CHAPTER 17
Now 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.
So 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.
But 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.
They 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.
because
the daughters
of Manasseh
received
an inheritance
among
his sons.
And the land
of Gilead
belonged to
the rest
of the sons
of Manasseh.
Now the border
of Manasseh
went
from Asher
to Michmethath
near
Shechem,
then
southward
to include
the inhabitants
of En-tappuah.
The region
of Tappuah
belonged to
Manasseh,
but Tappuah itself,
on
the border
of Manasseh,
belonged to
Ephraim.
From 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.
Ephraim’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.
Within Issachar
and Asher,
Manasseh
was assigned
Beth-shean,
Ibleam,
Dor
(that is,
Naphath),
Endor,
Taanach,
and
Megiddo,
each with their surrounding settlements.
But the descendants
of Manasseh
were unable
to occupy
these
cities,
because the Canaanites
were determined
to stay
in this
land.
However,
when
the Israelites
grew stronger,
they put
the Canaanites
to forced labor;
but they failed
to drive them out
completely.
Then 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.”
Joshua
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."
“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.”
So 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,
because
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.”