📖 Joshua — Chapter 17 (KJV)
Read the complete King James Version chapter below, then explore the passage sections, check what you remember, and keep your private study notes.
Scripture source: Project Gutenberg KJV, ebook 10.
Joshua 17:1 There was also a lot for the tribe of Manasseh; for he was the firstborn of Joseph; to wit, for RMachir the firstborn of Manasseh, the father of Gilead: because he was a man of war, therefore he had Gilead and Bashan.
Joshua 17:2 There was also a lot for Rthe rest of the children of Manasseh by their families; for the children of TAbiezer, 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.
Joshua 17:3 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.
Joshua 17:4 And they came near before REleazar 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.
Joshua 17:5 And there fell Rten portions to Manasseh, beside the land of Gilead and Bashan, which were on the other side Jordan;
Joshua 17:6 Because the daughters of Manasseh had an inheritance among his sons: and the rest of Manasseh’s sons had the land of Gilead.
Joshua 17:7 And the coast of Manasseh was from Asher to RMichmethah, that lieth before Shechem; and the border went along on the right hand unto the inhabitants of Entappuah.
Joshua 17:8 Now Manasseh had the land Rof Tappuah: but Tappuah on the border of Manasseh belonged to the children of Ephraim;
Joshua 17:9 And the coast descended unto the RTriver 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:
Joshua 17:10 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.
Joshua 17:11 And RManasseh 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.
Joshua 17:12 Yet the children of Manasseh could not drive out the inhabitants of those cities; but the Canaanites would dwell in that land.
Joshua 17:13 Yet it came to pass, when the children of Israel were Rwaxen strong, that they put the Canaanites to tribute, but did not utterly drive them out.
Joshua 17:14 And the children of Joseph spake unto Joshua, saying, Why hast thou given me but Rone lot and one portion to inherit, seeing I am a great people, forasmuch as the LORD hath blessed me hitherto?
Joshua 17:15 And Joshua answered them, RIf 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 Tgiants, if mount Ephraim be too narrow for thee.
Joshua 17:16 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 Rchariots of iron, both they who are of Bethshean and her towns, and they who are of the valley of Jezreel.
Joshua 17:17 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:
Joshua 17:18 But Rthe 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.
📚 Study This Chapter
📖 What We’re Reading
Joshua 17:1–6 — Manasseh and Zelophehad's daughters
🌱 What These Verses Teach Us
Manasseh's allotment includes the claim of Zelophehad's daughters, made according to the LORD's earlier command through Moses. Their inheritance is recognized among their father's brothers.
Key Truth: The allotment honors the previously given inheritance instruction.
Check What You Remember
1. How many daughters did Zelophehad have? (Joshua 17:3)
Find it in Joshua 17:3 (KJV).
2. Which priest heard their request along with Joshua? (Joshua 17:4)
Find it in Joshua 17:4 (KJV).
3. Did the daughters receive an inheritance among their father's brethren? (Joshua 17:4)
Find it in Joshua 17:4 (KJV).
📖 What We’re Reading
Joshua 17:7–13 — Boundaries and unremoved inhabitants
🌱 What These Verses Teach Us
Manasseh's boundaries and shared cities are described. The tribe does not remove the Canaanites from certain cities, later imposing tribute on them.
Key Truth: Receiving an allotted territory does not mean all its inhabitants were driven out.
Check What You Remember
1. What brook is named in the boundary? (Joshua 17:9)
Find it in Joshua 17:9 (KJV).
2. What people remained in the cities? (Joshua 17:12)
Find it in Joshua 17:12 (KJV).
3. What did Israel impose instead of utterly driving them out? (Joshua 17:13)
Find it in Joshua 17:13 (KJV).
📖 What We’re Reading
Joshua 17:14–18 — Joseph's request for more room
🌱 What These Verses Teach Us
Joseph's descendants ask for a larger portion. Joshua directs them to clear the wooded hill country and not be deterred by the Canaanites' iron chariots.
Key Truth: Joshua calls the tribe to act on its strength rather than merely request a larger allotment.
Check What You Remember
1. What kind of land did Joshua tell the tribe to clear? (Joshua 17:15)
Find it in Joshua 17:15 (KJV).
2. What material were the enemy's chariots made of? (Joshua 17:16)
Find it in Joshua 17:16 (KJV).
3. Which two tribes did Joshua address as the house of Joseph? (Joshua 17:17)
Find it in Joshua 17:17 (KJV).
Related Scripture (KJV)
Numbers 27:7 — The LORD's earlier ruling supplies the basis for the daughters' inheritance.
This related passage is selected for its connection with this chapter. It is separate from the chapter text.
Reflect and Apply
Which truth from this chapter do you want to remember? What question or related Scripture would you like to explore next? You can keep these thoughts in your private Notes below.
Advanced Questions and Answers
Study this chapter’s wording, patterns, contrasts, and meaning in greater depth.
1. Why is Gilead and Bashan associated with Machir?
2. On what authority do Zelophehad’s daughters base their request?
3. How does Israel’s increasing strength affect the remaining Canaanites?
4. How does Joshua answer the complaint that mount Ephraim is too narrow?
5. How does Joshua respond to the fear of iron chariots?
Notes
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