Joshua 17:12

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Joshua 17:7-13

We have here a short account of the lot of this half tribe. It reached from Jordan on the east to the great sea on the west; on the south it lay all along contiguous to Ephraim, but on the north it abutted upon Asher and Issachar. Asher lay north-west, and Issachar north-east, which seems to be the meaning of that (Josh. 17:10), that they (that is, Manasseh and Ephraim, as related to it, both together making the tribe of Joseph) met in Asher on the north and Issachar on the east, for Ephraim... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Joshua 17:12

Yet the children of Manasseh could not drive out the inhabitants of these cities ,.... Mentioned in Joshua 17:11 ; they had not strength at first to do it, or either were negligent and slothful, and suffered them to dwell among them, and did not take the advantage they might have done; and afterwards it was too late, they became too strong and numerous for them, at least for a time: but the Canaanites would dwell in the land ; whether they would or not. read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Joshua 17:12

Could not drive out , etc. - They had neither grace nor courage to go against their enemies, and chose rather to share their territories with those whom the justice of God had proscribed, than exert themselves to expel them. But some commentators give a different turn to this expression, and translate the passage thus: But the children of Manasseh could not (resolve) to destroy those cities, but the Canaanites consented to dwell in the land. And as they were willing to pay tribute,... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Joshua 17:12

Would dwell. The LXX . and Vulgate translate, "began to dwell," an obvious mistake here, though the word sometimes has this signification. They willed to dwell there, in spite of their defeats, and their purpose was not frustrated. read more

Donald C. Fleming

Bridgeway Bible Commentary - Joshua 17:1-18

The Joseph tribes (16:1-17:18)Ephraim and the western half of Manasseh together occupied most of the central portion of Canaan between the Jordan River and the Mediterranean Sea (16:1-4). The southern part of this territory belonged to Ephraim (5-10), the northern part to Manasseh (17:1). (The other half of Manasseh had already received its allotment east of Jordan.)Western Manasseh was divided between six major family groups. No details are given concerning portions received by five of these... read more

E.W. Bullinger

E.W. Bullinger's Companion Bible Notes - Joshua 17:12

could not drive out. Compare Joshua 15:63 ; Joshua 16:10 ; and see Exodus 23:31 .Deuteronomy 7:2 , &c. read more

Thomas Coke

Thomas Coke Commentary on the Holy Bible - Joshua 17:12

Ver. 12. Yet the children of Manasseh could not drive out, &c.— They were unable through negligence, from a want of valour and confidence in the divine promises, and because God, to punish them, refused them that protection and success of which they had rendered themselves unworthy. Judges 2:19. See Waterland's Script. Vind. part 2: p. 69. To destroy a city, signifies often to destroy its inhabitants; and to be unable to do a thing is sometimes put for being unwilling to do so. So Genesis... read more

Robert Jamieson; A. R. Fausset; David Brown

Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible - Joshua 17:12

12, 13. Yet the children of Manasseh could not drive out those cities—probably due to indolence, a love of ease. Perhaps a mistaken humanity, arising from a disregard or forgetfulness of the divine command, and a decreasing principle of faith and zeal in the service of God, were the causes of their failure. :-. THE CHILDREN OF JOSEPH ASK FOR ANOTHER LOT. read more

Thomas Constable

Expository Notes of Dr. Thomas Constable - Joshua 17:1-13

These verses describe the territory of the half tribe of Manasseh west of the Jordan and north of Ephraim. It extended north to the valley of Jezreel. The Manassehites also failed to exterminate all the Canaanites in their area (Joshua 17:12-13). read more

John Dummelow

John Dummelow's Commentary on the Bible - Joshua 17:1-18

The Lot of Joseph (continued)Inheritance of Western Manasseh. The Complaint of the children of Joseph, and Joshua’s Reply.1-6. The inheritance of Manasseh especially (Joshua 17:2) of the Western half-tribe. 1. The father of Gilead] The expression is rather geographical than strictly genealogical, according to Oriental usage. Cp. the table of the generations of the sons of Noah in Genesis 10.3f The daughters of Zelophehad] Their case comes up for judgment before Moses in Numbers 27:1-7 and again... read more

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