Joshua 17:12

But the descendants of Manasseh were unable to occupy these cities, because the Canaanites were determined to stay in this land.

Berean Standard Bible

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Study note

Setting — Joshua addresses the tribal representatives during the final allocation of conquered territory, specifically noting the geographic assignment of cities to the tribe of Manasseh.

The words — יָכְלוּ (ya.khe.Lu) translates literally as "they were able," and לְ/הוֹרִ֖ישׁ (le./ho.Rish) means "to dispossess" or "take possession."

The thread — This pattern of incomplete expulsion appears in Exodus 23:29, where God deliberately staggers the conquest to prevent ecological collapse, and Judges 1:27, which records Manasseh's repeated failure to drive out the same inhabitants.

Why it lands — The text records a factual failure to execute the territorial command, requiring the reader to acknowledge that military strength and land grants do not automatically erase established populations or fulfill divine mandates without sustained action.

Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.

The Hebrew words

וְלֹ֤אve./Lo'and/ not יָכְלוּ֙ya.khe.Luthey were able בְּנֵ֣יbe.Nei[the] descendants of מְנַשֶּׁ֔הme.na.ShehManasseh לְהוֹרִ֖ישׁle./ho.Rishto/ take possession of אֶת־'et-<obj.>הֶֽעָרִ֣יםhe./'a.Rimthe/ cities הָאֵ֑לֶּהha./'E.leh<the>/ these וַיּ֙וֹאֶל֙va/i.Yo.'eland/ he was determined הַֽכְּנַעֲנִ֔יha./ke.na.'a.Nithe/ Canaanite[s]לָשֶׁ֖בֶתla./She.vetto/ dwell בָּאָ֥רֶץba./'A.retzin the/ land הַזֹּֽאת׃ha./Zot<the>/ this

King James Version

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

Cross-references

Exodus 23:29 I will not drive them out before you in a single year; otherwise the land would become desolate and wild animals would multiply against you.
Judges 1:27 At that time Manasseh failed to drive out the inhabitants of Beth-shean, Taanach, Dor, Ibleam, Megiddo, and their villages; for the Canaanites were determined to dwell in that land.
Numbers 33:52 you must drive out before you all the inhabitants of the land, destroy all their carved images and cast idols, and demolish all their high places.
Joshua 15:63 But the descendants of Judah could not drive out the Jebusites living in Jerusalem. So to this day the Jebusites live there among the descendants of Judah.
Joshua 16:10 But they did not drive out the Canaanites who lived in Gezer. So the Canaanites dwell among the Ephraimites to this day, but they are forced laborers.
Romans 6:12 Therefore do not let sin reign in your mortal body so that you obey its desires.