Joshua 17

King James Version

Full text for Joshua Chapter 17

1¶ There was also a lot for the tribe of Manasseh; for he [was] the firstborn of Joseph; [to wit], for Machir the firstborn of Manasseh, the father of Gilead: because he was a man of war, therefore he had Gilead and Bashan.

2There was also [a lot] for the rest of the children of Manasseh by their families; for the children of Abiezer, and for the children of Helek, and for the children of Asriel, and for the children of Shechem, and for the children of Hepher, and for the children of Shemida: these [were] the male children of Manasseh the son of Joseph by 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: and these [are] the names of his daughters, Mahlah, and Noah, Hoglah, Milcah, and Tirzah.

4And 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 brethren. Therefore according to the commandment of the LORD he gave them an inheritance among the brethren of their father.

5And there fell ten portions to Manasseh, beside the land of Gilead and Bashan, which [were] on the other side Jordan;

6Because the daughters of Manasseh had an inheritance among his sons: and the rest of Manasseh's sons had the land of Gilead.

7¶ And the coast of Manasseh was from Asher to Michmethah, that [lieth] before Shechem; and the border went along on the right hand unto the inhabitants of Entappuah.

8[Now] Manasseh had the land of Tappuah: but Tappuah on the border of Manasseh [belonged] to the children of Ephraim;

9And the coast descended unto the river Kanah, southward of the river: these cities of Ephraim [are] among the cities of Manasseh: the coast of Manasseh also [was] on the north side of the river, and the outgoings of it were at the sea:

10Southward [it was] Ephraim's, and northward [it was] Manasseh's, and the sea is his border; and they met together in Asher on the north, and in Issachar on the east.

11And Manasseh had in Issachar and in Asher Bethshean and her towns, and Ibleam and her towns, and the inhabitants of Dor and her towns, and the inhabitants of Endor and her towns, and the inhabitants of Taanach and her towns, and the inhabitants of Megiddo and her towns, [even] three countries.

12Yet the children of Manasseh could not drive out [the inhabitants of] those cities; but the Canaanites would dwell in that land.

13Yet it came to pass, when the children of Israel were waxen strong, that they put the Canaanites to tribute; but did not utterly drive them out.

14¶ And the children of Joseph spake unto Joshua, saying, Why hast thou given me [but] one lot and one portion to inherit, seeing I [am] a great people, forasmuch as the LORD hath blessed me hitherto?

15And Joshua answered them, If thou [be] a great people, [then] get thee up to the wood [country], and cut down for thyself there in the land of the Perizzites and of the giants, if mount Ephraim be too narrow for thee.

16And the children of Joseph said, The hill is not enough for us: and all the Canaanites that dwell in the land of the valley have chariots of iron, [both they] who [are] of Bethshean and her towns, and [they] who [are] of the valley of Jezreel.

17And Joshua spake unto the house of Joseph, [even] to Ephraim and to Manasseh, saying, Thou [art] a great people, and hast great power: thou shalt not have one lot [only]:

18But the mountain shall be thine; for it [is] a wood, and thou shalt cut it down: and the outgoings of it shall be thine: for thou shalt drive out the Canaanites, though they have iron chariots, [and] though they [be] strong.

AI Analysis

AI Summaries

Short Summary

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.

Medium Summary

Joshua 17 begins by detailing the inheritance of the tribe of Manasseh, Joseph's firstborn, acknowledging Machir's portion in Gilead and Bashan due to his military prowess. A significant part of the allotment process involves the daughters of Zelophehad, who, having no brothers, successfully petition Eleazar, Joshua, and the princes for an inheritance among their father's brethren, as commanded by the Lord through Moses. This resulted in ten portions falling to Manasseh, including land west of Jordan, in addition to the Transjordanian territory. The chapter then delineates Manasseh's complex borders, noting areas shared or intermingled with Ephraim, Asher, and Issachar. A critical point is Manasseh's inability to completely dispossess the inhabitants of several cities, leading them to merely put the Canaanites to tribute once Israel grew stronger. Finally, the children of Joseph (Ephraim and Manasseh) complain to Joshua that their single lot is insufficient for their numerous people. Joshua challenges them to clear the forested hill country and drive out the Canaanites, asserting that their strength will overcome the iron chariots of the valley inhabitants.

Long Summary

Joshua 17 commences with the allocation of land to the tribe of Manasseh, the firstborn of Joseph, specifically noting the inheritance of Machir, Manasseh's firstborn, who received Gilead and Bashan on the east side of Jordan due to his being a "man of war." The remaining male children of Manasseh also received their portions by families. A unique situation arose with Zelophehad, a descendant of Manasseh, who had no sons but five daughters: Mahlah, Noah, Hoglah, Milcah, and Tirzah. These daughters approached Eleazar the priest, Joshua, and the princes, reminding them of the Lord's command to Moses concerning female inheritance in the absence of male heirs. Consequently, they were granted an inheritance among their father's brethren, leading to ten portions for Manasseh west of the Jordan, in addition to the land of Gilead and Bashan. The chapter then meticulously describes Manasseh's territorial boundaries, extending from Asher to Michmethah, and interacting with Ephraim's territory, particularly around Tappuah and the river Kanah. Manasseh's northern border extended to the sea, meeting Asher in the north and Issachar in the east. Furthermore, Manasseh was allotted several cities within the territories of Issachar and and Asher, including Bethshean, Ibleam, Dor, Endor, Taanach, and Megiddo. However, a significant failure is recorded: the children of Manasseh could not drive out the inhabitants of these cities, allowing the Canaanites to continue dwelling in the land. Later, when Israel grew stronger, they merely subjected these Canaanites to forced labor and tribute rather than expelling them entirely. The chapter concludes with a complaint from the children of Joseph, encompassing both Ephraim and Manasseh, who argued that their single allotted portion was insufficient for their large population, blessed by the Lord. Joshua responded by challenging them to assert their strength, instructing them to clear the forested hill country if Mount Ephraim was too small. Despite the Josephites' concern about the Canaanites' iron chariots in the valleys of Bethshean and Jezreel, Joshua affirmed their great power and commanded them to possess the mountain, cut down its forests, and drive out the Canaanites, emphasizing that even with iron chariots, they would be overcome.

Core Concepts

  • Manasseh's InheritanceThe allocation of land to the tribe of Manasseh, Joseph's firstborn, including territory east of the Jordan for Machir and ten portions west of the Jordan for the rest of the tribe.
  • Zelophehad's DaughtersThe five daughters of Zelophehad (Mahlah, Noah, Hoglah, Milcah, Tirzah) who, having no brothers, successfully petitioned for and received an inheritance of land, fulfilling a divine command given through Moses.
  • Incomplete DispossessionThe failure of the tribe of Manasseh to fully drive out the Canaanite inhabitants from their allotted cities, instead putting them to tribute once Israel became stronger.
  • Josephite ComplaintThe joint complaint of the tribes of Ephraim and Manasseh (the "children of Joseph") to Joshua, arguing that their allotted territory was too small for their numerous people.
  • Overcoming ObstaclesJoshua's challenge and encouragement to the Josephites to clear more land in the forested hill country and drive out the Canaanites, asserting that their strength would overcome even the formidable iron chariots.
  • Intermingled BordersThe complex and often intermingled territorial boundaries of Manasseh, which included cities within the lands of other tribes like Issachar and Asher, and shared borders with Ephraim.