# Joshua 17 đź“–: The Allotment for Manasseh
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> [!info] Table of Contents
> [[#đź“ś Scripture Text (NET)]]
> [[#đź“– Verse-by-Verse Commentary]]
> [[#🤔 Interesting Facts / Historical and Cultural Insights]]
> [[#🧠Chapter Summary]]
> [[#✝️ Christ in This Chapter]]
> [[#🔎 Key Principles / 🛟 Life Application]]
> [[#đź’¬ Discussion Questions]]
> [[#✍️ Key Verses to Remember]]
> [[#đź”— Related Passages/Cross Reference]]
> [[#🙏 Devotional Reflection]]
> [[#đź“‚ Internal Notes]]
## đź“ś Scripture Text (NET)
(The NET Bible: New English Translation. Biblical Studies Press, 2005)
[[#Verse 01.]] The tribe of Manasseh, Joseph’s firstborn son, was also allotted land. The descendants of Makir, Manasseh’s firstborn and the father of Gilead, received land, for they were warriors. They were assigned Gilead and Bashan.Â
[[#Verse 02.]] The rest of Manasseh’s descendants were also assigned land by their clans, including the descendants of Abiezer, Helek, Asriel, Shechem, Hepher, and Shemida. These are the male descendants of Manasseh son of Joseph by their clans.
[[#Verse 03.]]Â Now Zelophehad son of Hepher, son of Gilead, son of Makir, son of Manasseh, had no sons, only daughters. These are the names of his daughters: Mahlah, Noah, Hoglah, Milcah, and Tirzah.Â
[[#Verse 04.]] They went before Eleazar the priest, Joshua son of Nun, and the leaders and said, “The Lord told Moses to assign us land among our relatives.” So Joshua assigned them land among their uncles, as the Lord had commanded.Â
[[#Verse 05.]] Manasseh was allotted ten shares of land, in addition to the land of Gilead and Bashan east of the Jordan,Â
[[#Verse 06.]]Â for the daughters of Manasseh were assigned land among his sons. The land of Gilead belonged to the rest of the descendants of Manasseh.
[[#Verse 07.]] The border of Manasseh went from Asher to Micmethath, which is near Shechem. It then went south toward those who live by En Tappuah.Â
[[#Verse 08.]]Â (The land of Tappuah belonged to Manasseh, but Tappuah, located on the border of Manasseh, belonged to the tribe of Ephraim.)Â
[[#Verse 09.]] The border then descended southward to the Valley of Kanah. Ephraim was assigned cities there among the cities of Manasseh, but the border of Manasseh was north of the valley and ended at the sea.Â
[[#Verse 10.]] Ephraim’s territory was to the south, and Manasseh’s to the north. The sea was Manasseh’s western border and their territory touched Asher on the north and Issachar on the east.
[[#Verse 11.]] Within Issachar’s and Asher’s territories Manasseh was assigned Beth Shean, Ibleam, the residents of Dor, the residents of Endor, the residents of Taanach, the residents of Megiddo, the three of Napheth, and the towns surrounding all these cities.
[[#Verse 12.]] But the men of Manasseh were unable to conquer these cities; the Canaanites managed to remain in those areas.
[[#Verse 13.]]Â Whenever the Israelites were strong militarily, they forced the Canaanites to do hard labor, but they never totally conquered them.
[[#Verse 14.]] The descendants of Joseph said to Joshua, “Why have you assigned us only one tribal allotment? After all, we have many people, for until now the Lord has enabled us to increase in number.”Â
[[#Verse 15.]] Joshua replied to them, “Since you have so many people, go up into the forest and clear out a place to live in the land of the Perizzites and Rephaites, if the hill country of Ephraim is too small for you.”Â
[[#Verse 16.]] The descendants of Joseph said, “The whole hill country is inadequate for us, and the Canaanites living down in the valley in Beth Shean and its surrounding towns and in the Valley of Jezreel have chariots with iron-rimmed wheels.”
