The Territory of Manasseh
1This was the lot for the tribe of Manasseh, for he was Joseph’s firstborn. Machir, the firstborn of Manasseh and father of Gilead, was a man of war, so Gilead and Bashan were given to him. 2The rest of the Manassites also received a portion, by their clans: the descendants of Abiezer, Helek, Asriel, Shechem, Hepher, and Shemida — these were the male descendants of Manasseh son of Joseph, by their clans.
The Daughters of Zelophehad
3Now Zelophehad son of Hepher, son of Gilead, son of Machir, son of Manasseh, had no sons, only daughters, whose names were Mahlah, Noah, Hoglah, Milcah, and Tirzah. 4They came before Eleazar the priest, Joshua son of Nun, and the leaders, and said, “Yahweh commanded Moses to give us an inheritance among our brothers.” So, as Yahweh had commanded, Joshua gave them an inheritance among their father’s brothers. 5Ten portions fell to Manasseh, besides the land of Gilead and Bashan across the Jordan, 6because the daughters of Manasseh received an inheritance among his sons, while the land of Gilead belonged to the rest of the Manassites. 7The territory of Manasseh extended from Asher to Michmethath, near Shechem, and the border ran south to the inhabitants of En-tappuah. 8The land of Tappuah belonged to Manasseh, but Tappuah itself, on the border of Manasseh, belonged to the Ephraimites. 9The border went down to the Wadi Kanah, on the south side of the wadi. Among the towns of Manasseh were cities that belonged to Ephraim, but Manasseh’s border ran along the north side of the wadi and ended at the sea. 10The land to the south belonged to Ephraim, and the land to the north to Manasseh, with the sea as its border. Manasseh’s territory touched Asher on the north and Issachar on the east. 11Within Issachar and Asher, Manasseh held Beth-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 regions. 12But the Manassites could not take possession of these towns, for the Canaanites were determined to stay in that land. 13When the Israelites grew strong, they put the Canaanites to forced labor, but they never drove them out completely.
The Descendants of Joseph Ask for More Land
14The descendants of Joseph said to Joshua, “Why have you given us only one lot, one portion, as an inheritance, when we are so numerous, since Yahweh has blessed us so greatly?” 15Joshua answered them, “If you are so numerous, and the hill country of Ephraim is too narrow for you, go up into the forest and clear ground for yourselves there, in the land of the Perizzites and the Rephaim.” 16The descendants of Joseph said, “The hill country is not enough for us, and all the Canaanites who live in the valley have iron chariots — both those in Beth-shean and its towns and those in the Valley of Jezreel.” 17Joshua said to the house of Joseph — to Ephraim and Manasseh — “You are numerous and very powerful. You will not have only one lot, 18but the hill country will be yours as well. It is forest — clear it, and its outer limits will be yours too. You will drive out the Canaanites, even though they have iron chariots and are strong.”
