Manasseh’s Western Inheritance
Now this was the allotment for the tribe of Manasseh as Joseph’s firstborn son, namely for Machir the firstborn of Manasseh and father of the Gileadites, who had received Gilead and Bashan because Machir was a man of war. Gen 41:51Num 26:29Gen 46:20Gen 50:23Gen 48:18Num 32:39-401Ch 2:231Ch 7:14-15 So this allotment was for the rest of the descendants of Manasseh—the clans of Abiezer, 1 Helek, Asriel, Shechem, Hepher, and Shemida. These are the other male descendants of the clans of Manasseh son of Joseph. 1Ch 7:18Num 26:29-32Jdg 6:11Jdg 8:2
But Zelophehad son of Hepher (the son of Gilead, the son of Machir, the son of Manasseh) had no sons but only daughters. These are the names of his daughters: Mahlah, Noah, Hoglah, Milcah, and Tirzah. Num 26:33Num 27:1Num 36:2-11 They approached Eleazar the priest, Joshua son of Nun, and the leaders, and said, “The LORD commanded Moses to give us an inheritance among our brothers.” Jos 14:1Gal 3:28Num 27:5-7Num 34:17-29
So Joshua gave them an inheritance among their father’s brothers, in keeping with the command of the LORD. Thus ten shares fell to Manasseh, in addition to the land of Gilead and Bashan beyond the Jordan, Jos 13:29-31Jos 17:14Jos 17:2-3Num 32:30-42 because the daughters of Manasseh received an inheritance among his sons. And the land of Gilead belonged to the rest of the sons of Manasseh.
Now the border of Manasseh went from Asher to Michmethath near Shechem, then southward to include the inhabitants of En-tappuah. Jos 21:211Ch 6:671Ki 12:11Ki 12:25Gen 34:2Gen 37:12Gen 37:14Jdg 9:1 The region of Tappuah belonged to Manasseh, but Tappuah itself, on the border of Manasseh, belonged to Ephraim. Jos 16:8Jos 12:17Jos 15:34Jos 15:53 From there the border continued southward to the Brook of Kanah. There were cities belonging to Ephraim among the cities of Manasseh, but the border of Manasseh was on the north side of the brook and ended at the Sea. 2 Jos 16:3Jos 16:8-9Jos 19:29 Ephraim’s territory was to the south, and Manasseh’s was to the north, having the Sea as its border and adjoining Asher on the north and Issachar on the east.
Within Issachar and Asher, Manasseh was assigned Beth-shean, Ibleam, Dor (that is, Naphath), Endor, Taanach, and Megiddo, each with their surrounding settlements. 1Ch 7:292Ki 9:27Jdg 1:27Jdg 5:19Jos 12:231Ki 4:11-121Ki 9:151Sa 28:7
But the descendants of Manasseh were unable to occupy these cities, because the Canaanites were determined to stay in this land. Exo 23:29-33Jdg 1:27-28Jos 15:63Jos 16:10Num 33:52-56Rom 6:12-14 However, when the Israelites grew stronger, they put the Canaanites to forced labor; but they failed to drive them out completely. Jos 16:10Php 4:132Ch 8:7-82Pe 3:182Sa 3:1Deu 20:11-18Eph 6:10Jdg 1:28
Then the sons of Joseph said to Joshua, “Why have you given us only one portion as an inheritance? We have many people, because the LORD has blessed us abundantly.” Gen 48:19Gen 48:22Num 26:34-37Deu 33:13-17Gen 49:22-26
Joshua answered them, “If you have so many people that the hill country of Ephraim is too small for you, go to the forest and clear for yourself an area in the land of the Perizzites and the Rephaim.” Gen 13:7Gen 14:52Sa 5:182Sa 5:22Exo 33:2Ezr 9:1Gen 15:20Luk 12:48
“The hill country is not enough for us,” they replied, “and all the Canaanites who live in the valley have iron chariots, both in Beth-shean with its towns and in the Valley of Jezreel.” 1Ki 4:12Jdg 1:19Jdg 4:3Jdg 6:33Jos 17:181Ki 18:461Ki 21:11Ki 21:23
So Joshua said to the house of Joseph—to Ephraim and Manasseh—“You have many people and great strength. You shall not have just one allotment, because the hill country will be yours as well. It is a forest; clear it, and its farthest limits will be yours. Although the Canaanites have iron chariots and although they are strong, you can drive them out.” Heb 13:6Rom 8:31Deu 20:1-4Isa 41:10-16Num 14:6-9Rom 8:37Isa 51:12-13Jos 15:9