Joshua 17:12-18

12 ¹Yet the people of Manasseh could not take possession of those cities, but the Canaanites persisted in dwelling in that land.

13 Now when the people of Israel grew strong, they put the Canaanites ²to forced labor, but did not utterly drive them out.

14 Then ³the people of Joseph spoke to Joshua, saying, "Why have you given me but ⁴one lot and one portion as an inheritance, although I am ⁵a numerous people, since all along the LORD has blessed me?"

15 And Joshua said to them, "If you are a numerous people, go up by yourselves to the forest, and there clear ground for yourselves in the land of the Perizzites and ⁶the Rephaim, since ⁷the hill country of Ephraim is too narrow for you."

16 The people of Joseph said, "The hill country is not enough for us. Yet all the Canaanites who dwell in the plain have ⁸chariots of iron, both those in Beth-shean and its villages and those in ⁹the Valley of Jezreel."

17 Then Joshua said to the house of Joseph, to Ephraim and Manasseh, "You are a numerous people and have great power. You shall not have one allotment only,

18 but the hill country shall be yours, for though it is a forest, you shall clear it and possess it to its farthest borders. For you shall drive out the Canaanites, ¹⁰though they have chariots of iron, and though they are strong."

Joshua 17:12-18 Meaning and Commentary

INTRODUCTION TO JOSHUA 17

This chapter gives an account of the lot that fell to the half tribe of Manasseh, to the male children of Manasseh, and to the daughters of Zelophehad, Jos 17:1-6; and describes the coast of that lot, Jos 17:7-13; and relates the request of the sons of Joseph, to have their lot enlarged, which was granted, Jos 17:14-18.

Cross References

• 1. Judges 1:27, 28
• 2. Joshua 16:10; Genesis 49:15
• 3. Joshua 16:4
• 4. [Genesis 48:22]
• 5. Genesis 48:19; [Numbers 26:34, 37]
• 6. See Joshua 12:4
• 7. Joshua 24:33; Judges 3:27
• 8. See Joshua 11:6
• 9. Judges 6:33
• 10. Deuteronomy 20:1; See Joshua 11:6