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Texts -- Joshua 17:1-17 (NET)

Context
17:1 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 . 17:2 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 . 17:3 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 . 17:4 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 . 17:5 Manasseh was allotted ten shares of land, in addition to the land of Gilead and Bashan east of the Jordan , 17:6 for the daughters of Manasseh were assigned land among his sons . The land of Gilead belonged to the rest of the descendants of Manasseh . 17:7 The border of Manasseh went from Asher to Micmethath which is near Shechem . It then went south toward those who live in Tappuah . 17:8 (The land of Tappuah belonged to Manasseh , but Tappuah , located on the border of Manasseh , belonged to the tribe of Ephraim .) 17:9 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 . 17:10 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 . 17:11 Within Issachar’s and Asher’s territory Manasseh was assigned Beth Shean , Ibleam , the residents of Dor , En Dor , the residents of Taanach , the residents of Megiddo , the three of Napheth , and the towns surrounding all these cities. 17:12 But the men of Manasseh were unable to conquer these cities ; the Canaanites managed to remain in those areas . 17:13 Whenever the Israelites were strong militarily, they forced the Canaanites to do hard labor , but they never totally conquered them. 17:14 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 .” 17:15 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 , for the hill country of Ephraim is too small for you.” 17:16 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.” 17:17 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 .

Pericope

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Bible Dictionary

  • Gibeon

    [ebd] hill-city, "one of the royal cities, greater than Ai, and all the men thereof were mighty" (Josh. 10:2). Its inhabitants were Hivites (11:19). It lay within the territory of Benjamin, and became a priest-city (18:25; 21:17)....

  • Joshua

    [nave] JOSHUA 1. Called also Jehoshua, and Jehoshuah, and Oshea. Son of Nun, Num. 13:8; 1 Chr. 7:27. Intimately associated with Moses, Ex. 24:13; 32:17; 33:11. A religious zealot, Num. 11:28. Sent with others to view the promise...

  • Israel

    [nave] ISRAEL 1. A name given to Jacob, Gen. 32:24-32; 2 Kin. 17:34; Hos. 12:3, 4. 2. A name of the Christ in prophecy, Isa. 49:3. 3. A name given to the descendants of Jacob, a nation. Called also Israelites, and Hebrews, Gen. 4...

  • Manasseh

    [smith] (forgetting), the eldest son of Joseph, (Genesis 41:51; 46:20) born 1715-10 B.C. Both he and Ephraim were born before the commencement of the famine. He was placed after his younger brother, Ephraim, by his grandfather Jacob,...
    [nave] MANASSEH 1. Son of Joseph and Asenath, Gen. 41:50, 51; 46:20; adopted by Jacob on his deathbed, Gen. 48:1, 5-20. Called Manasses, Rev. 7:6. 2. Tribe of. Descendants of Joseph. The two sons of Joseph, Ephraim and Manasseh, ...

  • Abiezer

    [isbe] ABIEZER - ab-i-e'-zer, a-bi-e'-zer ('abhi`ezer, "father of help," or "my father is help." Iezer, Iezerite (in the King James Version Jeezer, Jeezerite), is Abiezer with the letter beth omitted): (1) A descendant of Joseph th...
    [smith] (father of help, helpful). Eldest son of Gilead, and descendant of Manasseh. (Joshua 17:2; 1 Chronicles 7:18) (B.C. 1450.) He was the ancestor of the great judge Gideon. [GIDEON] One of David?s mighty men. (2 Samuel 23...
    [nave] ABIEZER 1. Called also Jeezer, progenitor of the Abiezrites, Num. 26:30; Josh. 17:2; Judg. 6:34; 8:2. 2. One of David's heroes, 2 Sam. 23:27; 1 Chr. 27:12.

