Joshua 17 6

Joshua 17:6 kjv

Because the daughters of Manasseh had an inheritance among his sons: and the rest of Manasseh's sons had the land of Gilead.

Joshua 17:6 nkjv

because the daughters of Manasseh received an inheritance among his sons; and the rest of Manasseh's sons had the land of Gilead.

Joshua 17:6 niv

because the daughters of the tribe of Manasseh received an inheritance among the sons. The land of Gilead belonged to the rest of the descendants of Manasseh.

Joshua 17:6 esv

because the daughters of Manasseh received an inheritance along with his sons. The land of Gilead was allotted to the rest of the people of Manasseh.

Joshua 17:6 nlt

because the female descendants of Manasseh received a grant of land along with the male descendants. (The land of Gilead was given to the rest of the male descendants of Manasseh.)

Joshua 17 verses

Joshua 17 6 Meaning

Joshua 17:6 specifies how the land was divided for the tribe of Manasseh. It highlights a unique situation: the daughters of Manasseh, referring specifically to the daughters of Zelophehad, received an inheritance among their male kin. Additionally, it clarifies that the remaining sons of Manasseh received the land of Gilead, implying a division of the tribe's inheritance between territories on both sides of the Jordan River.

Joshua 17 6 Context

Joshua chapter 17 details the allocation of land for the tribe of Manasseh, a process which involved complex divisions due to their large size and specific historical claims. The chapter follows the general distribution of land west of the Jordan among the remaining Israelite tribes. Verses 1-2 establish Manasseh's western borders. The core context leading to verse 6 is the exceptional case of Zelophehad's daughters, introduced in verses 3-4, who approached Eleazar the priest, Joshua, and the tribal leaders. Their petition was based on the prior divine decree recorded in Numbers 27 and 36, which granted daughters an inheritance if there were no male heirs, to ensure the family lineage and land ownership did not lapse. Thus, verse 6 serves as a statement of the implemented resolution for this specific situation, affirming their inheritance west of the Jordan, while clarifying that the remainder of Manasseh's sons received the already conquered territory of Gilead on the east.

Joshua 17 6 Word analysis

• For the daughters: (Hebrew: כִּֽי־בְנ֤וֹת ki-venot)

  • Ki: A particle often meaning "for," "because," or "indeed," here providing the reason or clarification for the preceding discussion (referring to the previous verses' detailing of their petition).
  • Benot: Plural feminine form of bat (daughter). While generically "daughters," in this specific context and preceding verses (Jos 17:3-4), it unequivocally refers to the five daughters of Zelophehad: Mahlah, Noah, Hoglah, Milcah, and Tirzah. Their case is unique and highlights a significant legal precedent.
  • Significance: This phrase is foundational to the verse's meaning, asserting the right of specific women to inherit in a predominantly patrilineal society, by divine command.

• of Manasseh: (Hebrew: מְנַשֶּׁה Mᵊnašše)

  • Refers to the tribe of Manasseh, one of Joseph's two sons. The tribe itself was large, justifying a double portion of land and a complex distribution.
  • Significance: Specifies the tribal affiliation of the inheritors and their placement within the overall land distribution scheme.

• had an inheritance: (Hebrew: הָֽיְתָ֤ה נַחֲלָה֙ hāytâ naḥălâ)

  • Hayta: Past tense of "to be" or "to become."
  • Nachalah: Means "inheritance," "possession," "allotment," or "heritage." It denotes not just possession but a portion that is enduring and passed down, often within a family or tribe. In the Old Testament, "inheritance" (especially nachalah) often carries theological weight, signifying God's covenant gift to His people (the Promised Land) and their security in it.
  • Significance: Emphasizes that this was not merely temporary use, but a permanent, divinely sanctioned right of possession, crucial for family identity and economic stability in ancient Israel.

• among his sons: (Hebrew: אֶת־בָּנָ֔יו et-bānāyw)

  • Et: Marks the direct object, here indicating alongside or in the midst of.
  • Banayw: "His sons" (of Manasseh).
  • Significance: Points to their land being within the territory traditionally allotted to male heirs of the tribe of Manasseh west of the Jordan, not a separate, peripheral allocation. This was crucial for legitimacy and integration.

