Joshua 17
יהושע פרק י״ז
Section: נביאים · נביאים ראשונים | Book: Joshua | Chapter: 17 of 24 | Day: 17 of 742
Date: February 28, 2026
קלאוד על הנ״ך
Joshua chapter 17 continues the allocation to the tribe of Manasseh and contains one of the more dramatic exchanges in the entire book. The chapter opens by distinguishing between the two halves of Manasseh: the eastern branch (Machir’s descendants in Gilead and Bashan, across the Jordan) and the western clans who now receive their territory in the central hill country (verses 1-6). Within this accounting comes a remarkable legal precedent: the daughters of Zelophehad — Mahlah, Noah, Hoglah, Milcah, and Tirzah — appear before Eleazar the priest and Joshua to claim their inheritance, citing God’s command to Moses in Numbers 27. Their successful petition, honored “in accordance with God’s instructions” (verse 4), demonstrates that the laws established in the wilderness were not theoretical but actively applied during the settlement, and that women’s property rights, once divinely affirmed, were upheld without hesitation.
The boundary descriptions in verses 7-13 paint a picture of Manasseh’s western territory as interleaved with Ephraim’s — shared border towns, enclaves belonging to one tribe within another’s territory, and zones of overlapping authority. This geographic complexity would have practical implications for inter-tribal relations for generations. As with Ephraim in the previous chapter, Manasseh is unable to fully dispossess the Canaanites from key cities like Beth-shean, Taanach, Dor, and Megiddo (verse 12) — all of which controlled vital trade routes and agricultural valleys. When Israel grew stronger, they imposed tribute rather than completing the dispossession (verse 13), a pattern that the Book of Judges will later identify as a fundamental failure.
The chapter’s climax is a bold confrontation between the Josephites and Joshua himself (verses 14-18). The combined tribes of Ephraim and Manasseh complain that they have received only “a single allotment and a single district” despite being “a numerous people whom God has blessed so greatly.” Joshua’s response is masterful: he turns their own argument against them. If you are so numerous and powerful, he says, then go clear the forested hill country and take it. When they protest that the Canaanites in the valley have iron chariots, Joshua refuses to grant them additional territory but instead reaffirms their strength: “You shall also dispossess the Canaanites, even though they have iron chariots and even though they are strong” (verse 18). Joshua’s leadership here is instructive — he is sympathetic but firm, refusing to reward passivity. The message is clear: divine promise requires human effort, and the blessings of a large population come with the responsibility to use that strength courageously.
פרק י״ז · Chapter 17
פסוק א׳ · Verse 1
Hebrew:
וַיְהִ֤י הַגּוֹרָל֙ לְמַטֵּ֣ה מְנַשֶּׁ֔ה כִּי־ה֖וּא בְּכ֣וֹר יוֹסֵ֑ף לְמָכִיר֩ בְּכ֨וֹר מְנַשֶּׁ֜ה אֲבִ֣י הַגִּלְעָ֗ד כִּ֣י ה֤וּא הָיָה֙ אִ֣ישׁ מִלְחָמָ֔ה וַֽיְהִי־ל֖וֹ הַגִּלְעָ֥ד וְהַבָּשָֽׁן׃
English:
And this is the portion that fell by lot to the tribe of Manasseh—for he was Joseph’s first-born. Since Machir, the first-born of Manasseh and the father of Gilead, was a valiant warrior, Gilead and Bashan were assigned to him.
פסוק ב׳ · Verse 2
Hebrew:
וַ֠יְהִ֠י לִבְנֵ֨י מְנַשֶּׁ֥ה הַנּֽוֹתָרִים֮ לְמִשְׁפְּחֹתָם֒ לִבְנֵ֨י אֲבִיעֶ֜זֶר וְלִבְנֵי־חֵ֗לֶק וְלִבְנֵ֤י אַשְׂרִיאֵל֙ וְלִבְנֵי־שֶׁ֔כֶם וְלִבְנֵי־חֵ֖פֶר וְלִבְנֵ֣י שְׁמִידָ֑ע אֵ֠לֶּה בְּנֵ֨י מְנַשֶּׁ֧�� בֶן־יוֹסֵ֛ף הַזְּכָרִ֖ים לְמִשְׁפְּחֹתָֽם׃
English:
And now assignments were made to the remaining Manassites, by their clans: the descendants of Abiezer, Helek, Asriel, Shechem, Hepher, and Shemida. Those were the male descendants of Manasseh son of Joseph, by their clans.
