UBF Daily Bread

IT IS YOURS BUT YOU MUST CLEAR IT

Passage: Joshua 16:1~17:18

Key verse: 17:18

Allotment for Ephraim and Manasseh

16 The allotment for Joseph began at the Jordan, east of the springs of Jericho, and went up from there through the desert^(A) into the hill country of Bethel.^(B) ²It went on from Bethel (that is, Luz^(C)),^[a] crossed over to the territory of the Arkites^(D) in Ataroth,^(E) ³descended westward to the territory of the Japhletites as far as the region of Lower Beth Horon^(F) and on to Gezer,^(G) ending at the Mediterranean Sea.

⁴So Manasseh and Ephraim, the descendants of Joseph, received their inheritance.^(H)

⁵This was the territory of Ephraim, according to its clans:

The boundary of their inheritance went from Ataroth Addar^(I) in the east to Upper Beth Horon^(J) ⁶and continued to the Mediterranean Sea. From Mikmethath^(K) on the north it curved eastward to Taanath Shiloh, passing by it to Janoah^(L) on the east. ⁷Then it went down from Janoah^(M) to Ataroth^(N) and Naarah, touched Jericho and came out at the Jordan. ⁸From Tappuah^(O) the border went west to the Kanah Ravine^(P) and ended at the Mediterranean Sea. This was the inheritance of the tribe of the Ephraimites, according to its clans. ⁹It also included all the towns and their villages that were set aside for the Ephraimites within the inheritance of the Manassites.^(Q)

¹⁰They did not dislodge the Canaanites living in Gezer; to this day the Canaanites live among the people of Ephraim but are required to do forced labor.^(R)

17 This was the allotment for the tribe of Manasseh^(S) as Joseph’s firstborn,^(T) that is, for Makir,^(U) Manasseh’s firstborn. Makir was the ancestor of the Gileadites, who had received Gilead^(V) and Bashan^(W) because the Makirites were great soldiers. ²So this allotment was for the rest of the people of Manasseh^(X)—the clans of Abiezer,^(Y) Helek, Asriel,^(Z) Shechem, Hepher^(AA) and Shemida.^(AB) These are the other male descendants of Manasseh son of Joseph by their clans.

³Now Zelophehad son of Hepher,^(AC) the son of Gilead, the son of Makir, the son of Manasseh, had no sons but only daughters,^(AD) whose names were Mahlah, Noah, Hoglah, Milkah and Tirzah. ⁴They went to Eleazar the priest, Joshua son of Nun, and the leaders and said, “The Lord commanded Moses to give us an inheritance among our relatives.” So Joshua gave them an inheritance along with the brothers of their father, according to the Lord’s command.^(AE) ⁵Manasseh’s share consisted of ten tracts of land besides Gilead and Bashan east of the Jordan,^(AF) ⁶because the daughters of the tribe of Manasseh received an inheritance among the sons. The land of Gilead belonged to the rest of the descendants of Manasseh.

⁷The territory of Manasseh extended from Asher^(AG) to Mikmethath^(AH) east of Shechem.^(AI) The boundary ran southward from there to include the people living at En Tappuah. ⁸(Manasseh had the land of Tappuah, but Tappuah^(AJ) itself, on the boundary of Manasseh, belonged to the Ephraimites.) ⁹Then the boundary continued south to the Kanah Ravine.^(AK) There were towns belonging to Ephraim lying among the towns of Manasseh, but the boundary of Manasseh was the northern side of the ravine and ended at the Mediterranean Sea. ¹⁰On the south the land belonged to Ephraim, on the north to Manasseh. The territory of Manasseh reached the Mediterranean Sea and bordered Asher^(AL) on the north and Issachar^(AM) on the east.^(AN)

¹¹Within Issachar^(AO) and Asher, Manasseh also had Beth Shan,^(AP) Ibleam^(AQ) and the people of Dor,^(AR) Endor,^(AS) Taanach^(AT) and Megiddo,^(AU) together with their surrounding settlements (the third in the list is Naphoth^[b]).^(AV)

¹²Yet the Manassites were not able^(AW) to occupy these towns, for the Canaanites were determined to live in that region. ¹³However, when the Israelites grew stronger, they subjected the Canaanites to forced labor but did not drive them out completely.^(AX)

¹⁴The people of Joseph said to Joshua, “Why have you given us only one allotment and one portion for an inheritance? We are a numerous people, and the Lord has blessed us abundantly.”^(AY)

¹⁵“If you are so numerous,” Joshua answered, “and if the hill country of Ephraim is too small for you, go up into the forest^(AZ) and clear land for yourselves there in the land of the Perizzites^(BA) and Rephaites.^(BB)”

¹⁶The people of Joseph replied, “The hill country is not enough for us, and all the Canaanites who live in the plain have chariots fitted with iron,^(BC) both those in Beth Shan^(BD) and its settlements and those in the Valley of Jezreel.”^(BE)

¹⁷But Joshua said to the tribes of Joseph—to Ephraim and Manasseh—“You are numerous and very powerful. You will have not only one allotment^(BF) ¹⁸but the forested hill country^(BG) as well. Clear it, and its farthest limits will be yours; though the Canaanites have chariots fitted with iron^(BH) and though they are strong, you can drive them out.”

Footnotes

Joshua 16:2 Septuagint; Hebrew Bethel to Luz
Joshua 17:11 That is, Naphoth Dor

1. An inability to clear the land (16:1-17:13)

Joseph's portion was actually two portions given to the tribes of his two sons. They too needed to claim their inheritance and dislodge pagan nations. At times, they were unable to do what the Lord commanded (16:10; 17:12). The remaining Canaanites were subjected to forced labor. We are not sure why they could not dislodge them. This caused problems for these tribes in the future.

2. God blesses, with our obedience (17:14-18)

The people of Joseph felt they needed more land. But their enemies had iron chariots. They had a different attitude than Caleb. Joshua acknowledged their strength and granted them more land, but the people would have to clear it, which meant driving out the Canaanites.

Prayer: Lord, I want things to be just given to me. But I know there are times when you call us to struggle spiritually. Help me to obey you at these times.

One Word: Clear the land and be blessed