Christian Standard Bible
Joshua 17:12
12The descendants of Manasseh could not possess these cities, because the Canaanites were determined to stay in this land.
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 to the north, with the Sea as its border. They reached Asher on the north and Issachar on the east. 11Within Issachar and Asher, Manasseh had Beth-shean, Ibleam, and the inhabitants of Dor with their surrounding villages; the inhabitants of En-dor, Taanach, and Megiddo — the three cities of Naphath — with their surrounding villages. The descendants of Manasseh could not possess these cities, because the Canaanites were determined to stay in this land. 13However, when the Israelites grew stronger, they imposed forced labor on the Canaanites but did not drive them out completely. 14Joseph’s descendants said to Joshua, “Why did you give us only one tribal allotment as an inheritance? We have many people, because the Lord has been blessing us greatly.”
Read all of Joshua 17Joshua 17:12 word by word
וְלֹ֤א יָכְלוּ֙ בְּנֵ֣י מְנַשֶּׁ֔ה לְהוֹרִ֖ישׁ אֶת־הֶֽעָרִ֣ים הָאֵ֑לֶּה וַיּ֙וֹאֶל֙ הַֽכְּנַעֲנִ֔י לָשֶׁ֖בֶת בָּאָ֥רֶץ הַזֹּֽאת׃Read the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
- Yet the childrenבֵּןbên · son: descendant/peopleH1121
- of Manassehמְנַשֶּׁהmenashsheh · ManassehH4519
- couldיָכֹלyâkôl yâkôl · be ableH3201
- not drive outיָרַשׁyârash yârêsh · to possess: takeH3423
- those citiesעִיר‛îyr ‛âr ‛âyar · cityH5892
- but the Canaanitesכְּנַעֲנִיkena‛anîy · CanaaniteH3669
- wouldיָאַלyâ'al · be willingH2974
- dwellיָשַׁבyâshab · to dwellH3427
- in that landאֶ֫רֶץ'erets · land: country/planetH776
Cross-references for Joshua 17:12
- Joshua 15:63But the descendants of Judah could not drive out the Jebusites who lived in Jerusalem. So the Jebusites still live in Jerusalem among the descendants of Judah today.
- Joshua 16:10However, they did not drive out the Canaanites who lived in Gezer. So the Canaanites still live in Ephraim today, but they are forced laborers.
- Exodus 23:29I will not drive them out ahead of you in a single year; otherwise, the land would become desolate, and wild animals would multiply against you.
- Numbers 33:52you must drive out all the inhabitants of the land before you, destroy all their stone images and cast images, and demolish all their high places.
- Judges 1:27At that time Manasseh failed to take possession of Beth-shean and Taanach and their surrounding villages, or the residents of Dor, Ibleam, and Megiddo and their surrounding villages; the Canaanites were determined to stay in this 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
In the dictionaries
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
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