BibleWord.ai› Bible› Joshua› Chapter 17› Verse 12

Joshua 17:12

Old Testament Historical ASV (1901)

What does Joshua 17:12 say?

The American Standard Version records this verse as: “Yet the children of Manasseh could not drive out [the inhabitants of] those cities; but the Canaanites would dwell in that land.” Read the surrounding verses and the named sources below before drawing broader conclusions.

The verse

Yet the children of Manasseh could not drive out [the inhabitants of] those cities; but the Canaanites would dwell in that land.
Joshua 17:12 — American Standard Version

Context — Joshua 17

American Standard Version (1901) — public domain. Click any verse for its study page.
9And the border went down unto the brook of Kanah, southward of the brook: these cities belonged to Ephraim among the cities of Manasseh: and the border of Manasseh was on the north side of the brook, and the goings out thereof were at the sea:
10southward it was Ephraim`s, and northward it was Manasseh`s, and the sea was his border; and they reached to Asher on the north, and to Issachar on the east.
11And Manasseh had in Issachar and in Asher Beth-shean and its towns, and Ibleam and its towns, and the inhabitants of Dor and its towns, and the inhabitants of En-dor and its towns, and the inhabitants of Taanach and its towns, and the inhabitants of Megiddo and its towns, even the three heights.
12Yet the children of Manasseh could not drive out [the inhabitants of] those cities; but the Canaanites would dwell in that land.
13And it came to pass, when the children of Israel were waxed strong, that they put the Canaanites to taskwork, and did not utterly drive them out.
14And the children of Joseph spake unto Joshua, saying, Why hast thou given me but one lot and one part for an inheritance, seeing I am a great people, forasmuch as hitherto Jehovah hath blessed me?
15And Joshua said unto them, If thou be a great people, get thee up to the forest, and cut down for thyself there in the land of the Perizzites and of the Rephaim; since the hill-country of Ephraim is too narrow for thee.
← Joshua 17:11Joshua 17:13 →
← Full Chapter 17 Joshua Overview

What do historical commentaries say?

John Gill's Exposition
John Gill (1697–1771) · Exposition of the Old and New Testament · 18th-century historical commentary
“Yet the children of Manasseh could not drive out [the inhabitants] of these cities, etc.] Mentioned in (<061711>Joshua 17:11); they had not strength at first to do it, or either were negligent and slothful, and suffered them to dwell among them, and did not take the advantage they might have done; and afterwards it was too late, they became too strong and numerous for them, at least for a time: but the Canaanites would dwell in the land; whether they would or not.”
Read attributed excerpt →
Jamieson, Fausset & Brown
Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown · Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible · 19th-century historical commentary
“CANAANITES NOT DRIVEN OUT. (Jos 17:12-13) Yet the children of Manasseh could not drive out those cities--probably due to indolence, a love of ease. Perhaps a mistaken humanity, arising from a disregard or forgetfulness of the divine command, and a decreasing principle of faith and zeal in the service of God, were the causes of their failure.”
Read attributed excerpt →
Treasury of Scriptural Knowledge
R. A. Torrey and contributors · The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge · Cross-reference reference work
“Jos 15:63, Jos 16:10; Exo 23:29-33; Num 33:52-56; Jdg 1:27, Jdg 1:28; Rom 6:12-14 Joshua 17:13”
Read attributed excerpt →

Related study paths

Read Joshua 17 in contextBrowse Hebrew word studiesOpen this verse in the study reader

Sources and verification