Joshua 17:12

12 Yet the Manassites were not able to occupy these towns, for the Canaanites were determined to live in that region.

Joshua 17:12 in Other Translations

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

12 Yet the people of Manasseh could not take possession of those cities, but the Canaanites persisted in dwelling in that land.

12 But the descendants of Manasseh were unable to occupy these towns because the Canaanites were determined to stay in that region.

12 The people of Manasseh never were able to take over these towns - the Canaanites wouldn't budge.

12 The descendants of Manasseh could not possess these cities, because the Canaanites were determined to stay in this land.

Joshua 17:12 Meaning and Commentary

Joshua 17:12

Yet the children of Manasseh could not drive out [the
inhabitants] of these cities
Mentioned in ( Joshua 17:11 ) ; they had not strength at first to do it, or either were negligent and slothful, and suffered them to dwell among them, and did not take the advantage they might have done; and afterwards it was too late, they became too strong and numerous for them, at least for a time:

but the Canaanites would dwell in the land;
whether they would or not.

Joshua 17:12 In-Context

10 On the south the land belonged to Ephraim, on the north to Manasseh. The territory of Manasseh reached the Mediterranean Sea and bordered Asher on the north and Issachar on the east.

11 Within Issachar and Asher, Manasseh also had Beth Shan, Ibleam and the people of Dor, Endor, Taanach and Megiddo, together with their surrounding settlements (the third in the list is Naphoth ).

12 Yet the Manassites were not able to occupy these towns, for the Canaanites were determined to live in that region.

13 However, when the Israelites grew stronger, they subjected the Canaanites to forced labor but did not drive them out completely.

14 The people of Joseph said to Joshua, “Why have you given us only one allotment and one portion for an inheritance? We are a numerous people, and the LORD has blessed us abundantly.”

Cross References

• 1. S Joshua 15:63; Judges 1:27