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

10In general, however, the land south of the ravine belonged to Ephraim, and the land north of the ravine belonged to Manasseh. Manasseh’s boundary ran along the northern side of the ravine and ended at the Mediterranean Sea. North of Manasseh was the territory of Asher, and to the east was the territory of Issachar. 11The following towns within the territory of Issachar and Asher, however, were given to Manasseh: Beth-shan, Ibleam, Dor (that is, Naphoth-dor), Endor, Taanach, and Megiddo, each with their surrounding settlements. But the descendants of Manasseh were unable to occupy these towns because the Canaanites were determined to stay in that region. 13Later, however, when the Israelites became strong enough, they forced the Canaanites to work as slaves. But they did not drive them out of the land. 14The descendants of Joseph came to Joshua and asked, “Why have you given us only one portion of land as our homeland when the Lord has blessed us with so many people?”

Joshua 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 tribe of Judah could not drive out the Jebusites, who lived in the city of Jerusalem, so the Jebusites live there among the people of Judah to this day.
• Joshua 16:10They did not drive the Canaanites out of Gezer, however, so the people of Gezer live as slaves among the people of Ephraim to this day.
• Exodus 23:29But I will not drive them out in a single year, because the land would become desolate and the wild animals would multiply and threaten you.
• Numbers 33:52you must drive out all the people living there. You must destroy all their carved and molten images and demolish all their pagan shrines.
• Judges 1:27The tribe of Manasseh failed to drive out the people living in Beth-shan, Taanach, Dor, Ibleam, Megiddo, and all their surrounding settlements, because the Canaanites were determined to stay in that region.
• Romans 6:12Do not let sin control the way you live; do not give in to sinful 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