The big picture
Manasseh, a tribe whose eastern members already have land, now receives its western share. Its ancestor is Joseph, a forefather of Israel. Israel, the nation dividing the promised land, must honour claims within families as well as boundaries between tribes. Zelophehad died without sons. His five daughters ask for the land already promised to them. Other members of Joseph's tribes complain that their share is too small and its occupants too strong.
In this chapter
- Zelophehad's Daughters Receive Their Share Joshua 17:1-6
Manasseh's share is described through its family branches, including the eastern lands held by descendants of Machir.
- Boundaries Do Not Mean Complete Control Joshua 17:7-13
Manasseh's western land lies beside Ephraim's.
- Joshua Answers the Complaint About Space Joshua 17:14-18
Joseph's descendants tell Joshua that their numbers and God's blessing deserve more than the share they have received.
Central truth
Manasseh gives daughters their promised shares, while Joseph's tribes must use their strength to clear trees and fight for more room.
Scripture beside the summary
Joshua · King James Version · 18Joshua 17:1-6
Zelophehad's Daughters Receive Their Share
Manasseh's share is described through its family branches, including the eastern lands held by descendants of Machir. Among those families, Zelophehad had daughters but no sons. His daughters, Mahlah, Noah, Hoglah, Milcah, and Tirzah, come before the priest and national leaders. They recall God's command through Moses that they receive land among their father's relatives. The leaders honour that command. Their claims help account for ten shares west of the river Jordan. Those are separate from the land already given in the east. An earlier promise now becomes a real piece of ground.
In everyday life
Five sisters stand beside the land agent's table with the written ruling that preserves their late father's share. As relatives' names are called, they ask for their own entries to be included. The agent marks the plots rather than treating the family line as ended. Their modern document is not a command delivered by God through Moses.
Notice
Joshua 17:4 The daughters appeal to an existing command, not a new favour. The leaders' response makes that earlier decision effective during the actual division of land.
Joshua 17:1-6
King James Version1There was also a lot for the tribe of Manasseh; for he was the firstborn of Joseph; to wit, for Machir the firstborn of Manasseh, the father of Gilead: because he was a man of war, therefore he had Gilead and Bashan.
2There was also a lot for the rest of the children of Manasseh by their families; for the children of Abiezer, 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 by 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: and these are the names of his daughters, Mahlah, and Noah, Hoglah, Milcah, and Tirzah.
4And they came near before Eleazar the priest, and before Joshua the son of Nun, and before the princes, saying, The 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.
5And there fell ten portions to Manasseh, beside the land of Gilead and Bashan, which were on the other side Jordan;
6Because the daughters of Manasseh had an inheritance among his sons: and the rest of Manasseh’s sons had the land of Gilead.
Joshua 17:7-13
Boundaries Do Not Mean Complete Control
Manasseh's western land lies beside Ephraim's. The river Kanah marks part of the line between them. Some towns belonging to one tribe lie within the other's wider area. Manasseh also has towns within neighbouring tribal regions. Yet it cannot drive the Canaanite inhabitants out of several assigned cities. Later, when Israel grows stronger, it imposes tribute on them rather than removing them. The map shows which tribe has the claim. It does not show full control. Greater strength brings forced work, but the earlier people stay on the land.
In everyday life
The port inspector checks a lease map showing scattered warehouses assigned to one shipping company inside another's district. Some buildings remain occupied by firms that refuse to leave. Later payments settle control without changing who works inside. The map alone cannot explain that arrangement. Manasseh imposes subjection through conquest, not commercial tenancy.
Notice
Joshua 17:13 Growing stronger leads to tribute rather than complete removal. The account distinguishes what Israel later becomes able to impose from the action it was meant to finish.
Joshua 17:7-13
King James Version7And 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.
8Now Manasseh had the land of Tappuah: but Tappuah on the border of Manasseh belonged to the children of Ephraim;
9And the coast descended unto the river Kanah, southward of the river: these cities of Ephraim are among the cities of Manasseh: the coast of Manasseh also was on the north side of the river, and the outgoings of it were at the sea:
10Southward it was Ephraim’s, and northward it was Manasseh’s, and the sea is his border; and they met together in Asher on the north, and in Issachar on the east.
11And Manasseh had in Issachar and in Asher Beth-shean and her towns, and Ibleam and her towns, and the inhabitants of Dor and her towns, and the inhabitants of Endor and her towns, and the inhabitants of Taanach and her towns, and the inhabitants of Megiddo and her towns, even three countries.
12Yet the children of Manasseh could not drive out the inhabitants of those cities; but the Canaanites would dwell in that land.
13Yet it came to pass, when the children of Israel were waxen strong, that they put the Canaanites to tribute; but did not utterly drive them out.
Joshua 17:14-18
Joshua Answers the Complaint About Space
Joseph's descendants tell Joshua that their numbers and God's blessing deserve more than the share they have received. Joshua says a large people can cut down trees in the hills. That will give them more room. They object that the hills are insufficient and the valley's Canaanites have iron chariots. Joshua again points to their numbers and strength. They will gain more room by clearing woodland and driving out the inhabitants, despite those chariots. They have claimed great strength. Joshua expects them to use it, even against foes with strong weapons.
In everyday life
A growing furniture team crowds around the owner of a workshop and asks for more space. He points to an unused shed that needs clearing and repair. They list the obstacles, but he reminds them that their larger team has hands for the work. Joshua requires fighting and displacement of inhabitants, not renovation of a shed.
Notice
Joshua 17:17 Joshua accepts their description of themselves as strong. Their strength brings work to do. It is not only a reason to ask for a larger gift.
Joshua 17:14-18
King James Version14And the children of Joseph spake unto Joshua, saying, Why hast thou given me but one lot and one portion to inherit, seeing I am a great people, forasmuch as the LORD hath blessed me hitherto?
15And Joshua answered them, If thou be a great people, then get thee up to the wood country, and cut down for thyself there in the land of the Perizzites and of the giants, if mount Ephraim be too narrow for thee.
16And the children of Joseph said, The hill is not enough for us: and all the Canaanites that dwell in the land of the valley have chariots of iron, both they who are of Beth-shean and her towns, and they who are of the valley of Jezreel.
17And 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:
18But the mountain shall be thine; for it is a wood, and thou shalt cut it down: and the outgoings of it shall be thine: for thou shalt drive out the Canaanites, though they have iron chariots, and though they be strong.
Details worth noticing
The opening image
Joshua 17:1 begins with “There was also a lot for the tribe of Manasseh; for he was the firstborn of Joseph; to wit, for Machir the firstborn of Manasseh, the father of Gilead…”
Where the chapter turns
Joshua 17:8 forms a natural hinge: “Now Manasseh had the land of Tappuah: but Tappuah on the border of Manasseh belonged to the children of Ephraim;”
The final note
Joshua 17:18 leaves the reader with “But the mountain shall be thine; for it is a wood, and thou shalt cut it down: and the outgoings of it shall be thine: for thou shalt drive out the…”
A word trail through the chapter
The words Manasseh, children, towns, inhabitants, land, Gilead help reveal the chapter’s repeated concerns.
KJV words made clear
- waxen strong
- Become strong enough to impose their will, as Israel later does here.
Music and video connected to the passage
Related media appears when its Scripture reference overlaps this study. Music and video can illuminate a theme while the biblical text remains the foundation.
