The lot of Manasseh, Joseph's first-born: the daughters of Zelophehad receive an inheritance among their father's brethren; the children of Joseph, a great people, must clear the forest-land and drive out the Canaanite.
Tap any Hebrew word to reveal its root, value, and meanings.
And this was the lot for the tribe of Manasseh; for he was the first-born of Joseph. As for Machir the first-born of Manasseh, the father of Gilead, because he was a man of war, therefore he had Gilead and Bashan.
verse value 3266
Insights
Verse structure: 20 words, 83 letters. Notable word values: "father·of" (אֲבִ֣י) = 13, the value of echad ('one') and ahavah ('love'). The shortest word is "for" (כִּ֣י, 2 letters) and the longest is "and·he·had" (וַֽיְהִי־ל֖וֹ, 6 letters). Words sharing gematria 395: Manasseh, Manasseh. 2 words in this verse appear nowhere else in Joshua. Unique to this verse in Joshua (hapax): "to·Machir" (לְמָכִיר֩), "and·he·had" (וַֽיְהִי־ל֖וֹ). The root היה appears 3 times in this verse. 15 unique roots are used. Frequent roots: "and·it·was" (root היה, 150x in Joshua); "he" (root הוא, 77x in Joshua); "for" (root כי, 70x in Joshua). The etnachta (major mid-verse pause) falls on 'Joseph', dividing the verse into phrases of 7 and 13 words.
Rashi
To Machir the firstborn of Manasseh. Therefore he took first in the days of Moses beyond the Jordan, and to him was Gilead and Bashan.
Radak
"for he is the firstborn of Joseph." This means: Since he was the firstborn of Joseph, and Machir was his firstborn, and he was a man of war, this caused him to receive the inheritance in the land of Gilead. For the sons of Gad and the sons of Reuben requested that land because they had abundant livestock, and it was a land suitable for livestock. But half of the tribe of Manasseh received it only because of the valor of Machir, who captured the land. And this blessing was his because his father was the firstborn of Joseph, and he himself was also a firstborn. And on his account Moses alluded in his blessing: "The firstborn of his bull, majesty is his; and his horns are the horns of a wild ox; with them he shall gore the nations, all together."
Metzudat David
"For he is the firstborn." This means: Even though he was the firstborn, and it would therefore have been proper for his lot to be taken first, nevertheless he was delayed from taking his lot until Ephraim took his first, and only after that did the lot fall to Manasseh. And this occurred because of Jacob’s blessing, in which he gave precedence to Ephraim in every matter.
"To Machir, the firstborn of Manasseh." This means that, regarding the sons of Manasseh, since there was no reason to prioritize the younger over the firstborn, the firstborn was taken first.
"Father of Gilead." He was called by the name of his son, Gilead; or perhaps it means, "the prince of Gilead," and the text refers to his ultimate status.
"A man of war." And he chose to dwell beyond the Jordan, on the frontier, in a place of danger, in order to demonstrate his valor to the nations; and for this purpose he had Gilead and Bashan.
Malbim
"For he is the firstborn of Joseph." This explains why the tribe of Manasseh was divided into two halves: because, being the firstborn of Joseph, he was esteemed and counted among the mighty men, and his population was numerous. Therefore Machir, his firstborn (who was a man of war), was given Gilead and Bashan. (And our Sages of blessed memory also received the tradition that the reason the tribe of Manasseh was split into two was due to Joseph, who caused the tribes to be divided. And as for why the tribe of Ephraim was not split, but only Manasseh, the explanation is: "For he is the firstborn of Joseph.")
