Joshua 17:13
in Joshua 17However, when the Israelites grew stronger, they put the Canaanites to forced labor; but they failed to drive them out completely.
BSB
The same verse in ASV and KJV ▾
ASV
And it came to pass, when the children of Israel were waxed strong, that they put the Canaanites to taskwork, and did not utterly drive them out.
KJV
Yet it came to pass, when the children of Israel were waxen strong, that they put the Canaanites to tribute; but did not utterly drive them out.
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This verse in Joshua 17
Commentary
4 notes on this verseThis 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.
This site's exposition
when the Israelites grew stronger
Judges 1:28 repeats the sentence nearly word for word. Solomon later made forced labourers of the peoples Israel had been unable to destroy, at 1 Kings 9:20 and 9:21. Ephrem the Syrian reads such service against Noah's word at Genesis 9:26 that Canaan would be the servant of Shem.
The record, by era
The Church Fathers1 voice
After Ham had been cursed through his one son, [Noah] blessed Shem and Japheth and said, "May God increase Japheth and may he dwell in the tent of Shem, and let Canaan be their slave." Japheth increased and became powerful in his inheritance in the …
The Puritans and the Awakening1 voice
Yet it came to pass, when the children of Israel were waxed strong,....
How the passage was read
What the Jewish commentators add
On the verses either side of this one
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 ▾
And the descendants of Yoseif spoke. Referring specifically to the descendants of Menashe. 6 According to Rashi even though the tribe of Ephraim was part of the “descendants of Yoseif”, they did not join the tribe of Menashe in their complaint.
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
12 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| וַֽיְהִ֗י | vayhi | and it was | H1961 → | 3559 times |
| כִּ֤י | ki | that | H3588 → | 4482 times |
| חָֽזְקוּ֙ | chazeku | they became strong | H2388 → | 291 times |
| בְּנֵ֣י | benei | [the] people of | H1121 → | 4930 times |
| יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל | yisrael | Israel | H3478 → | 2507 times |
| וַיִּתְּנ֥וּ | vaiyitenu | and they made | H5414 → | 2011 times |
| אֶת־ | ʾet- | <obj.> | H853 → | 10935 times |
| הַֽכְּנַעֲנִ֖י | hakenaani | the Canaanite[s] | H3669 → | 73 times |
| לָמַ֑ס | lamas | <into> forced labor | H4522 → | |
| וְהוֹרֵ֖שׁ | vehoresh | and certainly <to dispossess> | H3423 → | 231 times |
| לֹ֥א | lo' | not | H3808 → | 5168 times |
| הוֹרִישֽׁוֹ׃ ס | horisho | he dispossessed him | H3423 → | 231 times |
וַֽיְהִ֗יand it was
vayhiH1961 →3559 times
כִּ֤יthat
kiH3588 →4482 times
חָֽזְקוּ֙they became strong
chazekuH2388 →291 times
בְּנֵ֣י[the] people of
beneiH1121 →4930 times
יִשְׂרָאֵ֔לIsrael
yisraelH3478 →2507 times
וַיִּתְּנ֥וּand they made
vaiyitenuH5414 →2011 times
אֶת־<obj.>
ʾet-H853 →10935 times
הַֽכְּנַעֲנִ֖יthe Canaanite[s]
hakenaaniH3669 →73 times
לָמַ֑ס<into> forced labor
lamasH4522 →
וְהוֹרֵ֖שׁand certainly <to dispossess>
vehoreshH3423 →231 times
לֹ֥אnot
lo'H3808 →5168 times
הוֹרִישֽׁוֹ׃ סhe dispossessed him
horishoH3423 →231 times
A shaded row is a word that stands 400 times or fewer in the Bible.
The walk
8 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
Philippians 4:13I can do all things through Christ who gives me strength.
it leads to
- Isaiah 41:10
Do not fear, for I am with you; do not be afraid, for I am your God. I will strengthen you; I will surely help you; I will uphold you with My right hand…
- 2 Corinthians 12:9–10
But He said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for My power is perfected in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly in my weaknesses, so that the power of…
- Colossians 1:11
being strengthened with all power according to His glorious might so that you may have full endurance and patience, and joyfully
- Ephesians 6:10
Finally, be strong in the Lord and in His mighty power.
- Isaiah 40:29–31
He gives power to the faint and increases the strength of the weak.
- Isaiah 41:10
Through
2 Peter 3:18But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To Him be the glory both now and to the day of eternity. Amen.
it leads to
- Colossians 1:10
so that you may walk in a manner worthy of the Lord and may please Him in every way: bearing fruit in every good work, growing in the knowledge of God,
- Ephesians 4:15
Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will in all things grow up into Christ Himself, who is the head.
- 1 Peter 2:2
Like newborn babies, crave pure spiritual milk, so that by it you may grow up in your salvation,
- Colossians 1:10
Where this verse is studied
About Joshua
This page draws on Adam Clarke, Commentary on the Bible; Ephrem the Syrian, On Genesis 7.4; Ephrem the Syrian, ON GENESIS 7.4; John Gill, Exposition of the Old Testament (1748-1763); Matthew Henry, Commentary on the Whole Bible and The Berean Standard Bible, Joshua 17, with the verses cited in the note.