Old Testament · History

Joshua 17

Manasseh's Portion

Half a tribe settles west. They complain the land is too small. Joshua's response: if you're great, prove it — go clear the forest.

Berean Standard Bible BSB KJV

1Now this was the allotment for the tribe of Manasseh as Joseph’s firstborn son, namely for Machir the firstborn of Manasseh and father of the Gileadites, who had received Gilead and Bashan because Machir was a man of war.

2So this allotment was for the rest of the descendants of Manasseh—the clans of Abiezer, Helek, Asriel, Shechem, Hepher, and Shemida. These are the other male descendants of the clans of Manasseh son of Joseph.

3But Zelophehad son of Hepher (the son of Gilead, the son of Machir, the son of Manasseh) had no sons but only daughters. These are the names of his daughters: Mahlah, Noah, Hoglah, Milcah, and Tirzah.

4They approached Eleazar the priest, Joshua son of Nun, and the leaders, and said, “The LORD commanded Moses to give us an inheritance among our brothers.”

5Thus ten shares fell to Manasseh, in addition to the land of Gilead and Bashan beyond the Jordan,

6because the daughters of Manasseh received an inheritance among his sons. And the land of Gilead belonged to the rest of the sons of Manasseh.

12But the descendants of Manasseh were unable to occupy these cities, because the Canaanites were determined to stay in this land.

13However, when the Israelites grew stronger, they put the Canaanites to forced labor; but they failed to drive them out completely.

14Then the sons of Joseph said to Joshua, “Why have you given us only one portion as an inheritance? We have many people, because the LORD has blessed us abundantly.”

15Joshua answered them, “If you have so many people that the hill country of Ephraim is too small for you, go to the forest and clear for yourself an area in the land of the Perizzites and the Rephaim.”

16“The hill country is not enough for us,” they replied, “and all the Canaanites who live in the valley have iron chariots, both in Beth-shean with its towns and in the Valley of Jezreel.”

17So Joshua said to the house of Joseph—to Ephraim and Manasseh—“You have many people and great strength. You shall not have just one allotment,

18because the hill country will be yours as well. It is a forest; clear it, and its farthest limits will be yours. Although the Canaanites have iron chariots and although they are strong, you can drive them out.”

Understand This

Joshua 17, explained

What Joshua 17 is saying

The allotment for the half-tribe of Manasseh (west) is described, including special provision for Zelophehad's daughters who claimed their inheritance as Moses had decreed. Manasseh complains to Joshua that their allotment is too small for their numbers, and Joshua challenges them to clear the forested hill country. The chapter again notes failure to drive out Canaanites, who remained in the valley with iron chariots.

The background behind it

The Zelophehad's daughters episode (cf. Numbers 27:1–11) represents a landmark legal precedent in Israelite inheritance law, ensuring daughters could inherit when there were no sons. The iron chariots of the Canaanites represent Late Bronze/Early Iron Age military technology that Israel had not yet matched.

Themes running underneath

Joshua's response to Manasseh's complaint is masterful pastoral leadership: he simultaneously affirms their strength ('you are a great people') and challenges their passivity ('clear the forest'). The iron chariot excuse exposes a faith failure—the God who stopped the sun could handle chariots.

Why it still matters

Complaining about insufficient provision while leaving available resources undeveloped is a perennial human tendency. Joshua's challenge to clear the forest confronts comfort-seeking faith.

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Scripture text: Berean Standard Bible — used by permission, Bible Hub.