17 This was the allotment for the tribe of Manasseh^(A) as Joseph’s firstborn,^(B) that is, for Makir,^(C) Manasseh’s firstborn. Makir was the ancestor of the Gileadites, who had received Gilead^(D) and Bashan^(E) because the Makirites were great soldiers. ² So this allotment was for the rest of the people of Manasseh^(F)—the clans of Abiezer,^(G) Helek, Asriel,^(H) Shechem, Hepher^(I) and Shemida.^(J) These are the other male descendants of Manasseh son of Joseph by their clans.

³ Now Zelophehad son of Hepher,^(K) the son of Gilead, the son of Makir, the son of Manasseh, had no sons but only daughters,^(L) whose names were Mahlah, Noah, Hoglah, Milkah and Tirzah. ⁴ They went to Eleazar the priest, Joshua son of Nun, and the leaders and said, “The Lord commanded Moses to give us an inheritance among our relatives.” So Joshua gave them an inheritance along with the brothers of their father, according to the Lord’s command.^{(M) 5} Manasseh’s share consisted of ten tracts of land besides Gilead and Bashan east of the Jordan,^{(N) 6} 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.

¹² Yet the Manassites were not able^(AE) to occupy these towns, for the Canaanites were determined to live in that region. ¹³ However, when the Israelites grew stronger, they subjected the Canaanites to forced labor but did not drive them out completely.^(AF)

¹⁴ The people of Joseph said to Joshua, “Why have you given us only one allotment and one portion for an inheritance? We are a numerous people, and the Lord has blessed us abundantly.”^(AG)

¹⁵ “If you are so numerous,” Joshua answered, “and if the hill country of Ephraim is too small for you, go up into the forest^(AH) and clear land for yourselves there in the land of the Perizzites^(AI) and Rephaites.^(AJ)”

¹⁶ The people of Joseph replied, “The hill country is not enough for us, and all the Canaanites who live in the plain have chariots fitted with iron,^(AK) both those in Beth Shan^(AL) and its settlements and those in the Valley of Jezreel.”^(AM)

¹⁷ But Joshua said to the tribes of Joseph—to Ephraim and Manasseh—“You are numerous and very powerful. You will have not only one allotment^{(AN) 18} but the forested hill country^(AO) as well. Clear it, and its farthest limits will be yours; though the Canaanites have chariots fitted with iron^(AP) and though they are strong, you can drive them out.”

Division of the Rest of the Land

18 The whole assembly of the Israelites gathered at Shiloh^(AQ) and set up the tent of meeting^(AR) there. The country was brought under their control, ² but there were still seven Israelite tribes who had not yet received their inheritance.

³ So Joshua said to the Israelites: “How long will you wait before you begin to take possession of the land that the Lord, the God of your ancestors, has given you? ⁴ Appoint three men from each tribe. I will send them out to make a survey of the land and to write a description of it,^(AS) according to the inheritance of each.^(AT) Then they will return to me. ⁵ You are to divide the land into seven parts. Judah is to remain in its territory on the south^(AU) and the tribes of Joseph in their territory on the north.^{(AV) 6} After you have written descriptions of the seven parts of the land, bring them here to me and I will cast lots^(AW) for you in the presence of the Lord our God. ⁷ The Levites, however, do not get a portion among you, because the priestly service of the Lord is their inheritance.^(AX) And Gad, Reuben and the half-tribe of Manasseh have already received their inheritance on the east side of the Jordan. Moses the servant of the Lord gave it to them.^(AY)”

⁸ As the men started on their way to map out the land, Joshua instructed them, “Go and make a survey of the land and write a description of it.^(AZ) Then return to me, and I will cast lots for you here at Shiloh^(BA) in the presence of the Lord.” ⁹ So the men left and went through the land. They wrote its description on a scroll, town by town, in seven parts, and returned to Joshua in the camp at Shiloh. ¹⁰ Joshua then cast lots^(BB) for them in Shiloh in the presence^(BC) of the Lord, and there he distributed the land to the Israelites according to their tribal divisions.^(BD)

Allotment for Benjamin

¹¹ The first lot came up for the tribe of Benjamin according to its clans. Their allotted territory lay between the tribes of Judah and Joseph:

These were the boundaries that marked out the inheritance of the clans of Benjamin on all sides.^(BW)

²¹ The tribe of Benjamin, according to its clans, had the following towns:

This was the inheritance of Benjamin for its clans.^(CO)