Manasseh Daughters Portion Joshua 17

Joshua 17:5 "And there fell ten portions to Manasseh, beside the land of Gilead and Bashan, which were on the other side Jordan; Because the daughters of Manasseh had an inheritance among his sons, and the rest of Manassah's sons had the land of Gilead."

It was determined by the LORD through Moses that when a man had no sons, his daughters would nevertheless receive an inheritance. The first part of this chapter deals with that law.

"v12 "Yet the children of Manasseh could not drive out the inhabitants of those cities but the Canaanites would dwell in that land."

Then there is a complaint from the children of Joseph about their lot being too small. They insist that they are a great people and need more space. Joshua, in effect, told them if they were a great people to go to the mountain and carve out more room.

v16 "And the children of Joseph said, The hill is not enough for us..."

v15 "And Joshua answered them If thou be a great people, then get thee up to the wood country, and cut down for thyself there..."

v16",,,the Canaanites that dwell in the land of the valley have chariots and iron..."

Joshua ends the conversation with a statement that they can and will drive out the inhabitants.

V8 "But the mountain shall be thine, for it is a wood, and thou shalt cut it down: and the outgoings of it shall be thine: for thou shalt drive out the Canaanites, though they have iron chariots and though they be strong."

It sounds like a courtroom drama. I can almost see it. The old man Joshua has seen everything from the beginning, all the miracles, the waters parted, the walls falling, the Jordan parted. Now the mighty men of war stand complaining that the enemy is too strong for them. They don't have enough room but are afraid to go get more. The hill is not enough but they are afraid to take the mountain. Joshua finally says, just go get the mountain and never mind the chariots of iron.

Psalms 136:1 "O give thanks unto the LORD; for he is good: for his mercy endureth for ever."