Joshua 17:12

Joshua 17:12 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)Yet the children of Manasseh could not drive out the inhabitants of those cities; but the Canaanites would dwell in that land.
• New International Version (NIV)Yet the Manassites were not able to occupy these towns, for the Canaanites were determined to live in that region.
• English Standard Version (ESV)Yet the people of Manasseh could not take possession of those cities, but the Canaanites persisted in dwelling in that land.
• New King James Version (NKJV)Yet the children of Manasseh could not drive out the inhabitants of those cities, but the Canaanites were determined to dwell in that land.

Context of Joshua 17:12

10Ephraim’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. 11Within Issachar and Asher, Manasseh was assigned Beth-shean, Ibleam, Dor (that is, Naphath), Endor, Taanach, and Megiddo, each with their surrounding settlements. But the descendants of Manasseh were unable to occupy these cities, because the Canaanites were determined to stay in this land. 13However, when the Israelites grew stronger, they put the Canaanites to forced labor; but they failed to drive them out completely. 14Then 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.”

Joshua 17:12 word by word

וְלֹ֤א יָכְלוּ֙ בְּנֵ֣י מְנַשֶּׁ֔ה לְהוֹרִ֖ישׁ אֶת־הֶֽעָרִ֣ים הָאֵ֑לֶּה וַיּ֙וֹאֶל֙ הַֽכְּנַעֲנִ֔י לָשֶׁ֖בֶת בָּאָ֥רֶץ הַזֹּֽאת׃Read the interlinear

• But the descendantsבֵּןbên · son: descendant/peopleH1121
• of Manassehמְנַשֶּׁהmenashsheh · ManassehH4519
• were unableיָכֹלyâkôl yâkôl · be ableH3201
• were unableלֹאlô' lô' lôh · notH3808
• to occupyיָרַשׁyârash yârêsh · to possess: takeH3423
• ·אֵת'êth · [Obj.]H853
• theseאֵ֫לֶּה'êlleh · theseH428
• citiesעִיר‛îyr ‛âr ‛âyar · cityH5892
• because the Canaanitesכְּנַעֲנִיkena‛anîy · CanaaniteH3669
• were determinedיָאַלyâ'al · be willingH2974
• to stayיָשַׁבyâshab · to dwellH3427
• in thisזֹאתzô'th · thisH2063
• landאֶ֫רֶץ'erets · land: country/planetH776

Cross-references for Joshua 17:12

• Joshua 15:63But the descendants of Judah could not drive out the Jebusites living in Jerusalem. So to this day the Jebusites live there among the descendants of Judah.
• Joshua 16:10But they did not drive out the Canaanites who lived in Gezer. So the Canaanites dwell among the Ephraimites to this day, but they are forced laborers.
• Exodus 23:29I will not drive them out before you in a single year; otherwise the land would become desolate and wild animals would multiply against you.
• Numbers 33:52you must drive out before you all the inhabitants of the land, destroy all their carved images and cast idols, and demolish all their high places.
• Judges 1:27At that time Manasseh failed to drive out the inhabitants of Beth-shean, Taanach, Dor, Ibleam, Megiddo, and their villages; for the Canaanites were determined to dwell in that land.
• Romans 6:12Therefore do not let sin reign in your mortal body so that you obey its desires.

Commentaries on Joshua 17:12

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 12Could 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…Read the comment
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 7-13Verses 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 the comment
• Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 11-13All the towns mentioned here except Endor were important, but the military strength of the Canaanites prevented the tribe of Manasseh from inhabiting them for a time.Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 12-1312-13. 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.Read the comment

Topics related to Joshua 17:12

• Canaanites
• Taanach

In the dictionaries

• Manasseh
• Gibeon
• Hitherto
• Joshua (2)
• Joshua, Book of
• Megiddo; Megiddon
• Palestine Exploration
• Simeon (1)
• Taanach

Commentaries on Joshua 17

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
• Tyndale Open Study Notes
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary
• Rashi on Tanakh
• Calvin’s Commentaries
• Keil & Delitzsch Commentary
• John Wesley’s Notes
• Darby Translation Notes
• Geneva Bible Translation Notes
• Kingcomments
• Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary
• Matthew Henry’s Modern English Commentary
• Scofield Reference Notes, 1917 Edition
• Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
• EGW Writings