Joshua 17:12
New International Version
Yet the Manassites were not able to occupy these towns, for the Canaanites were determined to live in that region.

New Living Translation
But the descendants of Manasseh were unable to occupy these towns because the Canaanites were determined to stay in that region.

English Standard Version
Yet the people of Manasseh could not take possession of those cities, but the Canaanites persisted in dwelling in that land.

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

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

New King James Version
Yet the children of Manasseh could not drive out the inhabitants of those cities, but the Canaanites were determined to dwell in that land.

New American Standard Bible
But the sons of Manasseh could not take possession of these cities, because the Canaanites persisted in living in this land.

NASB 1995
But the sons of Manasseh could not take possession of these cities, because the Canaanites persisted in living in that land.

NASB 1977
But the sons of Manasseh could not take possession of these cities, because the Canaanites persisted in living in that land.

Legacy Standard Bible
But the sons of Manasseh could not take possession of these cities because the Canaanites persisted in living in that land.

Amplified Bible
But the sons of Manasseh were not able to [drive out the inhabitants and] take possession of these cities, because the Canaanites persisted in living in that land.

Christian Standard Bible
The descendants of Manasseh could not possess these cities, because the Canaanites were determined to stay in this land.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
The descendants of Manasseh could not possess these cities, because the Canaanites were determined to stay in this land.

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

Contemporary English Version
But the people of Manasseh could not capture these towns, so the Canaanites kept on living in them.

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

GOD'S WORD® Translation
But Manasseh was not able to take possession of these cities since the Canaanites were determined to stay in this land.

Good News Translation
The people of Manasseh, however, were not able to drive out the people living in those cities, so the Canaanites continued to live there.

International Standard Version
The descendants of Manasseh did not take possession of these cities, because the Canaanites predominated in that territory.

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

NET Bible
But the men of Manasseh were unable to conquer these cities; the Canaanites managed to remain in those areas.

New Heart English Bible
Yet the people of Manasseh couldn't drive out the inhabitants of those cities; but the Canaanites would dwell in that land.

Webster's Bible Translation
Yet the children of Manasseh could not expel the inhabitants of those cities; but the Canaanites would dwell in that land.

World English Bible
Yet the children of Manasseh couldn’t drive out the inhabitants of those cities; but the Canaanites would dwell in that land.
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
And the sons of Manasseh have not been able to occupy these cities, and the Canaanite is desirous to dwell in this land,

Young's Literal Translation
And the sons of Manasseh have not been able to occupy these cities, and the Canaanite is desirous to dwell in this land,

Smith's Literal Translation
And the sons of Manasseh will not be able to dispossess these cities; and the Canaanite will dwell in that land.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
Neither could the children of Manasses overthrow these cities, but the Chanaanite began to dwell in his land.

Catholic Public Domain Version
The sons of Manasseh were not able to overthrow these cities, and so the Canaanite began to dwell in their land.

New American Bible
Since the Manassites were not able to dispossess these cities, the Canaanites continued to inhabit this region.

New Revised Standard Version
Yet the Manassites could not take possession of those towns; but the Canaanites continued to live in that land.
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
Yet the Israelites could not destroy these cities, because the Canaanites took refuge and dwelt in them.

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
And the sons of Israel did not destroy these cities because the Canaanites took refuge to dwell in these villages
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
Yet the children of Manasseh could not drive out the inhabitants of those cities; but the Canaanites were resolved to dwell in that land.

Brenton Septuagint Translation
And the sons of Manasse were not able to destroy these cities; and the Chananite began to dwell in that land.

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
Manasseh's Inheritance
11Within Issachar and Asher, Manasseh was assigned Beth-shean, Ibleam, Dor (that is, Naphath), Endor, Taanach, and Megiddo, each with their surrounding settlements. 12But the descendants of Manasseh were unable to occupy these cities, because the Canaanites were determined to stay in this land. 13However, when the Israelites grew stronger, they put the Canaanites to forced labor; but they failed to drive them out completely.…

Cross References
Judges 1:27-28
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. / When Israel became stronger, they pressed the Canaanites into forced labor, but they never drove them out completely.

Judges 2:1-3
Now the angel of the LORD went up from Gilgal to Bochim and said, “I brought you up out of Egypt and led you into the land that I had promised to your fathers, and I said, ‘I will never break My covenant with you, / and you are not to make a covenant with the people of this land, but you shall tear down their altars.’ Yet you have not obeyed My voice. What is this you have done? / So now I tell you that I will not drive out these people before you; they will be thorns in your sides, and their gods will be a snare to you.”