  • Noah

    [ebd] rest, (Heb. Noah) the grandson of Methuselah (Gen. 5:25-29), who was for two hundred and fifty years contemporary with Adam, and the son of Lamech, who was about fifty years old at the time of Adam's death. This patriarch is...
    [smith] (motion), one of the five daughters of Zelophehad. (Numbers 26:33; 27:1; 36:11; Joshua 17:3) (B.C. 1450.)
    [nave] NOAH 1. Son of Lamech, Gen. 5:28, 29. Builds an ark and saves his family from the flood, Gen. 6:14-22; 7:8; Matt. 24:38; Luke 17:27; Heb. 11:7; 1 Pet. 3:20. Builds an altar and offers sacrifices, Gen. 8:20, 21. Receives t...

  • Zelophehad

    [isbe] ZELOPHEHAD - ze-lo'-fe-had (tslophchadh, meaning unknown): Head of a Manassite family who died without male issue (Nu 26:33; 27:1,7; 36:2,6,10,11; Josh 17:3; 1 Ch 7:15). His daughters came to Moses and Eleazar and successful...
    [smith] (first-born), son of Zepher, son of Gilead, son of Machir, son of Manasseh. (Joshua 17:3) (B.C. before 1450.) He was apparently the second son of Hepher. (1 Chronicles 7:15) Zelophehad came out of Egypt with Moses, but die...
    [nave] ZELOPHEHAD, grandson of Gilead. His daughters petition for his inheritance, Num. 27:1-11; 36; Josh. 17:3-6; 1 Chr. 7:15.

  • Canaanites

    [nave] CANAANITES Eleven nations, descended from Canaan, Gen. 10:15-19; Deut. 7:1; 1 Chr. 1:13-16. Territory of, Gen. 10:19; 12:6; 15:18; Ex. 23:31; Num. 13:29; 34:1-12; Josh. 1:4; 5:1; given to the Israelites, Gen. 12:6, 7; 15:18...

  • Machir

    [ebd] sold. (1.) Manasseh's oldest son (Josh. 17:1), or probably his only son (see 1 Chr. 7:14, 15; comp. Num. 26:29-33; Josh. 13:31). His descendants are referred to under the name of Machirites, being the offspring of Gilead (Nu...
    [smith] (sold). The eldest son, (Joshua 17:1) of the patriarch Manasseh by an Aramite or Syrian concubine. (1 Chronicles 7:14) At the time of the conquest the family of Machir had become very powerful, and a large part of the cou...
    [nave] MACHIR 1. One of the sons of Manasseh, Gen. 50:23. Father of the Machirites, Num. 26:29; 36:1. The land of Gilead allotted to, Num. 32:39, 40; Deut. 3:15; Josh. 13:31. Certain cities of Bashan given to, Josh. 13:31; 17:1....

  • Taanach

    [isbe] TAANACH - ta'-nak (ta`anakh, or ta`nakh; the Septuagint Tanach, with many variants): A royal city of the Canaanites, the king of which was slain by Joshua (12:21). It was within the boundaries of the portion of Issachar, but...
    [smith] (sandy), an ancient Canaanitish city whose king is enumerated among the thirty-one kings conquered by Joshua. (Joshua 12:21) It came into the half tribe of Manasseh, (Joshua 17:11; 21:25; 1 Chronicles 7:29) and was bestowe...
    [nave] TAANACH, called also Tanach. A city conquered by Joshua, Josh. 12:21. Allotted to Manasseh, Josh. 17:11; 1 Chr. 7:29. Canaanites not driven from, Josh. 17:12; Judg. 1:27. Assigned to the Levites, Josh. 21:25. The scene of...

  • MANASSEH (2)

    [isbe] MANASSEH (2) - 1. Son of Joseph: Following the Biblical account of Manasseh (patriarch, tribe, and territory) we find that he was the eider of Joseph's two sons by Asenath, the daughter of Poti-phera, priest of On (Gen 41:51...

  • Ephraim

    [nave] EPHRAIM 1. Second son of Joseph, Gen. 41:52. Adopted by Jacob, Gen. 48:5. Blessed before Manasseh; prophecies concerning, Gen. 48:14-20. Descendants of, Num. 26:35-37; 1 Chr. 7:20-27. Mourns for his sons, 1 Chr. 7:21, 22...