פסוק ג׳ · Verse 3
Hebrew:
וְלִצְלׇפְחָד֩ בֶּן־חֵ֨פֶר בֶּן־גִּלְעָ֜ד בֶּן־מָכִ֣יר בֶּן־מְנַשֶּׁ֗ה לֹא־הָ֥יוּ ל֛וֹ בָּנִ֖ים כִּ֣י אִם־בָּנ֑וֹת וְאֵ֙לֶּה֙ שְׁמ֣וֹת בְּנֹתָ֔יו מַחְלָ֣ה וְנֹעָ֔ה חׇגְלָ֥ה מִלְכָּ֖ה וְתִרְצָֽה׃
English:
aCf. Num. 27.1–11. Now Zelophehad son of Hepher son of Gilead son of Machir son of Manasseh had no sons, but only daughters. The names of his daughters were Mahlah, Noah, Hoglah, Milcah, and Tirzah.
פסוק ד׳ · Verse 4
Hebrew:
וַתִּקְרַ֡בְנָה לִפְנֵי֩ אֶלְעָזָ֨ר הַכֹּהֵ֜ן וְלִפְנֵ֣י ׀ יְהוֹשֻׁ֣עַ בִּן־נ֗וּן וְלִפְנֵ֤י הַנְּשִׂיאִים֙ לֵאמֹ֔ר יְהֹוָה֙ צִוָּ֣ה אֶת־מֹשֶׁ֔ה לָתֶת־לָ֥נוּ נַחֲלָ֖ה בְּת֣וֹךְ אַחֵ֑ינוּ וַיִּתֵּ֨ן לָהֶ֜ם אֶל־פִּ֤י יְהֹוָה֙ נַחֲלָ֔ה בְּת֖וֹךְ אֲחֵ֥י אֲבִיהֶֽן׃
English:
They appeared before the priest Eleazar, Joshua son of Nun, and the chieftains, saying: “GOD commanded Moses to grant us a portion among our male kinsmen.” So, in accordance with GOD’s instructions, they were granted a portion among their father’s kinsmen.
פסוק ה׳ · Verse 5
Hebrew:
וַיִּפְּל֥וּ חַבְלֵֽי־מְנַשֶּׁ֖ה עֲשָׂרָ֑ה לְבַ֞ד מֵאֶ֤רֶץ הַגִּלְעָד֙ וְהַבָּשָׁ֔ן אֲשֶׁ֖ר מֵעֵ֥בֶר לַיַּרְדֵּֽן׃
English:
Ten districts fell to Manasseh, apart from the lands of Gilead and Bashan, which are across the Jordan.
פסוק ו׳ · Verse 6
Hebrew:
כִּ֚י בְּנ֣וֹת מְנַשֶּׁ֔ה נָחֲל֥וּ נַחֲלָ֖ה בְּת֣וֹךְ בָּנָ֑יו וְאֶ֙רֶץ֙ הַגִּלְעָ֔ד הָיְ��ָ֖ה לִבְנֵי־מְנַשֶּׁ֥ה הַנּוֹתָרִֽים׃
English:
Manasseh’s daughters inherited a portion in these together with his sons, while the land of Gilead was assigned to the rest of Manasseh’s descendants.