Judges 3:1-4
These are the nations that the LORD left to test all the Israelites who had not known any of the wars in Canaan, / if only to teach warfare to the subsequent generations of Israel, especially to those who had not known it formerly: / the five rulers of the Philistines, all the Canaanites, the Sidonians, and the Hivites who lived in the mountains of Lebanon from Mount Baal-hermon to Lebo-hamath. ...

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.

2 Kings 17:33-34
They worshiped the LORD, but they also served their own gods according to the customs of the nations from which they had been carried away. / To this day they are still practicing their former customs. None of them worship the LORD or observe the statutes, ordinances, laws, and commandments that the LORD gave the descendants of Jacob, whom He named Israel.

2 Kings 17:40-41
But they would not listen, and they persisted in their former customs. / So these nations worshiped the LORD but also served their idols, and to this day their children and grandchildren continue to do as their fathers did.

Nehemiah 9:24-27
So their descendants went in and possessed the land; You subdued before them the Canaanites dwelling in the land. You delivered into their hands the kings and peoples of the land, to do with them as they wished. / They captured fortified cities and fertile land and took houses full of all goods, wells already dug, vineyards, olive groves, and fruit trees in abundance. So they ate and were filled; they grew fat and delighted in Your great goodness. / But they were disobedient and rebelled against You; they flung Your law behind their backs. They killed Your prophets, who had admonished them to return to You. They committed terrible blasphemies. ...

Psalm 106:34-36
They did not destroy the peoples as the LORD had commanded them, / but they mingled with the nations and adopted their customs. / They worshiped their idols, which became a snare to them.

Exodus 23:32-33
You shall make no covenant with them or with their gods. / They must not remain in your land, lest they cause you to sin against Me. For if you serve their gods, it will surely be a snare to you.”

Exodus 34:12-16
Be careful not to make a treaty with the inhabitants of the land you are entering, lest they become a snare in your midst. / Rather, you must tear down their altars, smash their sacred stones, and chop down their Asherah poles. / For you must not worship any other god, for the LORD, whose name is Jealous, is a jealous God. ...

Deuteronomy 7:1-5
When the LORD your God brings you into the land that you are entering to possess, and He drives out before you many nations—the Hittites, Girgashites, Amorites, Canaanites, Perizzites, Hivites, and Jebusites, seven nations larger and stronger than you— / and when the LORD your God has delivered them over to you to defeat them, then you must devote them to complete destruction. Make no treaty with them and show them no mercy. / Do not intermarry with them. Do not give your daughters to their sons or take their daughters for your sons, ...

Deuteronomy 12:29-31
When the LORD your God cuts off before you the nations you are entering to dispossess, and you drive them out and live in their land, / be careful not to be ensnared by their ways after they have been destroyed before you. Do not inquire about their gods, asking, “How do these nations serve their gods? I will do likewise.” / You must not worship the LORD your God in this way, because they practice for their gods every abomination which the LORD hates. They even burn their sons and daughters in the fire as sacrifices to their gods.

Matthew 13:24-30
Jesus put before them another parable: “The kingdom of heaven is like a man who sowed good seed in his field. / But while everyone was asleep, his enemy came and sowed weeds among the wheat, and slipped away. / When the wheat sprouted and bore grain, then the weeds also appeared. ...

Matthew 13:36-43
Then Jesus dismissed the crowds and went into the house. His disciples came to Him and said, “Explain to us the parable of the weeds in the field.” / He replied, “The One who sows the good seed is the Son of Man. / The field is the world, and the good seed represents the sons of the kingdom. The weeds are the sons of the evil one, ...


Treasury of Scripture

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

Joshua 15:63
As for the Jebusites the inhabitants of Jerusalem, the children of Judah could not drive them out: but the Jebusites dwell with the children of Judah at Jerusalem unto this day.

Joshua 16:10
And they drave not out the Canaanites that dwelt in Gezer: but the Canaanites dwell among the Ephraimites unto this day, and serve under tribute.

