Lands, too, must be allotted to Manasses, Joseph’s first-born. The first-born of Manasses was Machir, that was father to Galaad, and he, by feat of arms, made Galaad and Basan his possession.

But there were six other lines descended from Manasses through Abiezer, Helec, Esriel, Sechem, Hegher, and Semida; all these were heirs male to Manasses, and so to Joseph.

But Hepher (who was descended from Manasses through Galaad and Machir) had a son, Salphaad, that died without male issue;✻ there were five daughters, Maala, Noa, Hegla, Melcha, and Thersa.

These appeared before the high priest Eleazar, and Josue the son of Nun, and the chieftains, to claim the right the Lord had granted them through Moses, of inheriting side by side with their father’s kinsmen. So the Lord’s command was obeyed, and they were allowed to inherit;

and now, apart from Galaad and Basan, beyond Jordan, ten portions of territory must be allowed to Manasses.

His other sons were provided for in Galaad, but five remained, and the five heiresses must have their portion too.

The frontier of Manasses, from where it marched with Aser, came down to Machmethath, opposite Sichem, and then turned to the right so as to include the neighbourhood of the Springs of Taphua.

(Taphua itself, close to the border of Manasses, belonged to Ephraim, but Manasses held the adjoining lands.)

Then it went down to the southern side of the stream which flows through the Valley of Reeds, through cities belonging to Ephraim, which are here confused with those of Manasses. Thenceforward Manasses has a true frontier, on the north side of the stream, reaching down to the sea;

Ephraim lies to the south, Manasses to the north, both of them bounded by the sea coast; their joint territory marches with Aser on the north, and Issachar on the east.

Manasses also had lands in Issachar and in Aser, Bethsan, Jeblaam, Dor, Endor, Thenac and Mageddo, with the villages dependent on them, and a third part of Nopheth;

but they could not get the mastery of these cities; the Chanaanites made bold to live on in their own country.

When the Israelites had grown stronger, they subdued the Chanaanites and forced them to pay tribute, but did not exterminate them.

When the tribes descended from Joseph complained to Josue that he had allotted to them only a single division of the country, although the Lord’s blessing had made them so populous,

Josue replied, If there are so many of you, and the hill-country of Ephraim does not suffice you, make your way into the forest-country, and clear room for yourselves there, where the Pherezites and the Raphaim live.

We cannot go across to the hill-country, answered the sons of Joseph; there is a valley in between, where Bethsan lies, with its townships, and Jezrael; and on that low ground there are Chanaanites who have chariots made of iron.

But Josue still told the sons of Joseph, the men of Ephraim and Manasses, So great, so powerful a people as you are must not be content with one lot.

Cross over to the hill-country and fell the trees, to make yourselves room to dwell in; drive out these Chanaanites, for all their iron chariots, for all their great strength, and you will spread your frontiers further yet.