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.
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.
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.
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.
5 And there fell ten portions to Manasseh, beside the land of Gilead and Bashan, which were on the other side Jordan;
6 Because the daughters of Manasseh had an inheritance among his sons: and the rest of Manasseh's sons had the land of Gilead.
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.
8 Now Manasseh had the land of Tappuah: but Tappuah on the border of Manasseh belonged to the children of Ephraim;
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:
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.
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.
12 Yet the children of Manasseh could not drive out the inhabitants of those cities; but the Canaanites would dwell in that land.
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.
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?
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.
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 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:
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.
The book of Joshua is the sixth book of the Old Testament in the KJV Holy Bible. It is a historical book that tells the story of the Israelites entering and conquering the promised land, under the leadership of Joshua, after the death of Moses. Chapter 17 of the book of Joshua continues the account of the division of the land among the tribes of Israel. In this chapter, the land is divided among the remaining seven tribes, namely Manasseh, Ephraim, and the five daughters of Zelophehad.
The main themes of this chapter include the fulfillment of God's promise to the Israelites, the importance of faith and obedience, and the consequences of disobedience. It also highlights the significance of land ownership and inheritance, as well as the role of women in society. Through the events in this chapter, we can learn important lessons about God's faithfulness, the importance of following His commands, and the value of unity and sharing among God's people.
After the conquest of the promised land, Joshua summoned the leaders of the remaining seven tribes to discuss the division of the land among them. The tribe of Manasseh was the first to receive their inheritance, as they were the largest tribe and had fought alongside the tribe of Reuben and Gad on the east side of the Jordan. The land of Manasseh was divided into two portions, one for the descendants of Manasseh's older son, Machir, and the other for his younger son, Gilead.
Next, the tribe of Ephraim received their inheritance. However, they complained to Joshua that their portion was not enough for their large population. Joshua reminded them that they were a mighty people and could expand their territory by driving out the Canaanites from the surrounding areas. He also encouraged them to clear the forests and possess the land. The Ephraimites listened to Joshua's advice and went on to conquer more land.
Lastly, the five daughters of Zelophehad, from the tribe of Manasseh, approached Joshua to claim their inheritance. They reminded Joshua that their father had died without sons, and they should not be left without a portion of their father's land. Joshua consulted with God, and He confirmed that the daughters were right in claiming their inheritance. This was a significant event as it was the first time that women were given the right to inherit land in the Israelite society.
Throughout the book of Joshua, we see that God's promise to give the Israelites the land of Canaan was based on their faith and obedience. In this chapter, we see the tribe of Ephraim's faith and obedience in action. They trusted God's promise and were willing to follow Joshua's instructions to expand their territory. As a result, they were able to possess more land than what was originally allotted to them.
On the other hand, we also see the consequences of disobedience through the tribe of Manasseh. Although they were a great and mighty people, they failed to drive out the Canaanites from their land, as God had commanded. As a result, the Canaanites remained among them, and they were unable to fully possess their inheritance. This serves as a reminder that God's promises are contingent on our faith and obedience.
The division of the land among the tribes of Israel was not just a geographical distribution, but it also had significant spiritual and cultural implications. The promised land was a symbol of God's faithfulness and provision for His people. It was also a reminder of their identity as the chosen people of God. The inheritance of the land was a way to preserve their family lineage and continue the legacy of their ancestors. It was also a means of sustenance and livelihood for the people.
Furthermore, the inheritance of the land was also a way to demonstrate unity and sharing among the tribes of Israel. The tribe of Manasseh was divided into two portions, one for each of Manasseh's sons. This was a way to ensure that the land was shared equally among the tribes, and no one was left without an inheritance. The inclusion of the daughters of Zelophehad in the inheritance also shows the importance of gender equality in God's eyes.
The five daughters of Zelophehad play a crucial role in this chapter. They boldly approached Joshua to claim their inheritance, and their request was granted. This is significant because, in the ancient Near Eastern culture, women were not allowed to inherit land. However, in the Israelite society, God's law granted women the right to inherit their father's land in the absence of sons.
Through the actions of these women, we see that God values and honors women. He sees them as equal and capable members of society who are entitled to the same rights and privileges as men. This is a powerful message that continues to be relevant in today's society, where gender equality is still an ongoing issue.
Chapter 17 of the book of Joshua teaches us several important lessons. Firstly, it reminds us of God's faithfulness in fulfilling His promises. The division of the land among the tribes of Israel was a fulfillment of God's promise to give them the land of Canaan. It serves as a reminder that God keeps His promises, and we can trust in His faithfulness.
Secondly, this chapter highlights the importance of faith and obedience in our relationship with God. The tribe of Ephraim's faith and obedience led to their expansion and prosperity, while the disobedience of the tribe of Manasseh resulted in their inability to possess their inheritance fully. It serves as a reminder that our actions have consequences and that God's promises are contingent on our faith and obedience.
Furthermore, this chapter also emphasizes the significance of land ownership and inheritance. It serves as a reminder that everything we have is ultimately from God, and we should be good stewards of His blessings. It also teaches us the value of unity and sharing among God's people, regardless of our differences.
Lastly, the inclusion of the daughters of Zelophehad in the inheritance highlights the importance of gender equality in God's eyes. It serves as a reminder that men and women are equal in God's sight and are both entitled to His blessings and promises.
In conclusion, Chapter 17 of the book of Joshua is a significant chapter that continues to hold relevance in our lives today. It teaches us about God's faithfulness, the importance of faith and obedience, the significance of land ownership and inheritance, and the value of gender equality. It serves as a reminder that God's promises are contingent on our faith and obedience, and He values and honors all His children equally. May we learn from the lessons in this chapter and strive to live a life that is pleasing to God.
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