Exodus 23:29-33
I will not drive them out from before thee in one year; lest the land become desolate, and the beast of the field multiply against thee…

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Able Canaanite Canaanites Children Cities Couldn't Desirous Determined Dispossess Drive Dwell Dwelling Expel Inhabitants Live Manasseh Manas'seh Manassites Occupy Persisted Possession Resolved Towns
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Able Canaanite Canaanites Children Cities Couldn't Desirous Determined Dispossess Drive Dwell Dwelling Expel Inhabitants Live Manasseh Manas'seh Manassites Occupy Persisted Possession Resolved Towns
Joshua 17
1. The lot of Manasseh
7. His coast
12. The Canaanites not driven out
14. The children of Joseph obtain another lot














But the descendants of Manasseh
The tribe of Manasseh was one of the twelve tribes of Israel, named after one of Joseph's sons. Historically, Manasseh was one of the two half-tribes, with land on both sides of the Jordan River. This phrase highlights the continuity of God's promise to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, as their descendants are now in the Promised Land. The tribe's inability to fully possess their inheritance reflects the ongoing struggle between faithfulness to God's commands and the challenges posed by the surrounding cultures.

were unable to occupy these cities
The Hebrew root for "unable" suggests a lack of strength or capability. This inability is not just physical but also spiritual, as it reflects a failure to fully trust in God's power to deliver the land into their hands. The cities in question were part of the inheritance promised to Manasseh, yet their occupation was incomplete. This serves as a reminder of the importance of reliance on God rather than human strength alone.

because the Canaanites were determined
The Canaanites, the original inhabitants of the land, were known for their fortified cities and advanced military capabilities. The word "determined" indicates a strong resolve or stubbornness. This determination of the Canaanites to remain in the land represents the persistent opposition that God's people often face from the world. It underscores the spiritual warfare that believers must engage in, relying on God's strength to overcome.

to stay in this land
The land was a central element of God's covenant with Israel, symbolizing His promise and blessing. The Canaanites' desire to stay in the land highlights the ongoing conflict between God's people and those who do not acknowledge Him. This phrase serves as a metaphor for the Christian life, where believers are called to claim and live out the promises of God amidst a world that often resists His rule. The struggle to fully possess the land is a call to perseverance and faithfulness in the face of opposition.

Verse 12. - Would dwell. The LXX. and Vulgate translate, "began to dwell," an obvious mistake here, though the word sometimes has this signification. They willed to dwell there, in spite of their defeats, and their purpose was not frustrated.

Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
But the descendants
בְּנֵ֣י (bə·nê)
Noun - masculine plural construct
Strong's 1121: A son

of Manasseh
מְנַשֶּׁ֔ה (mə·naš·šeh)
Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 4519: Manasseh -- 'causing to forget', a son of Joseph, also a king of Judah, also two Israelites

were unable
יָכְלוּ֙ (yā·ḵə·lū)
Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person common plural
Strong's 3201: To be able, have power

to occupy
לְהוֹרִ֖ישׁ (lə·hō·w·rîš)
Preposition-l | Verb - Hifil - Infinitive construct
Strong's 3423: To occupy, to seize, to rob, to inherit, to expel, to impoverish, to ruin

these
הָאֵ֑לֶּה (hā·’êl·leh)
Article | Pronoun - common plural
Strong's 428: These, those

cities,
הֶֽעָרִ֣ים (he·‘ā·rîm)
Article | Noun - feminine plural
Strong's 5892: Excitement

because the Canaanites
הַֽכְּנַעֲנִ֔י (hak·kə·na·‘ă·nî)
Article | Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 3669: Canaanite -- inhabitant of Canaan

were determined
וַיּ֙וֹאֶל֙ (way·yō·w·’el)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Hifil - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 2974: To show willingness, be pleased, determine, undertake (to do anything)

to stay
לָשֶׁ֖בֶת (lā·še·ḇeṯ)
Preposition-l | Verb - Qal - Infinitive construct
Strong's 3427: To sit down, to dwell, to remain, to settle, to marry

in this
הַזֹּֽאת׃ (haz·zōṯ)
Article | Pronoun - feminine singular
Strong's 2063: Hereby in it, likewise, the one other, same, she, so much, such deed, that,

land.
בָּאָ֥רֶץ (bā·’ā·reṣ)
Preposition-b, Article | Noun - feminine singular
Strong's 776: Earth, land


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OT History: Joshua 17:12 Yet the children of Manasseh couldn't drive (Josh. Jos)
Joshua 17:11
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