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 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. ​
2
So 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.
3
But Zelophehad, the son of Hepher, the son of Gilead, the son of Machir, the son of Manasseh, had no sons, but daughters: and these are the names of his daughters: Mahlah, Noah, Hoglah, Milcah, and Tirzah. ​
4
They came near before Eleazar the priest, and before Joshua the son of Nun, and before 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. ​
5
Ten parts fell to Manasseh, besides the land of Gilead and Bashan, which is beyond the Jordan; ​
6
because the daughters of Manasseh had an inheritance among his sons. The land of Gilead belonged to the rest of the sons of Manasseh.

The Western Border Defined

7
The 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.
8
The land of Tappuah belonged to Manasseh; but Tappuah on the border of Manasseh belonged to the children of Ephraim. ​
9
The 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.
10
Southward 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.
11
Manasseh 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. ​

Failure to Dispossess the Canaanites

12
Yet the children of Manasseh couldn’t drive out the inhabitants of those cities; but the Canaanites would dwell in that land. ​
13
When the children of Israel had grown strong, they put the Canaanites to forced labor, and didn’t utterly drive them out. ​

The House of Joseph Demands More Land

14
The children of Joseph spoke to Joshua, saying, “Why have you given me just one lot and one part for an inheritance, since I am a great people, because the LORD has blessed me so far?” ​
15
Joshua said to them, “If you are a great 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.” ​
16
The 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.” ​
17
Joshua spoke to the house of Joseph, even to Ephraim and to Manasseh, saying, “You are a great people, and have great power. You shall not have one lot only;
18
but 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.” ​

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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