11 And Manasseh H4519 had in Issachar H3485 and in Asher H836 Bethshean H1052 and her towns, H1323 and Ibleam H2991 and her towns, H1323 and the inhabitants H3427 of Dor H1756 and her towns, H1323 and the inhabitants H3427 of Endor H5874 and her towns, H1323 and the inhabitants H3427 of Taanach H8590 and her towns, H1323 and the inhabitants H3427 of Megiddo H4023 and her towns, H1323 even three H7969 countries. H5316
And by the borders H3027 of the children H1121 of Manasseh, H4519 Bethshean H1052 and her towns, H1323 Taanach H8590 and her towns, H1323 Megiddo H4023 and her towns, H1323 Dor H1756 and her towns. H1323 In these dwelt H3427 the children H1121 of Joseph H3130 the son H1121 of Israel. H3478
But when Ahaziah H274 the king H4428 of Judah H3063 saw H7200 this, he fled H5127 by the way H1870 of the garden H1588 house. H1004 And Jehu H3058 followed H7291 after H310 him, and said, H559 Smite H5221 him also in the chariot. H4818 And they did so at the going up H4608 to Gur, H1483 which is by Ibleam. H2991 And he fled H5127 to Megiddo, H4023 and died H4191 there.
Neither did Manasseh H4519 drive out H3423 the inhabitants of Bethshean H1052 and her towns, H1323 nor Taanach H8590 and her towns, H1323 nor the inhabitants H3427 of Dor H1756 and her towns, H1323 nor the inhabitants H3427 of Ibleam H2991 and her towns, H1323 nor the inhabitants H3427 of Megiddo H4023 and her towns: H1323 but the Canaanites H3669 would H2974 dwell H3427 in that land. H776
Which perished H8045 at Endor: H5874 they became as dung H1828 for the earth. H127
And this is the reason H1697 of the levy H4522 which king H4428 Solomon H8010 raised; H5927 for to build H1129 the house H1004 of the LORD, H3068 and his own house, H1004 and Millo, H4407 and the wall H2346 of Jerusalem, H3389 and Hazor, H2674 and Megiddo, H4023 and Gezer. H1507
The son of Abinadab, H1125 in all the region H5299 of Dor; H1756 which had Taphath H2955 the daughter H1323 of Solomon H8010 to wife: H802 Baana H1195 the son H1121 of Ahilud; H286 to him pertained Taanach H8590 and Megiddo, H4023 and all Bethshean, H1052 which is by H681 Zartanah H6891 beneath Jezreel, H3157 from Bethshean H1052 to Abelmeholah, H65 even unto the place that is beyond H5676 Jokneam: H3361
Then said H559 Saul H7586 unto his servants, H5650 Seek H1245 me a woman H802 that hath H1172 a familiar spirit, H178 that I may go H3212 to her, and enquire H1875 of her. And his servants H5650 said H559 to him, Behold, there is a woman H802 that hath H1172 a familiar spirit H178 at Endor. H5874
In that day H3117 shall there be a great H1431 mourning H4553 in Jerusalem, H3389 as the mourning H4553 of Hadadrimmon H1910 in the valley H1237 of Megiddon. H4023
Nevertheless Josiah H2977 would not turn H5437 his face H6440 from him, but disguised H2664 himself, that he might fight H3898 with him, and hearkened H8085 not unto the words H1697 of Necho H5224 from the mouth H6310 of God, H430 and came H935 to fight H3898 in the valley H1237 of Megiddo. H4023
In his days H3117 Pharaohnechoh H6549 king H4428 of Egypt H4714 went up H5927 against the king H4428 of Assyria H804 to the river H5104 Euphrates: H6578 and king H4428 Josiah H2977 went H3212 against H7125 him; and he slew H4191 him at Megiddo, H4023 when he had seen H7200 him. And his servants H5650 carried him in a chariot H7392 dead H4191 from Megiddo, H4023 and brought H935 him to Jerusalem, H3389 and buried H6912 him in his own sepulchre. H6900 And the people H5971 of the land H776 took H3947 Jehoahaz H3059 the son H1121 of Josiah, H2977 and anointed H4886 him, and made him king H4427 in his father's H1 stead.
