FocusInheritance and provision
Connection to the wholeBoundaries, allotments, refuge cities, and Levitical cities describe the ordering of Israel's inheritance.
interpretation Joshua 17:16
KJVAnd the children of Joseph said, The hill is not enough for us: and all the Canaanites that dwell in the land of the valley have chariots of iron, both they who are of Bethshean and her towns, and they who are of the valley of Jezreel.
Read it in context
Manasseh’s Western Inheritance
Start reading at Joshua 17:1 (Joshua 17:1 to Joshua 17:18).
An editorial reading unit, not a claim that the surrounding context stops here. Book background below applies to the shared passage; individual verses may need more specific explanation.
Boundaries, allotments, refuge cities, and Levitical cities describe the ordering of Israel's inheritance.
- 17:1 There was also a lot for the tribe of Manasseh; for he was the firstborn of Joseph; to wit, for Machir the firstborn of Manasseh, the father of Gilead: because he was a man of war, therefore he had Gilead and Bashan.
- 17:2 There was also a lot for the rest of the children of Manasseh by their families; for the children of Abiezer, and for the children of Helek, and for the children of Asriel, and for the children of Shechem, and for the children of Hepher, and for the children of Shemida: these were the male children of Manasseh the son of Joseph by their families.
- 17:3 But Zelophehad, the son of Hepher, the son of Gilead, the son of Machir, the son of Manasseh, had no sons, but daughters: and these are the names of his daughters, Mahlah, and Noah, Hoglah, Milcah, and Tirzah.
- 17:4 And they came near before Eleazar the priest, and before Joshua the son of Nun, and before the princes, saying, The LORD commanded Moses to give us an inheritance among our brethren. Therefore according to the commandment of the LORD he gave them an inheritance among the brethren of their father.
- 17:5 And there fell ten portions to Manasseh, beside the land of Gilead and Bashan, which were on the other side Jordan;
- 17:6 Because the daughters of Manasseh had an inheritance among his sons: and the rest of Manasseh's sons had the land of Gilead.
- 17:7 And the coast of Manasseh was from Asher to Michmethah, that lieth before Shechem; and the border went along on the right hand unto the inhabitants of Entappuah.
- 17:8 Now Manasseh had the land of Tappuah: but Tappuah on the border of Manasseh belonged to the children of Ephraim;
- 17:9 And the coast descended unto the river Kanah, southward of the river: these cities of Ephraim are among the cities of Manasseh: the coast of Manasseh also was on the north side of the river, and the outgoings of it were at the sea:
- 17:10 Southward it was Ephraim's, and northward it was Manasseh's, and the sea is his border; and they met together in Asher on the north, and in Issachar on the east.
- 17:11 And Manasseh had in Issachar and in Asher Bethshean and her towns, and Ibleam and her towns, and the inhabitants of Dor and her towns, and the inhabitants of Endor and her towns, and the inhabitants of Taanach and her towns, and the inhabitants of Megiddo and her towns, even three countries.
- 17:12 Yet the children of Manasseh could not drive out the inhabitants of those cities; but the Canaanites would dwell in that land.
- 17:13 Yet it came to pass, when the children of Israel were waxen strong, that they put the Canaanites to tribute, but did not utterly drive them out.
- 17:14 And the children of Joseph spake unto Joshua, saying, Why hast thou given me but one lot and one portion to inherit, seeing I am a great people, forasmuch as the LORD hath blessed me hitherto?
- 17:15 And Joshua answered them, If thou be a great people, then get thee up to the wood country, and cut down for thyself there in the land of the Perizzites and of the giants, if mount Ephraim be too narrow for thee.
- 17:16 And the children of Joseph said, The hill is not enough for us: and all the Canaanites that dwell in the land of the valley have chariots of iron, both they who are of Bethshean and her towns, and they who are of the valley of Jezreel.
- 17:17 And Joshua spake unto the house of Joseph, even to Ephraim and to Manasseh, saying, Thou art a great people, and hast great power: thou shalt not have one lot only:
- 17:18 But the mountain shall be thine; for it is a wood, and thou shalt cut it down: and the outgoings of it shall be thine: for thou shalt drive out the Canaanites, though they have iron chariots, and though they be strong.