  • BOTANY

    [isbe] BOTANY - bot'-a-ni. 1. General Characteristics of Palestinian Flora: On account of the great diversity in the climatic and topographical conditions Palestine is peculiarly rich in the variety of its flora--the best authority...

  • Milcah

    [isbe] MILCAH - mil'-ka (milkah; Melcha): (1) Daughter of Haran, wife of Nahor, and grandmother of Rebekah (Gen 11:29; 22:20-23; 24:15,24,47). (2) Daughter of Zelophehad (Nu 26:33; 27:1; 36:11; Josh 17:3). Many recent authorities a...
    [smith] (queen or counsel). Daughter of Haran and wife of her uncle Nahor, Abraham?s brother, to whom she bore eight children. (Genesis 11:29; 22:20,23; 24:15,24,47) The fourth daughter of Zelophehad. (Numbers 26:33; 27:1; 36:11; Jo...
    [nave] MILCAH 1. Wife of Nahor and mother of Bethuel, Gen. 11:29; 22:20-23; 24:15, 24, 47. 2. Daughter of Zelophehad. Special legislation in regard to the inheritance of, Num. 26:33; 27:1-7; 36:1-12; Josh. 17:3, 4.

  • Tirzah

    [isbe] TIRZAH - tur'-za (tirtsah; Thersa): (1) A royal city of the Canaanites, the king of which was slain by Joshua (12:24). It superseded Shechem as capital of the Northern Kingdom (1 Ki 14:17, etc.), and itself gave place in tur...
    [smith] (delight), youngest of the five daughters of Zelophehad. (Numbers 26:33; 27:1; 36:11; Joshua 17:3) (B.C. 1450.)
    [nave] TIRZAH 1. A daughter of Zelophehad, Num. 26:33; 36:11; Josh. 17:3. Special legislation in regard to the inheritance of, Num. 27:1-11; 36; Josh. 17:3, 4. 2. A city of Canaan. Captured by Joshua, Josh. 12:24. Becomes the re...

  • Asher

    [smith] a place which formed one boundary of the tribe of Manasseh on the south. (Joshua 17:7) Mr. Porter suggests that Teyasir may be the Asher of Manasseh. Handbook , p.348.
    [nave] ASHER 1. Son of Jacob, by Zilpah, Gen. 30:13; 35:26; 49:20; Ex. 1:4; 1 Chr. 2:2. Descendants of, Gen. 46:17; Num. 26:44-47. 2. Tribe of: Census of, by families, Num. 1:40, 41; 26:44-47; 1 Chr. 7:40; 12:36. Station of, in ...

  • Michmethah

    [ebd] hiding-place, a town in the northern border of Ephraim and Manasseh, and not far west of Jordan (Josh. 16:6; 17:7).
    [isbe] MICHMETHAH - mik'-me-tha (ha-mikhmethah; Codex Vaticanus Hikasmon; Codex Alexandrinus Machthoth): A place named in defining the territory of Ephraim and Manasseh (Josh 16:6; 17:7). It is said to lie "before," i.e. to the Eas...
    [smith] (hiding-place), a place which formed one of the landmarks of the boundary of the territories of Ephraim and Manasseh on the western side of Jordan. (Joshua 17:7) The position of the place must be somewhere on the east of and ...
    [nave] MICHMETHAH, a city between Ephraim and Manasseh, Josh. 16:6; 17:7.

  • Women

    [nave] WOMEN Creation of, Gen. 1:27; 2:21, 22. Named, Gen. 2:23. Fall of, and curse upon, Gen. 3:1-16; 2 Cor. 11:3; 1 Tim. 2:14. Promise to, Gen. 3:15. Had separate apartments in dwellings, Gen. 24:67; 31:33; Esth. 2:9, 11. Ve...

  • Heir

    [nave] HEIR. Gal. 4:1, 2.Gen. 15:3; Gen. 21:10 Gal. 4:30. Gen. 25:5, 6; Lev. 25:45, 46; Num. 27:8-11; Num. 36:1-8 Josh. 17:3-6. Deut. 21:15-17; Ruth 4:1-12; Eccl. 2:18, 19 See: Inheritance; Birthright; Firstborn; Orphan; Will. Fi...