Worthy.Bible » Commentaries » Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible » Commentary on Joshua 17
Commentary on Joshua 17 Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
CHAPTER 17
Jos 17:1-6. Lot of Manasseh.
1-6. There was also a lot for the tribe of Manasseh—Ephraim was mentioned, as the more numerous and powerful branch of the family of Joseph (Ge 48:19, 20); but Manasseh still retained the right of primogeniture and had a separate inheritance assigned.
Machir—his descendants.
the father of Gilead—Though he had a son of that name (Nu 26:29; 27:1), yet, as is evident from the use of the Hebrew article, reference is made, not to the person, but the province of Gilead. "Father" here means lord or possessor of Gilead. This view is confirmed by the fact that it was not Machir, but his descendants, who subdued Gilead and Bashan (Nu 32:41; De 3:13-15). These Machirites had their portion on the east side of Jordan. The western portion of land, allotted to the tribe of Manasseh, was divided into ten portions because the male descendants who had sons consisted of five families, to which, consequently, five shares were given; and the sixth family, namely, the posterity of Hepher, being all women, the five daughters of Zelophehad were, on application to the valuators, endowed each with an inheritance in land (see on Nu 27:4).
Jos 17:7-11. This Coast.
7-11. the coast of Manasseh was from Asher to Michmethah—The southern boundary is here traced from the east. Asher (now Yasir), the starting point, was a town fifteen Roman miles east of Shechem, and anciently a place of importance.
9. the coast descended unto the river Kanah, southward of the river—The line which separated the possessions of the two brothers from each other ran to the south of the stream. Thus the river was in the territory of Manasseh; but the cities which were upon the river, though all were within the limits of Manasseh's possessions, were assigned partly to Ephraim, and partly to Manasseh; those on the south side being given to the former; those upon the north to the latter [Keil]. It appears (Jos 17:10) that Manasseh was still further interlaced with other neighboring tribes.
11. Beth-shean and her towns—Greek, "Scythopolis" (now Beisan), in the valley of the Jordan, towards the east end of the plain of Jezreel. "Beth-shean" means "house of rest," so called from its being the halting place for caravans travelling between Syria or Midian, and Egypt, and the great station for the commerce between these countries for many centuries.
Ibleam and her towns—in the neighborhood of Megiddo (2Ki 9:27).
the inhabitants of Dor and her towns—(now Tantoura), anciently a strong fortress; a wall of wild precipitous rock defended the shore fortifications against attack from the land side.
En-dor and her towns—situated on a rocky eminence, four Roman miles south of Tabor.
Taanach and … Megiddo—These were near to each other, and they are generally mentioned in Scripture together. They were both royal and strongly fortified places (see on Jud 1:27).
three countries—districts or provinces. It is computed that Manasseh possessed in Asher and Issachar portions of ground to the extent of more than two hundred square miles.
Jos 17:12, 13. Canaanites Not Driven Out.
12, 13. Yet the children of Manasseh could not drive out those cities—probably due to indolence, a love of ease. Perhaps a mistaken humanity, arising from a disregard or forgetfulness of the divine command, and a decreasing principle of faith and zeal in the service of God, were the causes of their failure.
Jos 17:14-18. The Children of Joseph Ask for Another Lot.
14-18. the children of Joseph spake unto Joshua—The two tribes join in laying a complaint before the leader, as to the narrow boundaries of their allotment and its insufficiency to be the residence of tribes so vastly increased. But Joshua's answer was full of wisdom as well as patriotism. Knowing their character, he treated them accordingly, and sarcastically turned all their arguments against themselves. Thus he rebuked their unbelief and cowardice.
15. mount Ephraim—called so here by anticipation. The Gilboa range between Beth-shean and the plain of Jezreel is meant, anciently covered with an extensive forest.
16. chariots of iron—unusually strengthened with that metal, and perhaps armed with projecting scythes.