THE BOOK OF
JOSHUA.
Joshua 17 ©
The inheritance of the tribe of Manasseh on this side Jordan, v. 1, etc. An inheritance is given unto the five daughters of Zelophehad, at their request. 3. The border of Manasseh is more particularly related, 7. By whom the Canaanites, who were not driven out, are made tributary, 12. When the children of Joseph complained that their border was too narrow, 14. Joshua shows them a way how to enlarge the same, 15. With which they are not pleased, 16. But Joshua promises them the subduing of the Canaanites, 17.
THERE was also a lot for the tribe of Manasseh; for he was the firstborn of Joseph;ato wit, for Machir the firstborn of Manasseh, the father of Gilead: 1because he was a man of war, therefore he had Gilead and Bashan.
There was also a lot for 2the rest of the children of Manasseh by their families; for the children of Abi-ezer, 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 children of Manasseh the son of Joseph 3by their families.
¶But Zelophehad,b the son of Hepher, the son of Gilead, the son of Machir, the son of Manasseh, had no sons, but daughters: and thesecare the names of his daughters, Mahlah, and Noah, Hoglah, Milcah, and Tirzah.
And they came near before Eleazar the priest, and before Joshua the son of Nun, and before the princes, saying, Thed LORD commanded Moses to give us an inheritance among our brethren. Therefore according to the commandment of the LORD he gave them an inheritance among the brethren of their father.
And there fell 4ten portions to Manasseh, beside the land of Gilead and Bashan, which were on the other side Jordan;
Because the 5daughters of Manasseh had an inheritance among his sons: and the rest of Manasseh's sons had the land of Gilead.
¶And the coast of Manasseh was from Asher to Michmethah, that lieth before Shechem; and the border went along on the right hand unto the inhabitants of En-tappuah.
Now Manasseh had the land of Tappuah: but Tappuah on the border of Manasseh belonged to the children of Ephraim;
And the coast descended unto the river Kanah, southward 6of the river: 7these cities of Ephraim are among the cities of Manasseh: the coast of Manasseh also was on the north side of the river, and the outgoingse of it were at the sea:
Southward it was Ephraim's, and northward it was Manasseh’s, and 8the sea is 9his border; and they met together in Asher on the north, and in Issachar on the east.
And Manasseh had in Issachar and in Asher 10Beth-shean and her towns, and Ibleam and her towns, and the inhabitants of Dor and her towns, and the inhabitants of 11En-dor and her towns, and the inhabitants of Taanach and her towns, and the inhabitants of Megiddo and her towns, even three countries.
Yet thef children of Manasseh could not drive out the inhabitants of those cities; but the Canaanites would dwell in that land.
Yet it came to pass, when the children of Israel were waxen strong, that they put the Canaanites to tribute; but did not 12utterly drive them out.
And 13the children of Joseph spake unto Joshua, saying, Why hast thou given me but one lot and one portion 14to inherit, seeing I am a great people, 15forasmuch as the LORD hath blessed me hitherto?
And Joshua answered them, If thou be a great people, then get thee up to the wood country, and 16cut down for thyself there in the land of the Perizzites and of the giants, if mount Ephraim be too narrow for thee.
And the children of Joseph said, The hill 17is not enough for us: and all the Canaanites that dwell in the land of the valley 18have chariots of iron, both they who are of Beth-shean and 19her towns, and they who are of the valley of Jezreel.
And Joshua spake unto the house of Joseph, even to Ephraim and to Manasseh, saying, Thou art a great people, and hast great power: thou shalt not have one lot only:
But the mountain shall be thine; for it is a wood, and thou shalt cut it down: 20and the outgoings of it shall be thine: for 21thou shalt drive out the Canaanites, though they have iron chariots, and though they be strong.