Who
- Who wrote the book? Joshua is the traditional principal author, and Joshua 24:26 credits him with writing covenant words. The closing record of his death and later events means the completed account includes a later contribution. Biblical references: Joshua 24:26; Joshua 24:29. Historical source: Babylonian Talmud, Bava Batra 14b–15a (record of Jewish attribution, not contemporary proof). traditionally held
- Who was present or being addressed in this passage? In the surrounding chapter context (Joshua 13:1–21:45): Joshua, Eleazar, tribal representatives, and the clans of Israel are involved in the distribution of land and cities. The territorial descriptions concern the named tribes and families. stated in the text
- Who was the book written to? Israel living in the land and later generations learning how the land was allotted and why covenant faithfulness mattered. No individual first recipient is known. Biblical references: Joshua 4:6; Joshua 4:21; Joshua 24:24. book background
What
- What is the topic of this reading unit? Manasseh’s Western Inheritance. Read Joshua 17:1 through Joshua 17:18 as a connected unit. interpretation
- How does it contribute to the book? Boundaries, allotments, refuge cities, and Levitical cities describe the ordering of Israel's inheritance. interpretation
When
- When are the events or message set? The account follows Moses' death and proceeds through the entry, campaigns, allotments, and Joshua's final covenant addresses. book background
Where
- What is the book’s geographic setting? The people cross from east of Jordan into Canaan. Campaign locations, tribal boundaries, and cities are distinct settings within that broader movement. book background
- Where does the context start? This passage sits in Manasseh’s Western Inheritance (Joshua 17:1 to Joshua 17:18). Start reading at Joshua 17:1. An editorial reading unit, not a claim that the surrounding context stops here. Book background below applies to the shared passage; individual verses may need more specific explanation.
How
- How does this book connect with Jesus Christ? Hebrews 4 distinguishes the rest associated with Joshua from the rest still discussed in its exhortation. In the KJV of Hebrews 4:8, the name Jesus refers in context to Joshua. See Joshua 1:1, Hebrews 4:8, Hebrews 4:9. interpretation
- How should this book guide our response? Take the repeated calls to faithfulness and obedience seriously. Historical warfare commands to Israel should not be converted into permission for a reader's private violence. interpretation
Cited: Joshua 17:1, Joshua 17:18, Joshua 1:1, Hebrews 4:8, Hebrews 4:9
Who wrote it, and how we know
Joshua (traditional)
From early tradition
What Scripture saysThe book records that Joshua wrote these words in the book of the law of God.
Joshua 24:26
Early traditionJewish tradition (Baba Bathra 14b) names Joshua.
What is debatedThe closing verses record Joshua's death and later events, so a later hand completed the book.
Related passages
- chariots Josh 17:18 Judg 1:19 Judg 4:3
- Beth-shean Josh 17:11 1 Kgs 4:12
- Jezreel Josh 19:18 Judg 6:33 1 Kgs 4:12 1 Kgs 18:46 1 Kgs 21:1,23 2 Kgs 9:10,37 Hos 1:4-5
Cross references from CrossReferences-org (CC BY 4.0).
Macro-Structure
See how this passage fits the chapter and the book.
Macro-Structure of Joshua 17
Joshua concerns Israel's entry into Canaan, the distribution of the land, and covenant exhortations. It identifies Joshua's leadership and records his writing in Joshua 24:26, but that does not establish that he wrote every later event in the book. Local headings and stanza divisions are editorial reading aids adapted from public-domain BSB headings; verse boundaries and Scripture links use the KJV. Connections describe the surrounding book movement.
Joshua 1:1 Joshua 24:26 Joshua 24:29
Suggested literary divisions. Headings summarize the passage; they are not part of the biblical text.
Macro-Structure of Joshua
Joshua concerns Israel's entry into Canaan, the distribution of the land, and covenant exhortations. It identifies Joshua's leadership and records his writing in Joshua 24:26, but that does not establish that he wrote every later event in the book.
Joshua 1:1 Joshua 24:26 Joshua 24:29
Entering the land
Joshua 1:1–5:12FocusCommission, crossing, and covenant signs
Connection to the wholeJoshua's commission and the Jordan crossing lead into renewed covenant signs before the campaigns begin.
interpretation Conflict and the taking of the land
Joshua 5:13–12:24FocusVictory, failure, and the LORD's commands
Connection to the wholeThe campaigns include both victories and Israel's failure concerning the devoted things; the record ends with a list of defeated kings.
interpretation FocusInheritance and provision
Connection to the wholeBoundaries, allotments, refuge cities, and Levitical cities describe the ordering of Israel's inheritance.
interpretation The tribes and the covenant
Joshua 22:1–24:33FocusUnity, loyalty, and final exhortation
Connection to the wholeThe closing events and Joshua's speeches urge the tribes to serve the LORD and warn against abandoning the covenant.
interpretation Suggested literary divisions. Headings summarize the passage; they are not part of the biblical text.