The tribe of Manasseh, Joseph's firstborn, received their portion of land. Makir, the ancestor of the Gileadites, had already taken possession of Gilead and Bashan because his descendants were mighty warriors. The rest of Manasseh's clans—Abiezer, Helek, Asriel, Shechem, Hepher, and Shemida—were also allotted their shares.
Among them was a man named Zelophehad, who had no sons, only daughters—Mahlah, Noah, Hoglah, Milcah, and Tirzah. These women came before Eleazar the priest, Joshua, and the leaders, reminding them of the Lord's command to Moses: that they should receive an inheritance among their father's brothers. Joshua honored God's word and granted them their portion, just as the Lord had said.
Manasseh's inheritance included ten portions of land west of the Jordan, besides the regions of Gilead and Bashan in the east. Their boundary stretched from Asher to Micmethath east of Shechem, turning south toward En Tappuah. Though the land of Tappuah belonged to Manasseh, the town itself was held by the Ephraimites. The border continued along the Kanah Ravine and reached the sea, with Ephraim's land to the south and Manasseh's to the north.
Within the lands of Issachar and Asher, Manasseh also possessed several towns—Beth Shan, Ibleam, Dor, Endor, Taanach, and Megiddo, with all their surrounding villages. Yet, the Manassites could not fully drive out the Canaanites, who stubbornly remained in the land. Later, as Israel grew stronger, they subdued the Canaanites and forced them into labor but did not completely remove them.
Then the descendants of Joseph—Ephraim and Manasseh—spoke to Joshua, saying, "Why have you given us only one portion when the Lord has made us so numerous?" Joshua replied, "If you are indeed many, go into the forest and clear land for yourselves in the country of the Perizzites and Rephaites."
But they answered, "The hill country is too small, and the Canaanites in the plains have iron chariots, both in Beth Shan and in the Valley of Jezreel." Joshua encouraged them, saying, "You are strong and great in number. You will have more than one allotment. The forested hill country will also be yours—clear it, and it will belong to you. Even though the Canaanites are strong and have iron chariots, you will drive them out."