[[#Verse 17.]] Joshua said to the family of Joseph—to both Ephraim and Manasseh: “You have many people and great military strength. You will not have just one tribal allotment.Â
[[#Verse 18.]] The whole hill country will be yours; though it is a forest, you can clear it, and it will be entirely yours. You can conquer the Canaanites, though they have chariots with iron-rimmed wheels and are strong.”
## đź“– Verse-by-Verse Commentary
###### Overall.
###### Verse 01.
###### Verse 02.
###### Verse 03.
###### Verse 04.
###### Verse 05.
###### Verse 06.
###### Verse 07.
###### Verse 08.
###### Verse 09.
###### Verse 10.
###### Verse 11.
###### Verse 12.
###### Verse 13.
###### Verse 14.
###### Verse 15.
###### Verse 16.
###### Verse 17.
###### Verse 18.
## 🤔 Interesting Facts / Historical and Cultural Insights
1. Zelophehad's daughters were Mahlah, Noah, Hoglah, Milcah, and Tirzah (17:3).
2. Their earlier request to Moses is recorded in Numbers 27:1-11 and 36.
3. Machir, Manasseh's firstborn, received Gilead and Bashan east of the Jordan (17:1).
4. Manasseh received ten portions west of the Jordan (17:5).
5. The Canaanites in the Jezreel Valley and Beth Shean had iron chariots (17:16).
6. The Philistines later hung Saul's body on the wall of Beth Shean (1 Samuel 31:10).
7. Megiddo, Taanach, Dor, and Endor were among Manasseh's towns (17:11).
8. Tirzah is both the name of one daughter and a city that later became a royal capital.
9. The central hill country was much more wooded in ancient times than it is today (17:15-18).
10. Israel made the remaining Canaanites forced laborers instead of driving them out (17:13), the same compromise seen in 16:10.
## 🧠Chapter Summary
> [!note] 🌱 Still growing. This section is on its way.
## ✝️ Christ in This Chapter
Christ is the One who gives an inheritance to all who come to Him. The daughters of Zelophehad received land as the Lord had promised (17:3-4), and in Christ there is neither male nor female, for all are heirs of the promise (Galatians 3:28-29).
## 🔎 Key Principles / 🛟 Life Application
> [!note] 🌱 Still growing. This section is on its way.
## đź’¬ Discussion Questions
1. The daughters of Zelophehad reminded the leaders of God's promise and received their land (17:3-4). How can we hold on to what God has promised?
2. Joseph's tribes complained that their land was too small, and Joshua told them to clear the forest (17:14-18). How do we sometimes want blessings without effort?
3. They feared the iron chariots of the Canaanites (17:16). What fears keep you from taking hold of what God has given?
## ✍️ Key Verses to Remember
- đź“– verse 4: The daughters of Zelophehad receive an inheritance as the Lord commanded Moses.
- đź“– verse 13: When Israel grew strong, they made the Canaanites forced laborers instead of driving them out.
- đź“– verses 17-18: Joshua tells Joseph's tribes that the forested hill country is theirs to clear and take.
## đź”— Related Passages/Cross Reference
- đź”— [[Numbers 27#Verse 01.|Numbers 27:1-7]] - The daughters of Zelophehad make their request.
- đź”— [[Galatians 03#Verse 28.|Galatians 3:28-29]] - All are heirs according to the promise.
- đź”— [[Judges 01#Verse 27.|Judges 1:27-28]] - Manasseh fails to drive out the Canaanites.
- đź”— [[1 Samuel 31#Verse 10.|1 Samuel 31:10]] - Saul's body at Beth Shean.
- đź”— [[Philippians 03#Verse 12.|Philippians 3:12-14]] - Pressing on to take hold.
## 🙏 Devotional Reflection
đź“ť SOAP: [[Joshua 17 - SOAP|Living in the Tension]]
## đź“‚ Internal Notes