פסוק ז׳ · Verse 7
Hebrew:
וַיְהִ֤י גְבוּל־מְנַשֶּׁה֙ מֵאָשֵׁ֔ר הַֽמִּכְמְתָ֔ת אֲשֶׁ֖ר עַל־פְּנֵ֣י שְׁכֶ֑ם וְהָלַ֤ךְ הַגְּבוּל֙ אֶל־הַיָּמִ֔ין אֶל־יֹשְׁבֵ֖י עֵ֥ין תַּפּֽוּחַ׃
English:
The boundary of Manasseh ran from Asher to Michmethath, which lies near Shechem. The boundary continued to the right, toward the inhabitants of En-tappuah.—
פסוק ח׳ · Verse 8
Hebrew:
לִמְנַשֶּׁ֕ה הָיְתָ֖ה אֶ֣רֶץ תַּפּ֑וּחַ וְתַפּ֛וּחַ אֶל־גְּב֥וּל מְנַשֶּׁ֖ה לִבְנֵ֥י אֶפְרָֽיִם׃
English:
The region of Tappuah belonged to Manasseh; but Tappuah, on the border of Manasseh, belonged to the Ephraimites.—
פסוק ט׳ · Verse 9
Hebrew:
וְיָרַ֣ד הַגְּבוּל֩ נַ֨חַל קָנָ֜ה נֶ֣גְבָּה לַנַּ֗חַל עָרִ֤ים הָאֵ֙לֶּה֙ לְאֶפְרַ֔יִם בְּת֖וֹךְ עָרֵ֣י מְנַשֶּׁ֑ה וּגְב֤וּל מְנַשֶּׁה֙ מִצְּפ֣וֹן לַנַּ֔חַל וַיְהִ֥י תֹצְאֹתָ֖יו הַיָּֽמָּה׃
English:
Then the boundary descended to the Wadi Kanah. Those towns to the south of the wadi belonged to Ephraim as an enclave among the towns of Manasseh. The boundary of Manasseh lay north of the wadi and ran on to the Sea.
פסוק י״ · Verse 10
Hebrew:
נֶ֣גְבָּה לְאֶפְרַ֗יִם וְצָפ֙וֹנָה֙ לִמְנַשֶּׁ֔ה וַיְהִ֥י הַיָּ֖ם גְּבוּל֑וֹ וּבְאָשֵׁר֙ יִפְגְּע֣וּן מִצָּפ֔וֹן וּבְיִשָּׂשכָ֖ר מִמִּזְרָֽח׃
English:
What lay to the south belonged to Ephraim, and what lay to the north belonged to Manasseh, with the Sea as its boundary. [This territory] was contiguous with Asher on the north and with Issachar on the east.
פסוק י״א · Verse 11
Hebrew:
וַיְהִ֨י לִמְנַשֶּׁ֜ה בְּיִשָּׂשכָ֣ר וּבְאָשֵׁ֗ר בֵּית־שְׁאָ֣ן וּ֠בְנוֹתֶ֠יהָ וְיִבְלְעָ֨ם וּבְנוֹתֶ֜יהָ וְֽאֶת־יֹשְׁבֵ֧י דֹ֣אר וּבְנוֹתֶ֗יהָ וְיֹשְׁבֵ֤י עֵֽין־דֹּר֙ וּבְנוֹתֶ֔יהָ וְיֹשְׁבֵ֤י תַעְנַךְ֙ וּבְנֹתֶ֔יהָ וְיֹשְׁבֵ֥י מְגִדּ֖וֹ וּבְנוֹתֶ֑יהָ שְׁלֹ֖שֶׁת הַנָּֽפֶת׃
English:
Within Issachar and Asher, Manasseh possessed Beth-shean and its dependencies, Ibleam and its dependencies, the inhabitants of Dor and its dependencies, the inhabitants of En-dor and its dependencies, the inhabitants of Taanach and its dependencies, and the inhabitants of Megiddo and its dependencies: these constituted three regions.bthese constituted three regions Meaning of Heb. uncertain.
פסוק י״ב · Verse 12
Hebrew:
וְלֹ֤א יָֽכְלוּ֙ בְּנֵ֣י מְנַשֶּׁ֔ה לְהוֹרִ֖ישׁ אֶת־הֶעָרִ֣ים הָאֵ֑לֶּה וַיּ֙וֹאֶל֙ הַֽכְּנַעֲנִ֔י לָשֶׁ֖בֶת בָּאָ֥רֶץ הַזֹּֽאת׃
English:
The Manassites could not dispossess [the inhabitants of] these towns, and the Canaanites stubbornly remained in this region.
פסוק י״ג · Verse 13
Hebrew:
וַיְהִ֗י כִּ֤י חָֽזְקוּ֙ בְּנֵ֣י יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל וַיִּתְּנ֥וּ אֶת־הַֽכְּנַעֲנִ֖י לָמַ֑ס וְהוֹרֵ֖שׁ לֹ֥א הֽוֹרִישֽׁוֹ׃ {ס}
English:
When the Israelites became stronger, they imposed tribute on the Canaanites; but they did not dispossess them.
