V. THE LAND ALLOTTED
TO THE TRIBE OF JOSEPH

Chapters sixteen and seventeen describe the land allotted to the tribe of Joseph.

A. From Jericho to Bethel
and to the Sea

The lot for the children of Joseph went from Jericho to Bethel and to the sea (16:1-4).

B. The Land Allotted to the Children of Ephraim,
the Second Son of Joseph

1. From Jericho
through the River Jordan to the Sea

The land allotted to the children of Ephraim, the second son of Joseph, went from Jericho through the river Jordan to the sea (vv. 5-8).

2. With the Cities in the Midst of the Inheritance
of the Children of Manasseh

This allotted land was together with the cities with their villages set apart for the children of Ephraim in the midst of the inheritance of the children of Manasseh (v. 9).

3. Not Dispossessing the Canaanites
Who Dwelt in Gezer

The children of Ephraim did not dispossess the Canaanites who dwelt in Gezer. Thus, the Canaanites dwelt in the midst of Ephraim and became forced labor (v. 10).

C. The Land Allotted to Manasseh,
the Firstborn of Joseph

In 17:1-18 we have an account of the land allotted to Manasseh, the firstborn of Joseph.

1. Gilead and Bashan
Having Been Allotted
to Machir, the Firstborn of Manasseh

Gilead and Bashan, east of the Jordan, were allotted to Machir, the firstborn of Manasseh (vv. 1b, 5b, 6b).

2. The Land Allotted
to the Rest of the Children of Manasseh

The land allotted to the rest of the children of Manasseh went south to Ephraim, west to the sea, north to Asher, and east to Issachar (vv. 1a, 2, 5a, 7-10).

3. Manasseh Having Some Cities with Their Towns
in the Land of the Tribes of Issachar and Asher

Manasseh also had some cities with their towns in the land of the two tribes of Issachar and Asher (v. 11).

4. The Daughters of Zelophehad
Claiming an Inheritance among Their Brothers

Zelophehad, the fourth generation of Manasseh, had no sons but daughters. His daughters claimed an inheritance among their brothers according to Jehovah’s command to Moses (vv. 3-5a, 6a; Num. 27:1-11).

5. The Children of Manasseh Being Unable
to Dispossess the Cities in Their Land

The children of Manasseh were unable to dispossess the cities in their land, but the Canaanites persisted in dwelling in the land. When the children of Manasseh became strong, they made the Canaanites forced labor, but they did not utterly dispossess them (Josh. 17:12-13).

6. The Children of Joseph Requesting More Land

The children of Joseph requested more land because they were a numerous people. Joshua encouraged them to dispossess the hill country with its valley, though the Canaanites had chariots of iron and were strong (vv. 14-18).