Joshua 17

There was also an allotment for the tribe of Manasseh, for he was the firstborn of Joseph; an allotment for Machir the firstborn of Manasseh, the father of Gilead. Because he was a warrior, he had Gilead and Bashan. 2 There was also an allotment 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 descendants of Manasseh the son of Joseph by their families.

3 But Zelophehad, the son of Hepher, the son of Gilead, the son of Machir, the son of Manasseh had no sons, only daughters; and these are the names of his daughters: Mahlah and Noah, Hoglah, Milcah and Tirzah. 4 And they approached the presence of Eleazar the priest and Joshua the son of Nun and the leaders, saying, “The LORD commanded Moses to give us an inheritance among our brothers”. Therefore, in accordance with the commandment of the LORD, he gave them an inheritance among the brothers of their father.

17:3-4 Num 27:1-11. In Christ women and men share equally in the inheritance – in regard to that there is neither male nor female (Gal 3:28).⚜

5 And ten portions fell to Manasseh, besides the land of Gilead and Bashan, which were on the other side of the Jordan, 6 because 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 border of Manasseh was from Asher to Michmethah, which was east of Shechem; and the border went along toward the south to the inhabitants of En-Tappuah. 8 Now Manasseh had the land of Tappuah, but Tappuah on the border of Manasseh belonged to the children of Ephraim. 9 And the border descended to the river Kanah, to the south of the river. These cities of Ephraim are among the cities of Manasseh. The border of Manasseh also was on the north side of the river, and it ended at the Sea. 10 On the south it was Ephraim’s, and on the north it was Manasseh’s, and the Sea was their border; and they met in Asher on the north and in Issachar on the east.

11 And Manasseh had in the territories of Issachar and Asher Beth-Shean 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, three areas.

12 But the children of Manasseh could not drive out the inhabitants of those cities; for the Canaanites were determined to live in that region. 13 But it happened, when the children of Israel became strong, that they put the Canaanites to forced labor, but they did not completely drive them out.

17:11-13 Josh 15:63; 16:10; Jud 1:27-28. Here is yet another example of weakness due to disobedience. See note at Josh 15:63.⚜

14 And the children of Joseph spoke to Joshua, saying, “Why have you given me only one allotment and one portion to inherit, since I am a numerous people? Up to now the LORD has blessed me”.

15 And Joshua answered them, “If you are a numerous people, then go up to the forest area and clear land for yourself there in the region of the Perizzites and the giants, since the hill country of Ephraim is too cramped for you”.

16 And the children of Joseph said, “The hill country is not enough for us, and all the Canaanites who live in the lowlands have iron chariots, both the ones who belong to Beth-Shean and her towns, and the ones who are in the valley of Jezreel”.

17 And Joshua spoke to the house of Joseph, to Ephraim and to Manasseh, saying, “You are a numerous people and have great strength; you are not to have just one allotment, 18 for the mountain will be yours. It is forest, and you shall clear it, and it shall be yours to the end of it. For you shall drive out the Canaanites, even though they have iron chariots and though they are strong”.

17:15-18 They claimed to be a great people in v 14, yet now (v 16) express their fear that they would not be able to defeat the Canaanites. Where was their faith? Joshua tells them to act like the great people they profess to be. It was faith in operation that would lay hold of all their inheritance, not their boasting of God’s blessing.⚜