Joshua 17:1-18
Manasseh's Inheritance
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.” So Joshua gave them an inheritance among their father’s brothers, in keeping with the command of the LORD.
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.
7Now the border of Manasseh went from Asher to Michmethath near Shechem, then southward to include the inhabitants of En-tappuah.
8The region of Tappuah belonged to Manasseh, but Tappuah itself, on the border of Manasseh, belonged to Ephraim.
9From there the border continued southward to the Brook of Kanah. There were cities belonging to Ephraim among the cities of Manasseh, but the border of Manasseh was on the north side of the brook and ended at the Sea.
10Ephraim’s territory was to the south, and Manasseh’s was to the north, having the Sea as its border and adjoining Asher on the north and Issachar on the east.
11Within Issachar and Asher, Manasseh was assigned Beth-shean, Ibleam, Dor (that is, Naphath), Endor, Taanach, and Megiddo, each with their surrounding settlements.
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.”
Berean Standard Bible
The chapter begins by naming the clans of Manasseh. Zelophehad's daughters receive an inheritance because Moses had commanded that they be given a portion among their father's brothers. Their appearance in the list shows that the promise of land includes women whose claim might otherwise be overlooked.
The descendants of Manasseh receive territory in Gilead and Bashan east of the Jordan, while the rest receive land west of the river. The boundary is described through towns and regions, and the account notes that Manasseh has towns in Issachar and Asher.
The people of Joseph approach Joshua with a complaint. They are numerous, so why has he given them only one lot and one portion? Joshua answers that if they are numerous and the hill country is too small, they can clear the forest and drive out the Canaanites, even though those people have iron chariots.
Their request and Joshua's answer reveal two sides of inheritance. A community may have a legitimate need for room, but it must also accept responsibility for the difficult work of using what it has received. Greater numbers can support a larger task rather than only a larger demand.
How We Know
The wider biblical record gives this unit a responsible setting. Joshua records Israel's entry, settlement, and covenant life in continuity with Deuteronomy and the Pentateuch. Later books such as Judges and 1 Chronicles assume the people, land allotments, and places named here. Those internal cross-checks do not settle every archaeological question, but they show that Joshua 17:1-18 is part of a sustained historical and covenant record.
Questions
1 Which family members receive an inheritance?
AnswerZelophehad's daughters receive a portion among their father's brothers, following the command Moses had received.
2 Where does Manasseh receive territory?
AnswerHalf receives land east of the Jordan in Gilead and Bashan, while the rest receive territory west of the river.
3 What complaint do the descendants of Joseph make?
AnswerThey complain that one lot and one portion are too small for their large and numerous people.
4 What solution does Joshua give them?
AnswerHe tells them to clear the forest and drive out the Canaanites in the hill country, even despite their iron chariots.
What This Means for Us
The daughters' inheritance reminds us to notice whose rightful place is easily lost in a traditional arrangement. Justice sometimes requires correcting a pattern that has treated one group as invisible.
The Joseph tribes also hear that a large population brings work, not only entitlement. When your household needs more room, ask what faithful effort and shared responsibility must accompany the request.
Prayer
Lord, help us recognize people whose rightful place has been overlooked. Give us courage to correct unfair patterns and strength to carry the responsibilities that come with every gift. Amen.