  • Greed

    [nave] GREED. Ex. 18:21; Ex. 20:17 Deut. 5:21. Neh. 5:7; Job 20:15; Job 31:24, 25, 28; Psa. 10:3; Psa. 119:36; Prov. 1:19; Prov. 11:24, 26; Prov. 15:27; Prov. 21:25, 26; Prov. 22:16; Prov. 23:4, 5; Prov. 30:8, 9; Eccl. 1:8 vs. 2-8...
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Expository Notes on the Bible (Constable)

  • I. The conquest of the land chs. 1-12A. Preparations for entering Canaan chs. 1-21. God's charge to Joshua 1:1-92. Joshua's charge to Israel 1:10-183. The spying out of Jericho ch. 2B. Entrance into the land 3:1-5:121. Passag...
  • In one sense verses 1-9 are a preamble to the whole book. They contain the basic principles that were to guide Joshua and Israel so they could obtain all that God had promised their forefathers.1:1 The first word of the book ...
  • The writer referred to Canaan as "the land of the sons of Israel"first here in Scripture (v. 22). The Anakim were the mighty warriors that the 10 spies had feared (Num. 13:28). Israel destroyed most of these."The hardening of...
  • The writer identified 31 kings in the order in which Joshua defeated them."Many of the same names appear in the Amarna letters, thus confirming the historicity of our text."158"The description was not complete. Shechem is not...
  • Chapters 13-24 describe how Joshua divided the land and the results of that division. Many if not all the Israelite tribes did not conquer or control all the land allotted to them (15:63; 16:10; 17:12-13). The record of the a...
  • The writer may have dealt with the tribes of Ephraim and Manasseh together since Jacob had given Joseph the second largest blessing after Judah (Gen. 49). Moreover half the tribe of Manasseh had already received its inheritan...
  • After the process of assigning land to the three tribes mentioned above, Israel's attention turned to relocating the tabernacle in a more central location (v. 1). God undoubtedly made the choice of Shiloh (lit. rest; cf. Deut...
  • First the two and one-half tribes east of the Jordan received their land. Then Judah, the primary recipient of Jacob's patriarchal blessing, and Joseph, the recipient of Jacob's patriarchal birthright, received their allotmen...
  • Israel's leaders completed this division of the land at Shiloh, the new location of the tabernacle."The gift of the land brought blessings not only to the nation as a whole and to the individual tribes. It also brought blessi...
  • These verses conclude the account of the division of the land proper (chs. 13-21; cf. 1:2-6; 11:23). They bind the two parts of the second half of the book together. They form a theological conclusion to the entire book up to...
  • The main part of the second half of the Book of Joshua dealing with the division of the land ends with the appointment of the Levitical cities (chs. 13-21). The rest of the book deals with settlement in the land (chs. 22-24)....
  • 1:1 The Book of Judges begins with a conjunction translated "now"or "and."God intended Judges to continue the narrative of Israel's history where the Book of Joshua ended (cf. Josh. 1:1). This verse provides a heading for the...
  • The Book of Samuel covers the period of Israel's history bracketed by Samuel's conception and the end of David's reign. David turned the kingdom over to Solomon in 971 B.C.3David reigned for 40 and one-half years (2 Sam. 2:11...
  • Solomon was powerful enough to conscript laborers to build the Millo and a wall around Jerusalem. The Millo (lit. filling) evidently refers to the terraces on the east side of Mt. Zion (cf. 2 Sam. 5:9). Solomon enlarged these...
  • This is the sixth and last message that Ezekiel received from the Lord the night before the refugees reached the exiles with the message that Jerusalem had fallen (cf. 33:21-22). It too deals with God's plans for Israel in th...
  • The tribe of Dan was to receive the northernmost section of the Promised Land. The order of tribes from north to south, north of the sacred district, was Dan, Asher, Naphtali, Manasseh, Ephraim, Reuben and Judah--seven tribal...
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