New English Translation
Joshua 17:12
12But the men of Manasseh were unable to conquer these cities; the Canaanites managed to remain in those areas.
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. The sea was Manasseh’s western border and their territory touched Asher on the north and Issachar on the east. 11Within Issachar’s and Asher’s territory Manasseh was assigned Beth Shean, Ibleam, the residents of Dor, En Dor, the residents of Taanach, the residents of Megiddo, the three of Napheth, and the towns surrounding all these cities. But the men of Manasseh were unable to conquer these cities; the Canaanites managed to remain in those areas. 13Whenever the Israelites were strong militarily, they forced the Canaanites to do hard labor, but they never totally conquered them. 14The descendants of Joseph said to Joshua, “Why have you assigned us only one tribal allotment? After all, we have many people, for until now the Lord has enabled us to increase in number.”
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 15:63The men of Judah were unable to conquer the Jebusites living in Jerusalem. The Jebusites live with the people of Judah in Jerusalem to this very day.
- Joshua 16:10The Ephraimites did not conquer the Canaanites living in Gezer. The Canaanites live among the Ephraimites to this very day and do hard labor as their servants.
- Exodus 23:29I will not drive them out before you in one year, lest the land become desolate and the wild animals multiply against you.
- Numbers 33:52you must drive out all the inhabitants of the land before you. Destroy all their carved images, all their molten images, and demolish their high places.
- Judges 1:27The men of Manasseh did not conquer Beth Shan, Taanach, or their surrounding towns. Nor did they conquer the people living in Dor, Ibleam, Megiddo or their surrounding towns. The Canaanites managed to remain in those areas.
- 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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