Jos. 17: Joshua Tells Manasseh to Grow Some

Joshua 17:17-18 "But Joshua said to the house of Joseph—to Ephraim and Manasseh- 'You are numerous and very powerful. You will have not only one allotment 18 but the forested hill country as well. Clear it, and its farthest limits will be yours; though the Canaanites have iron chariots and though they are strong, you can drive them out.'"

This goes on to describe the rest of the land inherited by Joseph's offspring, more specifically the Manassites. Even more specifically the Fightin' Makirites.

Part of this chapter is a fulfillment of Numbers 27, where Zelophehad's daughters wanted to inherit some land, because they had no brothers. Tradition apparently was to only hook up the male with land. But Moses promised it, and Joshua delivered here in verse 4.

When the Manassites were "unable" to dislodge the Canaanites (I love the word dislodge, as though the Canaanites were a loogie or some sort of windpipe obstruction), I wonder if it means they were unwilling to dislodge them. Its nice to have slaves. Apparently. Again, does the Bible condone slavery? Nah...just reports it.

Then in verse 14, it would appear Joseph gets cranky, or discontent with their allotment. Rightly so? I'm no geographer, I'd defer to people who know maps. Anyway, they feel that their land just isn't enough, since they are an huge tribe. Joshua's like, "Eh, you're tough guys, if your land is too small, go on up and clear the forest...the land of the Perizzites and Rephaites." That's apparently still not enough. So Joshua, and I get the sense he's trying to instill a sense of, "You want it, go get it," in the Manassites. He gives them a little pep talk, and says "Go take on the Canaanites." Did Joseph's people here have a little bit of a sense of entitlement that they took from Jacob's favoritism all those years ago? I'm not sure. But maybe they expected all this to be handed to them.

God gave instructions to drive out people. And so far there have been pockets of settlements where Israel refused to or couldn't drive out the HACPHAJ.