Joshua 17

¹This was the lot for the tribe of Manasseh, for he was the firstborn of Joseph. As for Machir the firstborn of Manasseh, the father of Gilead, because he was a man of war, therefore he had Gilead and Bashan.

²So this was for the rest of the children of Manasseh according to their families: for the children of Abiezer, for the children of Helek, for the children of Asriel, for the children of Shechem, for the children of Hepher, and for the children of Shemida. These were the male children of Manasseh the son of Joseph according to their families.

³But Zelophehad, the son of Hepher, the son of Gilead, the son of Machir, the son of Manasseh, had no sons, but daughters. These are the names of his daughters: Mahlah, Noah, Hoglah, Milcah, and Tirzah.

⁴They came to Eleazar the priest, and to Joshua the son of Nun, and to the princes, saying, “The LORD commanded Moses to give us an inheritance among our brothers.” Therefore according to the commandment of the LORD he gave them an inheritance among the brothers of their father.

⁵Ten parts fell to Manasseh, in addition to the land of Gilead and Bashan, which is beyond the Jordan;

⁶because the daughters of Manasseh had an inheritance among his sons. The land of Gilead belonged to the rest of the sons of Manasseh.

⁷The border of Manasseh was from Asher to Michmethath, which is before Shechem. The border went along to the right hand, to the inhabitants of En Tappuah.

⁸The land of Tappuah belonged to Manasseh; but Tappuah on the border of Manasseh belonged to the children of Ephraim.

⁹The border went down to the brook of Kanah, southward of the brook. These cities belonged to Ephraim among the cities of Manasseh. The border of Manasseh was on the north side of the brook, and ended at the sea.

¹⁰Southward it was Ephraim’s, and northward it was Manasseh’s, and the sea was his border. They reached to Asher on the north, and to Issachar on the east.

¹¹Manasseh had three heights in Issachar, in Asher Beth Shean and its towns, and Ibleam and its towns, and the inhabitants of Dor and its towns, and the inhabitants of Endor and its towns, and the inhabitants of Taanach and its towns, and the inhabitants of Megiddo and its towns.

¹²Yet the children of Manasseh couldn’t drive out the inhabitants of those cities; but the Canaanites would dwell in that land.

¹³When the children of Israel had grown strong, they put the Canaanites to forced labor, and didn’t utterly drive them out.

¹⁴The children of Joseph spoke to Joshua, saying, “Why have you given me just one lot and one part for an inheritance, since we are a numerous people, because the LORD has blessed us so far?”

¹⁵Joshua said to them, “If you are a numerous people, go up to the forest, and clear land for yourself there in the land of the Perizzites and of the Rephaim, since the hill country of Ephraim is too narrow for you.”

¹⁶The children of Joseph said, “The hill country is not enough for us. All the Canaanites who dwell in the land of the valley have chariots of iron, both those who are in Beth Shean and its towns, and those who are in the valley of Jezreel.”

¹⁷Joshua spoke to the house of Joseph, that is, to Ephraim and to Manasseh, saying, “You are a numerous people, and have great power. You shall not have one lot only;

¹⁸but the hill country shall be yours. Although it is a forest, you shall cut it down, and it’s farthest extent shall be yours; for you shall drive out the Canaanites, though they have chariots of iron, and though they are strong.”

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Joshua 17 details the territorial allotment for the tribe of Manasseh, including the notable case of Zelophehad's daughters who successfully claimed their inheritance rights as previously established under Moses. The chapter describes the complex boundaries between Manasseh and Ephraim, highlighting areas where the Israelites failed to completely drive out the Canaanite inhabitants. When the tribes of Joseph (Ephraim and Manasseh) complained about insufficient territory, Joshua challenged them to clear additional land in the forested hill country, revealing ongoing tensions about incomplete conquest.

Context

This chapter continues the systematic land distribution that began in chapter 14, focusing on the Joseph tribes before moving to the remaining tribal allotments.

Key Themes

Outline

1-6
Manasseh's Inheritance Allocated The tribe receives its portion, including the special case of Zelophehad's daughters claiming their inheritance rights.
7-11
Territorial Boundaries Defined Detailed description of Manasseh's borders with neighboring tribes and specific cities within their territory.
12-13
Incomplete Conquest Acknowledged Manasseh fails to drive out all Canaanites, instead subjecting them to forced labor rather than complete removal.
14-18
Joseph's Tribes Request More Land Ephraim and Manasseh complain about insufficient territory, prompting Joshua's challenge to clear forest land themselves.

The Territory of Ephraim and Manasseh

16:1–17:18

narrative narration solemn

Description of the territorial inheritance given to the tribes of Ephraim and Manasseh, the sons of Joseph. The passage notes that the Canaanites were not completely driven out but remained as forced laborers.

person_contrast

Joseph's favored descendants receive the largest territorial inheritance yet repeatedly fail to expel the Canaanites, creating an ironic reversal where blessing becomes compromise.

Insight Character Study

Joseph's favored descendants receive the largest territorial inheritance yet repeatedly fail to expel the Canaanites, creating an ironic reversal where blessing becomes compromise.