Add parallel Print Page Options

13 Later on, when the Israelis had become strong, they forced the Canaanites to work for them, but they never did expel them completely.

Protests by the Tribe of Joseph

14 At that time, the descendants of Joseph asked Joshua, “Why did you give us[a] only one allotment and portion for an inheritance, since we’re numerous and the Lord has blessed us all along?”

15 So Joshua replied to them, “Since you’re so numerous, go up to the forest and clear ground there for yourselves in the territory where the Perizzites and Rephaim[b] are, because the hill country of Ephraim is too narrow for you.”

Read full chapter

Footnotes

  1. Joshua 17:14 Lit. me
  2. Joshua 17:15 I.e. a race of giants that formerly populated Canaan; cf. Num 13:22, 33; Deut 9:2

13 However, when the Israelites grew stronger, they subjected the Canaanites to forced labor but did not drive them out completely.(A)

14 The people of Joseph said to Joshua, “Why have you given us only one allotment and one portion for an inheritance? We are a numerous people, and the Lord has blessed us abundantly.”(B)

15 “If you are so numerous,” Joshua answered, “and if the hill country of Ephraim is too small for you, go up into the forest(C) and clear land for yourselves there in the land of the Perizzites(D) and Rephaites.(E)

Read full chapter