And the lot was for the rest of the children of Manasseh according to their families; for the children of Abiezer, and for the children of Helek, and for the children of Asriel, and for the children of Shechem, and for the children of Hepher, and for the children of Shemida; these were the male children of Manasseh the son of Joseph according to their families.
verse value 6632
Insights
Verse structure: 20 words, 110 letters. Notable word values: "these" (אֵ֠לֶּה) = 36, double chai. The shortest word is "these" (אֵ֠לֶּה, 3 letters) and the longest is "and·for·sons·of·Helek" (וְלִבְנֵי־חֵ֗לֶק, 8 letters). Words sharing gematria 898: by·their·clans, by·their·clans. 7 words in this verse appear nowhere else in Joshua. Unique to this verse in Joshua (hapax): "Abiezer" (אֲבִיעֶ֜זֶר), "and·for·sons·of·Helek" (וְלִבְנֵי־חֵ֗לֶק), "Asriel" (אַשְׂרִיאֵל֙). The root בן appears 5 times in this verse. 13 unique roots are used. Frequent roots: "to·sons·of" (root בן, 156x in Joshua); "and·it·was" (root היה, 150x in Joshua); "these" (root אלה, 51x in Joshua). The etnachta (major mid-verse pause) falls on 'Shemida', dividing the verse into phrases of 14 and 6 words.
Metzudat David
"And it came to pass." This implies: And after this, the lot fell to the remaining descendants of Manasseh, for each family and family.
"The males." This is stated because it was said in the matter that even the females of the sons of Manasseh took an inheritance (verse 6); therefore, it specifies "the males" of their families.
Malbim
"And it came to pass." According to this, the inheritance that is considered here was for the remaining ones, and there were among them six patriarchal houses of males, and this is what it says, "the males according to their families." And furthermore, females inherit, as it explains, "and to Zelophehad," etc.
But Zelophehad, the son of Hepher, the son of Gilead, the son of Machir, the son of Manasseh, had no sons, but daughters; and these are the names of his daughters: Mahlah, and Noah, Hoglah, Milcah, and Tirzah.
verse value 4547
Insights
Verse structure: 18 words, 83 letters. Notable word values: "to·him" (ל֛וֹ) = 36, double chai. The shortest word is "to·him" (ל֛וֹ, 2 letters) and the longest is "and·to·Zelophehad" (וְלִצְלׇפְחָד֩, 7 letters). 13 words in this verse appear nowhere else in Joshua. Unique to this verse in Joshua (hapax): "and·to·Zelophehad" (וְלִצְלׇפְחָד֩), "son·of·Hepher" (בֶּן־חֵ֨פֶר), "son·of·Gilead" (בֶּן־גִּלְעָ֜ד). 17 unique roots are used. Frequent roots: "son" (root בן, 156x in Joshua); "not·were" (root היה, 150x in Joshua); "for" (root כי, 70x in Joshua). The etnachta (major mid-verse pause) falls on 'but·daughters', dividing the verse into phrases of 10 and 8 words.
And they came near before Eleazar the priest, and before Joshua the son of Nun, and before the princes, saying: ‘Hashem commanded Moses to give us an inheritance among our brethren’; therefore according to the commandment of Hashem he gave them an inheritance among the brethren of their father.
verse value 6590
Insights
Verse structure: 25 words, 113 letters. Notable word values: "Hashem" (יְהֹוָה֙) = 26, the value of the divine name Hashem. The shortest word is "commanded" (צִוָּ֣ה, 3 letters) and the longest is "and·they·came·forward" (וַתִּקְרַ֡בְנָה, 7 letters). Words sharing gematria 428: in·midst·of, in·midst·of. 3 words in this verse appear nowhere else in Joshua. Unique to this verse in Joshua (hapax): "and·they·came·forward" (וַתִּקְרַ֡בְנָה), "our·brothers" (אַחֵ֑ינוּ), "their·father" (אֲבִיהֶֽן). The root פנים appears 3 times in this verse. 18 unique roots are used. Frequent roots: "Hashem" (root יהוה, 217x in Joshua); "saying" (root אמר, 140x in Joshua); "Joshua" (root יהושע, 125x in Joshua). The etnachta (major mid-verse pause) falls on 'our·brothers', dividing the verse into phrases of 17 and 8 words.
