7-13 There was great communication between Manasseh and Ephraim. Though each tribe had its inheritance, yet they should intermix one with another, to do good offices one to another, as became those, who, though of different tribes, were all one Israel, and were bound to love as brethren. But they suffered the Canaanites to live among them, against the command of God, to serve their own ends. read more
The Boundaries and Cities v. 1. There was also a lot for the tribe of Manasseh, namely, that east of Jordan, which has already been described several times; for he was the first-born of Joseph; to wit, for Machir, the first-born of Manasseh, the father of Gilead; because he was a man of war, therefore he had Gilead and Bashan. Deuteronomy 3:15. Since Manasseh was the first-born of Joseph, therefore his descendants, in whom the rights of Joseph were vested, received not only a portion in the... read more
2. The Territory of the Tribes of Ephraim and ManassehJoshua 16, 17a. Its BoundariesJoshua 16:1-41And the lot of [for] the children [sons] of Joseph fell [came out] from [the] Jordan by Jericho, unto [at] the water of Jericho, on the east, to the wilderness which 2goeth up from Jericho throughout [on] Mount Beth-el, And goeth [and it went] out from Beth-el to Luz, and passeth [passed] along unto the border of Archi [the 3Archite] to Ataroth, And goeth [went] down westward to the coast [border]... read more
It is interesting to note that in the territory allotted to Manasseh, some of the cities of Ephraim are included; and, moreover, that some of the cities of Manasseh are within the territory of Asher and Issachar. The reason for this may be, in the first case, to mark the unity between Ephraim and Manasseh as the sons of Joseph; and, in the second case, because Asher and Issachar, especially the latter, were not strong enough to subdue the territory committed to them. Ephraim was discontented... read more
‘ Yet the children of Manasseh could not drive out the inhabitants of those cities, but the Canaanites would dwell in that land. And it was so that when the children of Israel were grown strong they put the Canaanites to taskwork and did not utterly drive them out.’ This summary, like those in Joshua 15:63; Joshua 16:10, summarises the failure of Israel. At first they could not drive out the Canaanites. That was excusable. The Canaanites were too strong and insisted on staying in the land... read more
Which they were obliged to, now they were strong and numerous enough to possess those places. read more
Joshua 17:1. A lot for the tribe of Manasseh] The families of the tribe as a whole are here taken into account, the notice of them extending to the close of the sixth verse. Machir] Cf. on chap. Joshua 13:31. The father of Gilead] “The ruler or possessor of the land of Gilead.” “This is apparent from the fact that ‘Machir’ does not stand for any individual in this passage, but for an entire family, and also from the use of the article before ‘Gilead,’ which always denotes the province (cf.... read more
Let's turn now to Joshua, chapter seventeen, as we begin our study this evening.As we get into the seventeenth chapter, we find that the land has continued to be divided by Joshua, and the portion that was to be given to a half of the tribe of Manasseh. Now Manasseh took part of its inheritance on the other side of the Jordan River, a half of a tribe. And then the other half was to settle on the western bank on what is actually the west bank today in the land of Israel. Part of that did belong... read more
Joshua 17:14 . Why hast thou given me but one lot? Joshua added mount Ephraim: though it was a military country, and though the Canaanites had chariots of iron; yet with the help of Ephraim, they must be driven out. Whereas the Ephraimites made a covenant with them, and took their tribute. Joshua seems to have his greatest difficulties in adjusting the lots of the two half tribes. REFLECTIONS. We here find Machir rewarded for his valour, as Caleb had been for his faith. A choice lot in... read more
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Hawker's Poor Man's Commentary - Joshua 17:12-13
Reader! do not overlook the general feature of Israel in this particular. They suffered the Canaanites to remain among them. Alas! even now, in the blessed times of reformation, and the renewal of the Holy Ghost in the Lord Jesus, how do the Lord's people groan under the body of sin and death they carry about with them. Romans 7:18 , etc. read more