Joshua 17:12
in Joshua 17But the descendants of Manasseh were unable to occupy these cities, because the Canaanites were determined to stay in this land.
BSB
The same verse in ASV and KJV ▾
ASV
Yet the children of Manasseh could not drive out the inhabitants of those cities; but the Canaanites would dwell in that land.
KJV
Yet the children of Manasseh could not drive out the inhabitants of those cities; but the Canaanites would dwell in that land.
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This verse in Joshua 17
Commentary
3 notes on this verseCould 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.
This site's exposition
the descendants of Manasseh were unable to occupy these cities
on Joshua 17:12-13
Judges 1:27-28 tells this again with the same outcome: Manasseh failed to drive them out and put them to forced labor once Israel grew strong. The book sets 21:45, where none of the LORD's good promises failed, beside verse 12, where the Canaanites stay, and softens neither. Forced labor is taken from people left in place, so verse 13 records a settlement rather than a removal, answered at Judges 2:1-3.
The record, by era
The Puritans and the Awakening1 voice
Yet the children of Manasseh could not drive out the inhabitants of these cities,.... Mentioned in Jos 17:11; they had not strength at first to do it, or either were negligent and slothful, and suffered them to dwell among them, and did not take the advantage they might have done; and afterwards it was too late, they became too strong and numerous for them, at least for a time: but the Canaanites would dwell in the land; whether they would or not.
How the passage was read
What the Jewish commentators add
Resolved —were willing. 5 The tribe of Menashe set a bad precedent by taxing the Canaanites instead of destroying them as the Torah commanded. This evil practice was soon adopted by the other tribes.
1 more on this passage, in their own words ▾
These were three regions. [as the Targum], Three provinces. The three regions mentioned here consisted of Dor and Ein dor, as stated above in this Seifer: 3 Above:23. “The king of Dor of the Dor region,” and in another verse it states: 4 Above:2.
This section is reception history: how the passage was read and kept in the Jewish tradition. Where a reading parts from an essential of the Christian faith, the section says so at that point.
Texts and citation data: Sefaria; each excerpt follows its version’s licence. 2 further sources are cited on this chapter that carry no English text this site may quote or only restate the verse.
The words behind it
13 Hebrew wordsEvery Hebrew word of this verse in the order it stands, with what it means and the door to its own study. The last column counts the times a word stands in the whole Bible: the rarer the word, the more the places it appears belong together.
| Hebrew | Sound | Meaning | Word study | In the Bible |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| וְלֹ֤א | velo' | and not | H3808 → | 5168 times |
| יָכְלוּ֙ | yakhelu | they were able | H3201 → | 194 times |
| בְּנֵ֣י | benei | [the] descendants of | H1121 → | 4930 times |
| מְנַשֶּׁ֔ה | menasheh | Manasseh | H4519 → | 146 times |
| לְהוֹרִ֖ישׁ | lehorish | to take possession of | H3423 → | 231 times |
| אֶת־ | ʾet- | <obj.> | H853 → | 10935 times |
| הֶֽעָרִ֣ים | hearim | the cities | H5892 → | 1090 times |
| הָאֵ֑לֶּה | haeleh | <the> these | H428 → | 746 times |
| וַיּ֙וֹאֶל֙ | vaiyoel | and he was determined | H2974 → | |
| הַֽכְּנַעֲנִ֔י | hakenaani | the Canaanite[s] | H3669 → | 73 times |
| לָשֶׁ֖בֶת | lashevet | to dwell | H3427 → | 1079 times |
| בָּאָ֥רֶץ | baaretz | in the land | H776 → | 2504 times |
| הַזֹּֽאת׃ | hazot | <the> this | H2063 → | 603 times |
וְלֹ֤אand not
velo'H3808 →5168 times
יָכְלוּ֙they were able
yakheluH3201 →194 times
בְּנֵ֣י[the] descendants of
beneiH1121 →4930 times
מְנַשֶּׁ֔הManasseh
menashehH4519 →146 times
לְהוֹרִ֖ישׁto take possession of
lehorishH3423 →231 times
אֶת־<obj.>
ʾet-H853 →10935 times
הֶֽעָרִ֣יםthe cities
hearimH5892 →1090 times
הָאֵ֑לֶּה<the> these
haelehH428 →746 times
וַיּ֙וֹאֶל֙and he was determined
vaiyoelH2974 →
הַֽכְּנַעֲנִ֔יthe Canaanite[s]
hakenaaniH3669 →73 times
לָשֶׁ֖בֶתto dwell
lashevetH3427 →1079 times
בָּאָ֥רֶץin the land
baaretzH776 →2504 times
הַזֹּֽאת׃<the> this
hazotH2063 →603 times
A shaded row is a word that stands 400 times or fewer in the Bible.
The walk
5 stopsEach card is a verse this one points to, and under it the verses that one points to in turn. Where several paths arrive at the same place, that place is listed first: the text keeps returning to it.
Through
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.
it leads to
- Judges 1:21
The Benjamites, however, failed to drive out the Jebusites living in Jerusalem. So to this day the Jebusites live there among the Benjamites.
- Judges 1:8
Then the men of Judah fought against Jerusalem and captured it. They put the city to the sword and set it on fire.
- 2 Samuel 5:6–9
Now the king and his men marched to Jerusalem against the Jebusites who inhabited the land. The Jebusites said to David: “You will never get in here. Even the blind and lame can repel…
- 1 Chronicles 11:4–8
Then David and all the Israelites marched to Jerusalem (that is, Jebus), where the Jebusites inhabited the land.
- Romans 7:14–21
We know that the law is spiritual; but I am unspiritual, sold as a slave to sin.
- Judges 1:21
About Joshua
Who and where
1 name in this verse with a page on the site.
This page draws on Adam Clarke, Commentary on the Bible; John Gill, Exposition of the Old Testament (1748-1763) and Matthew Henry, Commentary on the Whole Bible.