Joshua 17:11
And Manasseh had in Issachar and in Asher Beth-shean and her towns, and Ibleam and her towns, and the inhabitants of Dor and her towns, and the inhabitants of En-dor and her towns, and the inhabitants of Taanach and her towns, and the inhabitants of Megiddo and her towns, even three countries.
Original Language Analysis
וַיְהִ֨י
H1961
וַיְהִ֨י
Strong's:
H1961
Word #:
1 of 25
to exist, i.e., be or become, come to pass (always emphatic, and not a mere copula or auxiliary)
לִמְנַשֶּׁ֜ה
And Manasseh
H4519
לִמְנַשֶּׁ֜ה
And Manasseh
Strong's:
H4519
Word #:
2 of 25
menashsheh, a grandson of jacob, also the tribe descended from him, and its territory
וּבְאָשֵׁ֗ר
and in Asher
H836
וּבְאָשֵׁ֗ר
and in Asher
Strong's:
H836
Word #:
4 of 25
asher, a son of jacob, and the tribe descended from him, with its territory; also a place in palestine
וּבְנוֹתֶ֑יהָ
and her towns
H1323
וּבְנוֹתֶ֑יהָ
and her towns
Strong's:
H1323
Word #:
7 of 25
a daughter (used in the same wide sense as other terms of relationship, literally and figuratively)
וּבְנוֹתֶ֑יהָ
and her towns
H1323
וּבְנוֹתֶ֑יהָ
and her towns
Strong's:
H1323
Word #:
9 of 25
a daughter (used in the same wide sense as other terms of relationship, literally and figuratively)
וְֽאֶת
H853
וְֽאֶת
Strong's:
H853
Word #:
10 of 25
properly, self (but generally used to point out more definitely the object of a verb or preposition, even or namely)
וְיֹֽשְׁבֵ֥י
and the inhabitants
H3427
וְיֹֽשְׁבֵ֥י
and the inhabitants
Strong's:
H3427
Word #:
11 of 25
properly, to sit down (specifically as judge. in ambush, in quiet); by implication, to dwell, to remain; causatively, to settle, to marry
וּבְנוֹתֶ֑יהָ
and her towns
H1323
וּבְנוֹתֶ֑יהָ
and her towns
Strong's:
H1323
Word #:
13 of 25
a daughter (used in the same wide sense as other terms of relationship, literally and figuratively)
וְיֹֽשְׁבֵ֥י
and the inhabitants
H3427
וְיֹֽשְׁבֵ֥י
and the inhabitants
Strong's:
H3427
Word #:
14 of 25
properly, to sit down (specifically as judge. in ambush, in quiet); by implication, to dwell, to remain; causatively, to settle, to marry
וּבְנוֹתֶ֑יהָ
and her towns
H1323
וּבְנוֹתֶ֑יהָ
and her towns
Strong's:
H1323
Word #:
17 of 25
a daughter (used in the same wide sense as other terms of relationship, literally and figuratively)
וְיֹֽשְׁבֵ֥י
and the inhabitants
H3427
וְיֹֽשְׁבֵ֥י
and the inhabitants
Strong's:
H3427
Word #:
18 of 25
properly, to sit down (specifically as judge. in ambush, in quiet); by implication, to dwell, to remain; causatively, to settle, to marry
וּבְנוֹתֶ֑יהָ
and her towns
H1323
וּבְנוֹתֶ֑יהָ
and her towns
Strong's:
H1323
Word #:
20 of 25
a daughter (used in the same wide sense as other terms of relationship, literally and figuratively)
וְיֹֽשְׁבֵ֥י
and the inhabitants
H3427
וְיֹֽשְׁבֵ֥י
and the inhabitants
Strong's:
H3427
Word #:
21 of 25
properly, to sit down (specifically as judge. in ambush, in quiet); by implication, to dwell, to remain; causatively, to settle, to marry
וּבְנוֹתֶ֑יהָ
and her towns
H1323
וּבְנוֹתֶ֑יהָ
and her towns
Strong's:
H1323
Word #:
23 of 25
a daughter (used in the same wide sense as other terms of relationship, literally and figuratively)
Cross References
1 Chronicles 7:29And by the borders of the children of Manasseh, Beth-shean and her towns, Taanach and her towns, Megiddo and her towns, Dor and her towns. In these dwelt the children of Joseph the son of Israel.Joshua 12:23The king of Dor in the coast of Dor, one; the king of the nations of Gilgal, one;2 Kings 9:27But when Ahaziah the king of Judah saw this, he fled by the way of the garden house. And Jehu followed after him, and said, Smite him also in the chariot. And they did so at the going up to Gur, which is by Ibleam. And he fled to Megiddo, and died there.Judges 1:27Neither did Manasseh drive out the inhabitants of Beth-shean and her