• and the rest: (Hebrew: וְאֵ֣לֶּה הָיְתָה wᵉʾellah hāytâ)

  • Wᵉʾelleh: "And these" or "and the rest," acting as a transition. It denotes the remaining portion or part of Manasseh's lineage.
  • Significance: Differentiates between the specific daughters who received land on the western side and the remainder of the tribe's male population whose inheritance was eastward.

• of Manasseh’s sons: (Hebrew: בְנֵ֣י מְנַשֶּׁה֮ bĕnê Mᵊnašše)

  • Benei: "Sons of." This phrase here distinguishes between Zelophehad's immediate family situation and the broader distribution among the rest of the tribe's male descendants.

• had the land: (Hebrew: לָהֶ֛ם הָאָרֶץ lāhem hāʾāreṣ)

  • Lahēm: "To them."
  • Ha'arets: "The land" (definite article).
  • Significance: Indicates the actual physical territory received.

• of Gilead: (Hebrew: גִּלְעָֽד׃ Gilʿād)

  • A significant region located east of the Jordan River. Part of the tribe of Manasseh, specifically the family of Machir, had settled here prior to the crossing into Canaan (Num 32:39-40, Deut 3:13).
  • Significance: This emphasizes the split inheritance of Manasseh—one part west of the Jordan, the other (often called the "half-tribe of Manasseh") already settled east in Gilead. This verse confirms both divisions.

• Words-group by words-group analysis:

  • "For the daughters of Manasseh had an inheritance among his sons": This phrase directly implements the divine legal precedent set in Numbers 27 and 36, affirming the rights of the daughters of Zelophehad to land in Canaan. It ensures the continuity of family lines and land tenure in cases of no male heirs, a radical concept for ancient patrilineal societies. It highlights God's justice that transcends conventional human custom to uphold covenant promises regarding the land.
  • "and the rest of Manasseh’s sons had the land of Gilead": This part clarifies the full distribution for the tribe. It indicates that the remaining Manassite families received the trans-Jordanian territory of Gilead. This reminds the reader of the dual nature of Manasseh's inheritance, part on the west bank of the Jordan and a significant part already settled on the east bank (the "half-tribe of Manasseh"). This also reinforces that Gilead, though already occupied, was part of their God-ordained inheritance.

Joshua 17 6 Bonus section

• The case of Zelophehad's daughters stands as a powerful example of divine law adjusting human customs for righteousness and compassion, ensuring no family's portion of the sacred inheritance was lost. This foreshadows a broader inclusionary principle that culminates in the New Covenant.
• The careful legal and historical recording of land distribution in Joshua, including specific boundary descriptions and unusual cases like this one, emphasizes the sacredness of the land as God's gift and its importance in the identity of Israel. The detailed nature underscores that this was a physical fulfillment of the Abrahamic covenant.
• The mention of Gilead for "the rest of Manasseh's sons" reflects the fulfillment of a commitment made to the tribes who chose to settle east of the Jordan (Num 32), reinforcing God's faithfulness to His word.

Joshua 17 6 Commentary

Joshua 17:6 is a concise summation of a significant outcome of Israel's land distribution. It affirms the unique resolution for the daughters of Zelophehad, who, lacking brothers, were granted inheritance rights directly among their male kinsmen west of the Jordan, specifically to prevent their father's name from being lost in Israel and his family line losing its share of the Promised Land. This demonstrated God's justice and His careful attention to the nuances of His people's well-being and covenant obligations. Simultaneously, the verse specifies that the rest of Manasseh's sons received the land of Gilead, thereby solidifying the tribal boundaries and completing Manasseh's complex double inheritance spanning both sides of the Jordan. This division reflected both historical settlement patterns (east of Jordan) and the fulfillment of promises for new territory (west of Jordan). It underscores the systematic and divinely guided process of allocating the Promised Land, ensuring every family received their portion as an enduring heritage from God.