JoshuaChapter 17

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¹This was the land given by lot to the tribe of Manasseh, Joseph's oldest son. Machir was Manasseh's oldest son and the father of Gilead. Machir had already received Gilead and Bashan because he was a great soldier. ²So this land was for the rest of Manasseh's family line. It was for the clans of Abiezer, Helek, Asriel, Shechem, Hepher, and Shemida. These are the other sons in the clans of Manasseh son of Joseph. ³But Zelophehad had no sons. He had only daughters. He was the son of Hepher, the son of Gilead, the son of Machir, the son of Manasseh. His daughters were named Mahlah, Noah, Hoglah, Milcah, and Tirzah. ⁴They went to Eleazar the priest, Joshua son of Nun, and the leaders. They said, "The LORD commanded Moses to give us land among our relatives." So Joshua gave them land among their father's brothers. This was what the LORD had commanded. ⁵So Manasseh received ten shares of land. That was besides the land of Gilead and Bashan east of the Jordan. ⁶This was because the daughters of Manasseh received land along with his sons. The land of Gilead belonged to the rest of Manasseh's sons. ⁷The border of Manasseh went from Asher to Michmethath near Shechem. Then it went south to take in the people living in En-tappuah. ⁸The land around Tappuah belonged to Manasseh. But the town of Tappuah itself, on Manasseh's border, belonged to Ephraim. ⁹From there the border went south to the Brook of Kanah. Some cities that belonged to Ephraim were among the cities of Manasseh. But Manasseh's border ran along the north side of the brook. It ended at the Sea. ¹⁰Ephraim's land was to the south, and Manasseh's land was to the north. The Sea was Manasseh's border. Manasseh's land touched Asher on the north and Issachar on the east. ¹¹Inside the land of Issachar and Asher, Manasseh was given some towns. They were Beth-shean, Ibleam, Dor (which is Naphath), Endor, Taanach, and Megiddo. Each came with the villages around it. ¹²But the people of Manasseh could not take over these cities, because the Canaanites were set on staying in that land. ¹³Later the Israelites grew stronger. Then they made the Canaanites work as slaves. But they did not drive them out completely. ¹⁴Then Joseph's family line said to Joshua, "Why have you given us only one share of land? We have many people, because the LORD has blessed us so much." ¹⁵Joshua answered them, "If you have so many people that the hill country of Ephraim is too small for you, then go to the forest. Clear some land for yourselves there, in the land of the Perizzites and the Rephaim." ¹⁶They answered, "The hill country is not big enough for us. And all the Canaanites who live in the valley have iron chariots. They are in Beth-shean and its towns and in the Valley of Jezreel." ¹⁷So Joshua spoke to the family of Joseph, to Ephraim and Manasseh. He said, "You have many people, and you are very strong. You will not have just one share of land. ¹⁸This is because the hill country will be yours too. It is a forest, but you can clear it. All of it, to its farthest edges, will be yours. The Canaanites have iron chariots, and they are strong. But you can drive them out."