But the descendants of Manasseh were unable to occupy these cities, because the Canaanites were determined to stay in this land.
Parallel translations
- WEB Yet the children of Manasseh couldn’t drive out the inhabitants of those cities; but the Canaanites would dwell in that land.
- KJV Yet the children of Manasseh could not drive out the inhabitants of those cities; but the Canaanites would dwell in that land.
- NKJV Yet the children of Manasseh could not drive out the inhabitants of those cities, but the Canaanites were determined to dwell in that land.
- NASB But the sons of Manasseh could not take possession of these cities, because the Canaanites persisted in living in this land.
- NLT But the descendants of Manasseh were unable to occupy these towns because the Canaanites were determined to stay in that region.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Quick answer
Manasseh could not drive out the inhabitants of those cities, so the Canaanites continued to dwell in the land. Their inheritance was compromised by incomplete conquest.
Overview
Despite being granted these key cities, Manasseh failed to dispossess the Canaanites, mirroring the failure recorded of Ephraim. This left pockets of pagan influence that would later draw Israel into idolatry, especially around the fertile Jezreel valley. The repeated note of failure exposes Israel's weakness and need, pointing to the greater Joshua, Jesus, who alone secures a complete victory over every enemy of His people.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 6
- Exod 23:29–33I will not drive them out before you in a single year; otherwise the land would become desolate and wild animals would multiply against you.
- Judg 1:27–28At 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.
- Josh 15:63But 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.
- Rom 6:12–14Therefore do not let sin reign in your mortal body so that you obey its desires.
- Josh 16:10But 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.
- Num 33:52–56you 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.
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Christ at the center
Joshua — the same name as Jesus, 'the LORD saves' — leads God's people into their inheritance, a shadow of the greater Joshua who brings us into the true rest and the promised land that remains.
How Joshua 17:12 points to him is part of the one story that runs through all Scripture — meet Jesus at the heart of the web, or follow a trail that traces him from Genesis to Revelation.
Original language
Each word below is tagged with its Strong’s number — tap one to see the underlying Hebrew word, its meaning, and every verse that uses it.