Joshua17

Joshua 17 details the land allotment for the tribe of Manasseh, Joseph's firstborn, including a special provision for Zelophehad's daughters to inherit land. The chapter describes Manasseh's territorial boundaries and their failure to fully drive out the Canaanites, instead subjecting them to tribute. It concludes with the Josephite tribes (Ephraim and Manasseh) complaining about their limited inheritance, to which Joshua encourages them to clear more land despite the Canaanites' iron chariots.

The Land Allotted to Manasseh

1
This was the territory chosen by lot for the tribe of M'nasheh, for he was the firstborn of Yosef. As for Makhir the firstborn of M'nasheh, the father of Gil'ad, because he was a warrior he got Gil'ad and Bashan. ​
2
So the lot was drawn for the other descendants of M'nasheh according to their families - for the descendants of Avi'ezer, Helek, Asri'el, Sh'khem, Hefer and Sh'mida; these were the male descendants of M'nasheh according to their families.
3
But Tz'lof'chad the son of Hefer, the son of Gil'ad, the son of Makhir, the son of M'nasheh, had no sons, only daughters; these are the names of his daughters: Machlah, No'ah, Hoglah, Milkah and Tirtzah. ​
4
They approached El'azar the cohen, Y'hoshua the son of Nun and the leaders and said, "ADONAI ordered Moshe to give us an inheritance together with our kinsmen." Therefore, in keeping with ADONAI's order, he gave them an inheritance together with the kinsmen of their father. ​
5
Thus ten parts fell to M'nasheh, in addition to the land of Gil'ad and Bashan beyond the Yarden, ​
6
because the daughters of M'nasheh had an inheritance along with his descendants; but the land of Gil'ad belonged to the rest of the descendants of M'nasheh.

The Western Border Defined

7
The border of M'nasheh began at Asher and went to Mikhm'tat, which is across from Sh'khem; next the border went along to the right, to the people of 'Ein-Tapuach.
8
The land of Tapuach belonged to M'nasheh, but Tapuach on the border of M'nasheh belonged to the descendants of Efrayim. ​
9
The border descended to Vadi Kanah, south of the vadi, by cities which belonged to Efrayim among the cities of M'nasheh; but the border with M'nasheh was on the north side of the vadi, and it ended at the sea.
10
Southward it was Efrayim's, northward it was M'nasheh's, and the sea was its border; while to the north they extended to Asher, and on the east to Yissakhar.
11
In Asher and Yissakhar, M'nasheh had Beit-Sh'an and its villages; Yivle'am and its villages; and the inhabitants of Dor and its villages, of 'Ein-Dor and its villages, of Ta'anakh and its villages, and of Megiddo and its villages - three districts in all. ​

Failure to Dispossess the Canaanites

12
But the descendants of M'nasheh could not drive out the inhabitants of those cities; the Kena'ani wanted to stay in that land. ​
13
After the people of Isra'el had become strong, they made the Kena'ani do heavy labor but didn't completely drive them out. ​

The House of Joseph Demands More Land

14
Then the descendants of Yosef spoke to Y'hoshua; they said, "Why have you given me only one lot and only one portion to inherit? After all, I am a great people, since ADONAI has blessed me so." ​
15
Y'hoshua answered them, "If you are a great people, go up to the forest, and clear land for yourself there in the territory of the P'rizi and the Refa'im - since the hills of Efrayim don't give you enough space." ​
16
The descendants of Yosef replied, "The hills won't be enough for us; and all the Kena'ani living in the valleys have iron chariots - both those in Beit-Sh'an and its villages and those in the Yizre'el Valley." ​
17
Then Y'hoshua said to the house of Yosef, to both Efrayim and M'nasheh, "You are a great people with much power; you will not have only one lot,
18
but the hills too will be yours. Although it is a forest, you will clear it, and the resulting open land will be yours. You will drive out the Kena'ani, even though they have iron chariots and are strong." ​

Study Notes for Joshua 17

Verse 1

Machir, the firstborn of Manasseh, was granted land east of the Jordan (Gilead and Bashan) due to his military prowess (Num. 32:39-40), establishing the two 'half-tribes' of Manasseh.

Verse 3

The daughters of Zelophehad were crucial figures who successfully petitioned Moses for the right to inherit land in the absence of male heirs (Num. 27). This narrative confirms the implementation of that legal precedent.

Verse 4

Appearing before the key leaders (Eleazar, Joshua, and the princes) demonstrates the official, legally binding nature of their claim, ensuring that the inheritance law established by Moses was fully honored.

Verse 5

The ten portions allocated west of the Jordan were divided among the five clan leaders listed in verse 2 and the five daughters of Zelophehad, totaling ten tracts of land.

Verse 8

The border between Manasseh and Ephraim was complex and irregular. This verse shows that certain cities belonged to one tribe even though they were geographically located within the territory of the other, indicating intermingled settlements.

Verse 11

These six cities were major Canaanite strongholds located in the fertile valleys, especially the crucial Jezreel Valley. Their retention by the Canaanites posed a significant future threat to Israelite security and unity.

Verse 12

This verse introduces the recurring tragic theme found throughout the book of Judges: Israel’s failure to complete the conquest as commanded by God. This incomplete obedience ensured future conflict.

Verse 13

Putting the Canaanites to tribute (forced labor/taxation) rather than driving them out was an act of compromise motivated by economic gain. This spiritual failure occurred even after Israel had gained sufficient strength to conquer them.

Verse 14

The 'children of Joseph' (Ephraim and Manasseh) complain that their large population, which they attribute to God’s blessing, requires a larger territory. They view their inheritance as insufficient, despite receiving two large, distinct territories.

Verse 15

Joshua challenges their complaint by pointing out that the available hill country is currently forested and occupied by the Perizzites. He implies that their perceived lack of land is actually a lack of faith and initiative to perform the necessary clearing and conquest.

Verse 16

The Josephites rationalize their fear, citing the 'chariots of iron' used by the Canaanites in the valleys. Iron chariots represented superior military technology, which Israel felt incapable of overcoming without God’s direct, miraculous intervention.

Verse 18

Joshua confirms their potential strength but insists they must act on it. The message is that superior faith and effort (clearing the wood) must overcome superior technology (iron chariots) to claim the full inheritance promised by God.

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