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Joshua 17

Joshua 17 records Manasseh’s inheritance under God’s command while exposing the gap between allotted territory and land possessed.

Manasseh receives its allotted land, with territory on both sides of the Jordan. Zelophehad’s five daughters approach Eleazar, Joshua, and the leaders to claim the inheritance YHWH commanded Moses to grant them. The account traces borders and towns, then records that Canaanite inhabitants remain, even after Israel becomes strong enough to impose forced labor. Ephraim and Manasseh ask Joshua for more land, and he directs them to clear forest and drive out the Canaanites despite their iron chariots.

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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;
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.
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.”
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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Key verses
Joshua 17:1Manasseh’s allotment begins with its place in Joseph’s family and Machir’s possession of Gilead and Bashan.
Joshua 17:11The list names towns assigned to Manasseh whose Canaanite inhabitants remain, setting up the account of incomplete possession.
Joshua 17:14Joseph’s descendants appeal to their numbers and YHWH’s blessing, prompting Joshua to direct them toward work and conquest.
Where this chapter reaches

Numbers records YHWH’s command concerning Zelophehad’s daughters, which Joshua 17 carries out, while Genesis supplies the family background of Joseph, Manasseh, and Ephraim. Judges repeats the account of Canaanites remaining in several of these towns and being subjected to forced labor.

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Notice

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What stands out in the way Zelophehad’s daughters present their claim and the leaders respond?

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How does Joshua’s response address both Joseph’s descendants’ strength and the obstacles they name?

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Questions people ask about Joshua 17

Why did Zelophehad’s daughters receive land in Joshua 17?

Zelophehad had five daughters and no sons. His daughters appealed to the command YHWH had given Moses concerning their inheritance, recorded in Numbers. Joshua 17 shows that command being carried out: they receive land among their father’s brothers, and their shares are included in Manasseh’s allotment.

Why did Ephraim and Manasseh ask Joshua for more land?

The descendants of Joseph said their allotted portion was too small for a people whom YHWH had blessed with large numbers. They also pointed to Canaanite iron chariots in the valleys. Joshua answered that their strength was sufficient to clear forested land and drive out those inhabitants.

What were the chariots of iron in Joshua 17?

The phrase describes Canaanite war chariots associated with the valley towns. It need not mean that every part of each chariot was iron; the text does not specify their construction. Their military strength explains the concern of Joseph’s descendants, while Joshua insists that these enemies can still be driven out.

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Joshua · 24 chapters
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Cross-reference data from OpenBible.info (CC BY). Scripture from the World English Bible (public domain). Arc diagram after Chris Harrison and Christoph Römhild (2007).