Highlights of Joshua 16-20 - Theocratic Ministry School

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Bible reading: Joshua 16-20 (8 min.)

(Joshua 16:9)

the descendants of E′phra•im also had enclave cities in the midst of the inheritance of Ma•nas′seh, all the cities and their settlements.

*** it-1 p. 724 Enclave Cities ***
In the division of the Promised Land among the 12 tribes, there were cities within the general territory of one tribe that were held by another tribe. According to Joshua 16:9, “the sons of Ephraim had enclave [or, “separated; isolated”] cities in the midst of the inheritance of the sons of Manasseh” (NW, ftn), that is, “towns set apart for the Ephraimites inside the inheritance of the sons of Manasseh.” (JB; see also Jos 17:8, 9.)

(Joshua 17:2)

And the lot fell for the rest of the descendants of Ma•nas′seh according to their families, for the sons of Abi-e′zer, the sons of He′lek, the sons of As′ri•el, the sons of She′chem, the sons of He′pher, and the sons of She•mi′da. These were the descendants of Ma•nas′seh the son of Joseph, the males according to their families.

*** w07 11/15 pp. 12-13 Ancient Potsherds Confirm the Biblical Record ***
When the Israelites conquered the Promised Land and divided it among the tribes, the site of Samaria was located in the tribal territory of Manasseh. According to Joshua 17:1-6, ten clans of Manasseh, through his grandson Gilead, were allotted tracts of land in this area. They were Abiezer, Helek, Asriel, Shechem, and Shemida. The sixth male, Hepher, had no grandsons but had five granddaughters—Mahlah, Noah, Hoglah, Milcah, and Tirzah—and each of them received a tract of land.—Numbers 27:1-7.
The Samaria ostraca preserve seven of these clan names—all five names of Gilead’s sons and two of Hepher’s granddaughters, Hoglah and Noah. “The clan names preserved on the Samaria Ostraca provide an extrabiblical link between the clans of Manasseh and the territory in which the Bible claims they settled,” notes the NIV Archaeological Study Bible. Thus, this aspect of Israel’s early tribal history as described in the Bible is confirmed by these ostraca.

(Joshua 17:3)

But Ze•lo′phe•had the son of He′pher, the son of Gil′e•ad, the son of Ma′chir, the son of Ma•nas′seh, did not have sons, only daughters, and these were the names of his daughters: Mah′lah, Noah, Hog′lah, Mil′cah, and Tir′zah.

*** w07 11/15 pp. 12-13 Ancient Potsherds Confirm the Biblical Record ***
When the Israelites conquered the Promised Land and divided it among the tribes, the site of Samaria was located in the tribal territory of Manasseh. According to Joshua 17:1-6, ten clans of Manasseh, through his grandson Gilead, were allotted tracts of land in this area. They were Abiezer, Helek, Asriel, Shechem, and Shemida. The sixth male, Hepher, had no grandsons but had five granddaughters—Mahlah, Noah, Hoglah, Milcah, and Tirzah—and each of them received a tract of land.—Numbers 27:1-7.
The Samaria ostraca preserve seven of these clan names—all five names of Gilead’s sons and two of Hepher’s granddaughters, Hoglah and Noah. “The clan names preserved on the Samaria Ostraca provide an extrabiblical link between the clans of Manasseh and the territory in which the Bible claims they settled,” notes the NIV Archaeological Study Bible. Thus, this aspect of Israel’s early tribal history as described in the Bible is confirmed by these ostraca.

(Joshua 17:4)

So they presented themselves before El•e•a′zar the priest, Joshua the son of Nun, and the chieftains, saying: “It was Jehovah who commanded Moses to give us an inheritance among our brothers.” So at the order of Jehovah, he gave them an inheritance among the brothers of their father.

*** w07 11/15 pp. 12-13 Ancient Potsherds Confirm the Biblical Record ***
When the Israelites conquered the Promised Land and divided it among the tribes, the site of Samaria was located in the tribal territory of Manasseh. According to Joshua 17:1-6, ten clans of Manasseh, through his grandson Gilead, were allotted tracts of land in this area. They were Abiezer, Helek, Asriel, Shechem, and Shemida. The sixth male, Hepher, had no grandsons but had five granddaughters—Mahlah, Noah, Hoglah, Milcah, and Tirzah—and each of them received a tract of land.—Numbers 27:1-7.
The Samaria ostraca preserve seven of these clan names—all five names of Gilead’s sons and two of Hepher’s granddaughters, Hoglah and Noah. “The clan names preserved on the Samaria Ostraca provide an extrabiblical link between the clans of Manasseh and the territory in which the Bible claims they settled,” notes the NIV Archaeological Study Bible. Thus, this aspect of Israel’s early tribal history as described in the Bible is confirmed by these ostraca.

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