Chapter 17
1 This was the lot for the tribe of Manasseh , for he was the firstborn of Joseph . As for Machir the firstborn of Manasseh , the father of Gilead , because he was a man of war , therefore he had Gilead and Bashan .
2 So this was for the rest of the children of Manasseh according to their families : for the children of Abiezer, for the children of Helek , for the children of Asriel, for the children of Shechem , for the children of Hepher , and for the children of Shemida . These were the male children of Manasseh the son of Joseph according to their families .
3 But Zelophehad , the son of Hepher , the son of Gilead , the son of Machir , the son of Manasseh , had no sons , but daughters . These are the names of his daughters : Mahlah , Noah , Hoglah , Milcah , and Tirzah .
4 They came to Eleazar the priest , and to Joshua the son of Nun , and to the princes , saying , " Yahweh commanded Moses to give us an inheritance among our brothers ." Therefore according to the commandment of Yahweh he gave them an inheritance among the brothers of their father .
5 Ten parts fell to Manasseh , in addition to the land of Gilead and Bashan , which is beyond the Jordan ;
6 because the daughters of Manasseh had an inheritance among his sons . The land of Gilead belonged to the rest of the sons of Manasseh .
7 The border of Manasseh was from Asher to Michmethath , which is before Shechem . The border went along to the right hand , to the inhabitants of En Tappuah.
8 The land of Tappuah belonged to Manasseh ; but Tappuah on the border of Manasseh belonged to the children of Ephraim.
9 The border went down to the brook of Kanah , southward of the brook . These cities belonged to Ephraim among the cities of Manasseh . The border of Manasseh was on the north side of the brook , and ended at the sea .
10 Southward it was Ephraim’s, and northward it was Manasseh ’s, and the sea was his border . They reached to Asher on the north , and to Issachar on the east .
11 Manasseh had three heights in Issachar , in Asher Beth Shean and its towns , and Ibleam and its towns , and the inhabitants of Dor and its towns , and the inhabitants of Endor and its towns , and the inhabitants of Taanach and its towns , and the inhabitants of Megiddo and its towns .
12 Yet the children of Manasseh couldn’t drive out the inhabitants of those cities ; but the Canaanites would dwell in that land.
13 When the children of Israel had grown strong , they put the Canaanites to forced labor , and didn’t utterly drive them out .
14 The children of Joseph spoke to Joshua , saying , " Why have you given me just one lot and one part for an inheritance , since we are a numerous people , because Yahweh has blessed us so far ?"
15 Joshua said to them , " If you are a numerous people , go up to the forest , and clear land for yourself there in the land of the Perizzites and of the Rephaim , since the hill country of Ephraim is too narrow for you ."
16 The children of Joseph said, " The hill country is not enough for us . All the Canaanites who dwell in the land of the valley have chariots of iron , both those who are in Beth Shean and its towns , and those who are in the valley of Jezreel ."
17 Joshua spoke to the house of Joseph , that is , to Ephraim and to Manasseh , saying, " You are a numerous people , and have great power . You shall not have one lot only;
18 but the hill country shall be yours. Although it is a forest , you shall cut it down , and it ’s farthest extent shall be yours; for you shall drive out the Canaanites , though they have chariots of iron , and though they are strong ."