The Other Half-Tribe of Manasseh (West)
1 There was also a lot for the tribe of Manasseh, for hewasthefirstborn of Joseph:namelyforMachir the firstborn of Manasseh, the father of Gilead, because he was a man of war; therefore he was givenGilead and Bashan.
2 And there wasalotforthe rest of the children of Manasseh according to their families:for the children of Abiezer, the children of Helek,the children of Asriel, the children of Shechem,the children of Hepher, and the children of Shemida; thesewerethe male children of Manasseh the son of Joseph according to their families.
3 ButZelophehad the son of Hepher, the son of Gilead, the son of Machir, the son of Manasseh, had no sons, but only daughters. And thesearethe names of his daughters: Mahlah, Noah, Hoglah, Milcah, and Tirzah.
4 And they came near beforeEleazar the priest, before Joshua the son of Nun, and before the rulers, saying,“TheLordcommanded Moses to give us an inheritance among our brothers.” Therefore, according to the commandment of theLord, he gave them an inheritance among their father’s brothers.
5 Ten shares fell toManasseh, besides the land of Gilead and Bashan, whichwereon the other side of the Jordan,
6 because the daughters of Manasseh received an inheritance among his sons; and the rest of Manasseh’s sons had the land of Gilead.
7 And the territory of Manasseh was from Asher toMichmethath, thatlieseast of Shechem; and the border went along south to the inhabitants of En Tappuah.
8 Manasseh had the land of Tappuah, butTappuah on the border of Manassehbelongedto the children of Ephraim.
9 And the border descended to the Brook Kanah, southward to the brook.These cities of Ephraimareamong the cities of Manasseh. The border of Manassehwason the north side of the brook; and it ended at the sea.
10 SouthwarditwasEphraim’s, northwarditwasManasseh’s, and the sea was its border. Manasseh’s territory was adjoining Asher on the north and Issachar on the east.
11 And in Issachar and in Asher,Manasseh hadBeth Shean and its towns, Ibleam and its towns, the inhabitants of Dor and its towns, the inhabitants of En Dor and its towns, the inhabitants of Taanach and its towns, and the inhabitants of Megiddo and its towns—three hilly regions.
12 Yetthe children of Manasseh could not drive outtheinhabitantsofthose cities, but the Canaanites were determined to dwell in that land.
13 And it happened, when the children of Israel grew strong, that they put the Canaanites toforced labor, but did not utterly drive them out.
More Land for Ephraim and Manasseh
14 Then the children of Joseph spoke to Joshua, saying, “Why have you given usonlyone lot and one share to inherit, since wearea great people, inasmuch as theLordhas blessed us until now?”
15 So Joshua answered them, “If youarea great people,thengo up to the forestcountryand clear a place for yourself there in the land of the Perizzites and the giants, since the mountains of Ephraim are too confined for you.”
16 But the children of Joseph said, “The mountain country is not enough for us; and all the Canaanites who dwell in the land of the valley havechariots of iron,boththosewhoareof Beth Shean and its towns andthosewhoareof the Valley of Jezreel.”
17 And Joshua spoke to the house of Joseph—to Ephraim and Manasseh—saying, “Youarea great people and have great power; you shall not haveonlyone lot,
18 but the mountain country shall be yours. Although itiswooded, you shall cut it down, and its farthest extent shall be yours; for you shall drive out the Canaanites,though they have iron chariotsandare strong.”