towns, nor Taanach and her towns, nor the inhabitants of Dor and her towns, nor the inhabitants of Ibleam and her towns, nor the inhabitants of Megiddo and her towns: but the Canaanites would dwell in that land.Judges 5:19The kings came and fought, then fought the kings of Canaan in Taanach by the waters of Megiddo; they took no gain of money.Psalms 83:10Which perished at En-dor: they became as dung for the earth.Joshua 11:2And to the kings that were on the north of the mountains, and of the plains south of Chinneroth, and in the valley, and in the borders of Dor on the west,1 Kings 9:15And this is the reason of the levy which king Solomon raised; for to build the house of the LORD, and his own house, and Millo, and the wall of Jerusalem, and Hazor, and Megiddo, and Gezer.1 Samuel 31:10And they put his armour in the house of Ashtaroth: and they fastened his body to the wall of Beth-shan.1 Samuel 28:7Then said Saul unto his servants, Seek me a woman that hath a familiar spirit, that I may go to her, and enquire of her. And his servants said to him, Behold, there is a woman that hath a familiar spirit at En-dor.
Historical Context
These cities were among Canaan's most formidable strongholds. Beth-shean has been extensively excavated, revealing massive fortifications and Egyptian presence during the Late Bronze Age. Archaeological evidence shows it remained a Canaanite/Philistine city until David's reign (the Philistines fastened Saul's body to Beth-shean's walls, 1 Samuel 31:10-12). Megiddo, with 20+ occupation layers, was one of antiquity's most important cities, controlling the critical pass through the Carmel range. Excavations reveal Solomon later fortified it as a chariot city (1 Kings 9:15). Taanach appears in Egyptian records and the Amarna Letters. Dor was a major seaport. That Manasseh received these cities but failed to conquer them (v. 12) created ongoing problems, vindicating God's earlier warning that incomplete conquest would prove a snare (Judges 2:1-3).
Questions for Reflection
- How does the assignment of strategic cities to Manasseh illustrate that God gives His people opportunities for significant kingdom impact, though we may not always fully appropriate what He offers?
- What does the detailed naming of unconquered cities teach about the importance of honestly acknowledging our failures and incomplete obedience?
- How might God be calling you to 'conquer' areas of influence or responsibility He has assigned to you but which you have not yet fully possessed?
Related Resources
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Analysis & Commentary
And Manasseh had in Issachar and in Asher Beth-shean and her towns, and Ibleam and her towns—Despite the boundaries described above, Manasseh held certain cities within the territories nominally assigned to Issachar and Asher. Beth-shean (Beit She'an, בֵּית שְׁאָן, "house of security") was a major Canaanite fortress city controlling the eastern Jezreel Valley. Ibleam guarded the southern approaches to the valley. The phrase uvnoteha (וּבְנֹתֶיהָ, "and her towns" or "her daughters") refers to satellite villages dependent on the main city.
And the inhabitants of Dor and her towns, and the inhabitants of En-dor and her towns, and the inhabitants of Taanach and her towns, and the inhabitants of Megiddo and her towns, even three countries—The list continues with five more strategic cities: Dor (Mediterranean port), En-dor ("spring of Dor"), Taanach and Megiddo (both commanding the Jezreel Valley). The phrase shelosheth hanefet (שְׁלֹשֶׁת הַנָּפֶת, "three countries" or "three heights") likely refers to geographical districts or ridge systems. The repetition of "inhabitants" (Hebrew yoshvei, יֹשְׁבֵי) foreshadows verse 12's admission that Manasseh failed to conquer these cities—Canaanites remained in occupation.