Metzudat David
"Our brothers." This means: the brothers of our father.
"at the mouth of the Lord." According to the Lord’s commandment.
Malbim
“Among the brothers of their father.” Our Sages of blessed memory explained (Bava Batra 118b) that, in addition to having taken the inheritance of Zelophehad—who was among those who had left Egypt—they also took, together with Zelophehad’s brothers, a share in the inheritance of Hepher. This is what the verse means when it states: “Among the brothers of their father.”
And there fell ten parts to Manasseh, beside the land of Gilead and Bashan, which is beyond the Jordan;
verse value 3101
Insights
Verse structure: 10 words, 46 letters. Notable word values: "alone" (לְבַ֞ד) = 36, double chai. The shortest word is "alone" (לְבַ֞ד, 3 letters) and the longest is "cords·of·Manasseh" (חַבְלֵֽי־מְנַשֶּׁ֖ה, 8 letters). 2 words in this verse appear nowhere else in Joshua. Unique to this verse in Joshua (hapax): "cords·of·Manasseh" (חַבְלֵֽי־מְנַשֶּׁ֖ה), "alone" (לְבַ֞ד). 10 unique roots are used. Frequent roots: "that" (root אשר, 271x in Joshua); "from·land·of" (root ארץ, 95x in Joshua); "from·beyond" (root עבר, 82x in Joshua). The etnachta (major mid-verse pause) falls on 'ten', dividing the verse into phrases of 3 and 7 words. Full calculation: וַיִּפְּל֥וּ [and·they·fell] (132) + חַבְלֵֽי־מְנַשֶּׁ֖ה [cords·of·Manasseh] (445) + עֲשָׂרָ֑ה [ten] (575) + לְבַ֞ד [alone] (36) + מֵאֶ֤רֶץ [from·land·of] (331) + הַגִּלְעָד֙ [Gilead] (112) + וְהַבָּשָׁ֔ן [and·Bashan] (363) + אֲשֶׁ֖ר [that] (501) + מֵעֵ֥בֶר [from·beyond] (312) + לַיַּרְדֵּֽן [to·Jordan] (294) = 3101.
Rashi
And the lots of Manasseh fell to him ten. Six for the six fathers' houses mentioned above, and four for the daughters of Zelophehad. Not that each daughter is a father's house to herself, but they took four portions: the portion of their father, who was from those who went out of Egypt, and according to the number of those who went out of Egypt the land was divided. And their father shared with his brothers in the property of Hepher his father [i.e. Zelophehad's father, the daughters' grandfather], who was also from those who went out of Egypt, and who was the firstborn and took two portions. And they also had the portion of their father's brother who died in the wilderness without sons, and they took inheritance in his portion, so our Sages said in Bava Batra (118a). And the verse did not need to teach us the number of the daughters' portions, except to teach that they took the portion of the firstborn, and to inform that the Land of Israel is a portion of inheritance to them held in possession from their fathers, for if not, the firstborn does not take in something due as in something held.
Radak
"And the lots of Manasseh fell, ten." [The word "chavlei"] is vocalized with a patach under the chet. And the reason that the Scripture enumerates the lots that fell to Manasseh is to inform us of the portions allotted to the daughters of Zelophehad. For the remainder of the half-tribe of Manasseh consisted of six houses of fathers: Abiezer, Helek, Asriel, Shechem, Hepher, and Shemideah. These took six portions, and the daughters of Zelophehad took four portions: the portion of their father, who was among those who went out of Egypt; for to those who went out of Egypt the land was divided, according to the opinion of our Sages of blessed memory. And even though there is a dispute among them about the majority [i.e., the general rule], they agreed on this point: that to those who went out of Egypt the land was divided. Now, the daughters of Zelophehad took the portion of their father, who was among those who went out of Egypt; and they shared with their [father's] brothers in the inheritance of Hepher, who was also among those who went out of Egypt; and the portion of the birthright, for Zelophehad was the firstborn; and the portion of another brother of their father, who was among those who went out of Egypt and died in the wilderness without sons, and Zelophehad inherited his portion along with his brothers.
