Gn 38:18, 25 (J); in gen. Is 10:15 (sim.; ‖ שֵׁבֶט); from staff as support comes fig. מַטֵּה־לֶחֶם staff of bread (food supply) Ez 4:16; 5:16; 14:13; Lv 26:26 ψ 105:16; of staff or rod, Moses as shepherd Ex 4:2, 4; 7:15 (J), 4:17; 7:17, 20; 9:23; 10:13; 17:5 (all E); cf. also Is 10:26; Ex 14:16; Nu 20:8, 9, 11 (all P); called מ׳ הָאֱלֹהִים Ex 4:20; 17:9 (both E), because of miraculous power connected with it; cf. mirac. rod of Aaron 7:9, 10, 12, 19; 8:1, 12, 13 (all P), and of Egyptian magicians 7:12(×2) (P); cf. Aaron’s rod that budded Nu 17:18, 21, 23, 25 (cf. RSSem. i. 180; 2d ed. 197); carried even by warrior 1 S 14:27, 43; מַטֵּה שִׁכְמוֹ Is 9:3 i.e. rod that strikes his shoulder, task-master’s rod (‖ שֵׁבֶט הַנֹּגֵשׂ בּוֹ), cf. 10:5 and v 24 14:5 (‖ שֵׁבֶט), all fig. of oppression; מַטֵּה מוּסָדָה 30:32 appointed rod (of punishment); cf. מ׳ Ez 7:10, 11 (but text obscure, Co—q.v.—sceptre), also Mi 6:9 according to MT, but v. sub 3; used in beating out (חבט) fennel Is 28:27; staff as badge of leader or ruler מַטֵּה־עֹז Je 48:17 (‖ מַקֵּל), cf. ψ 110:2; so Nu 17:17(×4) + 10 times Nu 17; appar. shafts, i.e. arrows or spears, Hb 3:9, 14 (cf. Now Da GASm). branch of vine Ez 19:11, 12, 14(×2). tribe (183 times), orig. company led by chief with staff: specif. of tribes of Isr. in both sg. and pl., 1 K 7:14; 8:1 = 2 Ch 5:2, Ex 31:2 + 5 times Ex; Lv 24:11; Nu 1:4 + 89 times Nu; Jos 7:1 + 56 times Jos (all P); 1 Ch 6:45 + 21 times 1 Ch 6, 12:31; prob. also Mi 6:9 (vocative; so 𝔊 We Now GASm).—Cf. שֵׁבֶט, and on relation of these two words for tribe in Hebr. usage Dr JPh. xi. (1882), 213 f.