פסוק י״ד · Verse 14
Hebrew:
וַֽיְדַבְּרוּ֙ בְּנֵ֣י יוֹסֵ֔ף אֶת־יְהוֹשֻׁ֖עַ לֵאמֹ֑ר מַדּ֩וּעַ֩ נָתַ֨תָּה לִּ֜י נַחֲלָ֗ה גּוֹרָ֤ל אֶחָד֙ וְחֶ֣בֶל אֶחָ֔ד וַאֲנִ֣י עַם־רָ֔ב עַ֥ד אֲשֶׁר־עַד־כֹּ֖ה בֵּרְכַ֥נִי יְהֹוָֽה׃
English:
The Josephites complained to Joshua, saying, “Why have you assigned as our portion a single allotment and a single district, seeing that we are a numerous people whom GOD has blessed so greatly?”
פסוק ט״ו · Verse 15
Hebrew:
וַיֹּ֨אמֶר אֲלֵיהֶ֜ם יְהוֹשֻׁ֗עַ אִם־עַם־רַ֤ב אַתָּה֙ עֲלֵ֣ה לְךָ֣ הַיַּ֔עְרָה וּבֵרֵאתָ֤ לְךָ֙ שָׁ֔ם בְּאֶ֥רֶץ הַפְּרִזִּ֖י וְהָרְפָאִ֑ים כִּי־אָ֥ץ לְךָ֖ הַר־אֶפְרָֽיִם׃
English:
“If you are a numerous people,” Joshua answered them, “go up to the forest country and clear an area for yourselves there, in the territory of the Perizzites and the Rephaim, seeing that you are cramped in the hill country of Ephraim.”
פסוק ט״ז · Verse 16
Hebrew:
וַיֹּֽאמְרוּ֙ בְּנֵ֣י יוֹסֵ֔ף לֹא־יִמָּ֥צֵא לָ֖נוּ הָהָ֑ר וְרֶ֣כֶב בַּרְזֶ֗ל בְּכׇל־הַֽכְּנַעֲנִי֙ הַיֹּשֵׁ֣ב בְּאֶרֶץ־הָעֵ֔מֶק לַאֲשֶׁ֤ר בְּבֵית־שְׁאָן֙ וּבְנוֹתֶ֔יהָ וְל��אֲשֶׁ֖ר בְּעֵ֥מֶק יִזְרְעֶֽאל׃
English:
“The hill country is not enough for us,” the Josephites replied, “and all the Canaanites who live in the valley area have iron chariots, both those in Beth-shean and its dependencies and those in the Valley of Jezreel.”
פסוק י״ז · Verse 17
Hebrew:
וַיֹּ֤אמֶר יְהוֹשֻׁ֙עַ֙ אֶל־בֵּ֣ית יוֹסֵ֔ף לְאֶפְרַ֥יִם וְלִמְנַשֶּׁ֖ה לֵאמֹ֑ר עַם־רַ֣ב אַתָּ֗ה וְכֹ֤חַ גָּדוֹל֙ לָ֔ךְ לֹֽא־יִֽהְיֶ֥ה לְךָ֖ גּוֹרָ֥ל אֶחָֽד׃
English:
But Joshua declared to the House of Joseph, to Ephraim and Manasseh, “You are indeed a numerous people, possessed of great strength; you shall not have one allotment only.
פסוק י״ח · Verse 18
Hebrew:
כִּ֣י הַ֤ר יִֽהְיֶה־לָּךְ֙ כִּֽי־יַ֣עַר ה֔וּא וּבֵ֣רֵאת֔וֹ וְהָיָ֥ה לְךָ֖ תֹּצְאֹתָ֑יו כִּֽי־תוֹרִ֣ישׁ אֶת־הַֽכְּנַעֲנִ֗י כִּ֣י רֶ֤כֶב בַּרְזֶל֙ ל֔וֹ כִּ֥י חָזָ֖ק הֽוּא׃ {פ}
English:
The hill country shall be yours as well; true, it is forest land, but you will clear it and possess it to its farthest limits. And you shall also dispossess the Canaanites, even though they have iron chariots and even though they are strong.”