4 And they came near H7126 before H6440 Eleazar H499 the priest, H3548 and before H6440 Joshua H3091 the son H1121 of Nun, H5126 and before H6440 the princes, H5387 saying, H559 The LORD H3068 commanded H6680 Moses H4872 to give H5414 us an inheritance H5159 among H8432 our brethren. H251 Therefore according to the commandment H6310 of the LORD H3068 he gave H5414 them an inheritance H5159 among H8432 the brethren H251 of their father. H1
And these are the countries which the children H1121 of Israel H3478 inherited H5157 in the land H776 of Canaan, H3667 which Eleazar H499 the priest, H3548 and Joshua H3091 the son H1121 of Nun, H5126 and the heads H7218 of the fathers H1 of the tribes H4294 of the children H1121 of Israel, H3478 distributed for inheritance H5157 to them.
And Moses H4872 brought H7126 their cause H4941 before H6440 the LORD. H3068 And the LORD H3068 spake H559 unto Moses, H4872 saying, H559 The daughters H1323 of Zelophehad H6765 speak H1696 right: H3651 thou shalt surely H5414 give H5414 them a possession H272 of an inheritance H5159 among H8432 their father's H1 brethren; H251 and thou shalt cause the inheritance H5159 of their father H1 to pass H5674 unto them.
These are the names H8034 of the men H582 which shall divide H5157 the land H776 unto you: Eleazar H499 the priest, H3548 and Joshua H3091 the son H1121 of Nun. H5126 And ye shall take H3947 one H259 prince H5387 of every tribe, H4294 to divide H5157 the land H776 by inheritance. H5157 And the names H8034 of the men H582 are these: Of the tribe H4294 of Judah, H3063 Caleb H3612 the son H1121 of Jephunneh. H3312 And of the tribe H4294 of the children H1121 of Simeon, H8095 Shemuel H8050 the son H1121 of Ammihud. H5989 Of the tribe H4294 of Benjamin, H1144 Elidad H449 the son H1121 of Chislon. H3692 And the prince H5387 of the tribe H4294 of the children H1121 of Dan, H1835 Bukki H1231 the son H1121 of Jogli. H3020 The prince H5387 of the children H1121 of Joseph, H3130 for the tribe H4294 of the children H1121 of Manasseh, H4519 Hanniel H2592 the son H1121 of Ephod. H641 And the prince H5387 of the tribe H4294 of the children H1121 of Ephraim, H669 Kemuel H7055 the son H1121 of Shiphtan. H8204 And the prince H5387 of the tribe H4294 of the children H1121 of Zebulun, H2074 Elizaphan H469 the son H1121 of Parnach. H6535 And the prince H5387 of the tribe H4294 of the children H1121 of Issachar, H3485 Paltiel H6409 the son H1121 of Azzan. H5821 And the prince H5387 of the tribe H4294 of the children H1121 of Asher, H836 Ahihud H282 the son H1121 of Shelomi. H8015 And the prince H5387 of the tribe H4294 of the children H1121 of Naphtali, H5321 Pedahel H6300 the son H1121 of Ammihud. H5989 These are they whom the LORD H3068 commanded H6680 to divide the inheritance H5157 unto the children H1121 of Israel H3478 in the land H776 of Canaan. H3667
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.