Joshua 17:8-18

8 The land of 1Tappuah belonged to Manasseh, but the town of Tappuah on the boundary of Manasseh belonged to the people of Ephraim.
9 2Then the boundary went down to the brook Kanah. These cities, to the south of the brook, among the cities of Manasseh, belong to Ephraim. Then the boundary of Manasseh goes on the north side of the brook and ends at the sea,
10 the land to the south being Ephraim's and that to the north being Manasseh's, with the sea forming its boundary. On the north Asher is reached, and on the east Issachar.
11 Also in Issachar and in Asher 3Manasseh had Beth-shean and its villages, and Ibleam and its villages, and the inhabitants of 4Dor and its villages, and the inhabitants of En-dor and its villages, and the inhabitants of 5Taanach and its villages, and the inhabitants of 6Megiddo and its villages; 7the third is Naphath.[a]
12 8Yet 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 9to forced labor, but did not utterly drive them out.
14 Then 10the people of Joseph spoke to Joshua, saying, "Why have you given me but 11one lot and one portion as an inheritance, although I am 12a 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 13the Rephaim, since 14the 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 15chariots of iron, both those in Beth-shean and its villages and those in 16the 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, 17though they have chariots of iron, and though they are strong."

Joshua 17:8-18 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 17

  • 1. Joshua 16:8, 9
  • 2. [See ver. 8 above]
  • 3. 1 Chronicles 7:29; [1 Kings 4:11, 12]
  • 4. 1 Chronicles 7:29; [1 Kings 4:11, 12]
  • 5. 1 Chronicles 7:29; [1 Kings 4:11, 12]
  • 6. 1 Chronicles 7:29; [1 Kings 4:11, 12]
  • 7. [Joshua 11:2; Joshua 12:23]
  • 8. Judges 1:27, 28
  • 9. Joshua 16:10; Genesis 49:15
  • 10. Joshua 16:4
  • 11. [Genesis 48:22]
  • 12. Genesis 48:19; [Numbers 26:34, 37]
  • 13. See Joshua 12:4
  • 14. Joshua 24:33; Judges 3:27
  • 15. See Joshua 11:6
  • 16. Judges 6:33
  • 17. Deuteronomy 20:1; See Joshua 11:6

Footnotes 1

  • [a]. The meaning of the Hebrew is uncertain
The English Standard Version is published with the permission of Good News Publishers.