Keraia
Joshua 17

Joshua 17:16

Manasseh’s Western Inheritance · Joshua 17:1–18
Read Joshua 17

Translations

Modern
“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.”
Traditional
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 Beth–shean and her towns, and they who are of the valley of Jezreel.
Literal
And the sons of Joseph said, “The hill country is not enough for us, and a chariot of iron is with every Canaanite who is dwelling in the land of the valley who are of Beth-shean and its daughters, and who are of the Valley of Jezreel.”
Latin
Cui responderunt filii Joseph: Non poterimus ad montana conscendere, cum ferreis curribus utantur Chananæi, qui habitant in terra campestri, in qua sitæ sunt Bethsan cum viculis suis, et Jezraël mediam possidens vallem.

Original

Hebrew
English
“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.”

Notes

Joshua 17:16

  • As a result of the Canaanites’ iron chariots, Ephraim and Manasseh were restricted to the hill country in the early part of the settlement period (see study note on 11:4).

  • the Valley of Jezreel: This was a break in the hill country, separating Lower Galilee in the north from Manasseh's hill country in the south. The Canaanites living in and near this valley and the valley of Beth-shan limited Manasseh's and likely Ephraim's expansion. Most towns named in 17:11 were at the edges of these valleys.

Joshua 16:1–17:18

Joseph had two sons, Manasseh and Ephraim (Genesis 41:50–52). Half of those descended from Manasseh received their inheritance east of the Jordan River. The tribe of Ephraim and the rest of Manasseh's tribe now received their land. This made the total number of land portions twelve, fulfilling Jacob's blessing to Joseph (Genesis 49:22–26). Like Judah in the south, Joseph’s tribes led from their central position in the north.

Joshua 14:1–19:51

  • The allotment of land to the tribes on the west side of the Jordan describes what God intended for each tribe to possess.

  • The one narrating the story begins this section with Caleb receiving land and ends with Joshua receiving land (14:6–15; 19:49–51). Only Caleb and Joshua had shown faith in God that Israel could conquer the land (Numbers 13:30; 14:6–9).

Joshua 13:1–21:45

  • As he had promised, God brought Israel into the land. Joshua then focused on dividing the land among Israel's tribes.

  • The tribal allowances made the covenant of the Israelites with God real. It showed the fulfillment of God's promise to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. Since God owned the land, giving it to the tribes was a gift. God gave them the land to live in and guided its distribution.

  • In these lists of tribal allowances, the author describes some borders in great detail, allowing them to be mapped. With others, they are less plainly defined.

Theme notes and profiles

Joshua Inheriting the Land

People

Joseph: Son of Jacob, ruler in Egypt

Places

Beth-shean: City in Manasseh, where Saul's body was displayed Canaan: Ancient region; descendants of Ham; promised to Abraham's descendants Valley of Jezreel: A fertile valley in northern Israel, site of many battles

Glossary

Allotment of the Land Forest of Ephraim Gilgal Ironsmith Joshua (Person) Joshua, Book of Judges, Book of Manasseh, Tribe of Minerals and Metals Sharon Tribe of Dan Valley of Jezreel

Topics

Armies were Composed of War Chariots Avarice: The Descendants of Joseph Canaanites: Not Expelled Chariots for War: Armed with Iron Chariots used in War by The: Canaanites Cowardice: Ephraimites and Manassehites Ephraim: A Tribe of Israel: Territory Allotted To, After the Conquest of Canaan Ephraim: Mount of a Range of Low Mountains Iron: First Recorded Use of Chariot Jezreel: A Valley Petition: Israel