Metzudat David
"The districts of Manasseh were ten." In the Land of Israel itself, they took ten districts:
Metzudat Zion
חַבְלֵי (khavlei, the districts). The districts are called khavalim (cords) because an inheritance is divided by a cord [measuring line], (Amos 7:17: "ve'admatcha b'chevel techulak" — "and your land shall be divided with a cord").
Malbim
"Ten." Six for the six clans, and the daughters of Zelophehad took four portions, as our Sages of blessed memory explained (ibid., 118a). And according to the simple meaning: 1) From Makhmethah to En-tappuah. 2) The land of Tappuah to Wadi Kanah. 3) From Wadi Kanah northward along the wadi to the sea. 4) Beth-shean and its daughters. 5) Ibleam and its daughters. 6) Dor and its daughters. 7) En-dor and its daughters. 8) Taanach and its daughters. 9) Megiddo and its daughters. 10) The three regions of Naphath. These are ten districts, each of which was a region with a specific measure.
because the daughters of Manasseh had an inheritance among his sons; and the land of Gilead belonged to the rest of the sons of Manasseh.
verse value 3593
Insights
Verse structure: 12 words, 54 letters. The shortest word is "for" (כִּ֚י, 2 letters) and the longest is "to·sons·of·Manasseh" (לִבְנֵי־מְנַשֶּׁ֥ה, 8 letters). 4 words in this verse appear nowhere else in Joshua. Unique to this verse in Joshua (hapax): "daughters·of" (בְּנ֣וֹת), "his·sons" (בָּנָ֑יו), "and·land·of" (וְאֶ֙רֶץ֙). The root מנשה appears 2 times in this verse. 11 unique roots are used. Frequent roots: "his·sons" (root בן, 156x in Joshua); "was" (root היה, 150x in Joshua); "and·land·of" (root ארץ, 95x in Joshua). The etnachta (major mid-verse pause) falls on 'his·sons', dividing the verse into phrases of 7 and 5 words. Full calculation: כִּ֚י [for] (30) + בְּנ֣וֹת [daughters·of] (458) + מְנַשֶּׁ֔ה [Manasseh] (395) + נָחֲל֥וּ [torrent] (94) + נַחֲלָ֖ה [inheritance] (93) + בְּת֣וֹךְ [in·midst·of] (428) + בָּנָ֑יו [his·sons] (68) + וְאֶ֙רֶץ֙ [and·land·of] (297) + הַגִּלְעָ֔ד [Gilead] (112) + הָיְתָ֖ה [was] (420) + לִבְנֵי־מְנַשֶּׁ֥ה [to·sons·of·Manasseh] (487) + הַנּוֹתָרִֽים [the·remaining] (711) = 3593.
Rashi
And the land of Gilead. Which was on the other side of the Jordan to the remaining children of Manasseh.
Metzudat David
"For the daughters of Manasseh, etc." The meaning is: Since the daughters of Manasseh also inherited a portion, and the remaining sons of Manasseh inherited the land of Gilead, it was fitting and proper that these ten districts be taken within the land of Israel itself—no less and no more—because this calculation was appropriate for them.
Malbim
"Ki banot." According to the interpretation of our Sages of blessed memory, it explains that there were ten [portions], including the shares of the daughters of Zelophehad. And according to what I have explained, I clarified that many lots were necessary, because even the daughters inherited among the sons.
The remainder. It is established for me that "the remainder" refers to the secondary [lesser] one, and above (verse 2) it called all the sons of Manasseh "the remainder," in the respect that Machir, because of his might, was first to take his portion; and here it called the sons of Machir "the remainder," in the respect that they were few compared to the six ancestral houses:
And the border of Manasseh was, beginning from Asher, Michmethath, which is before Shechem; and the border went along to the right hand, to the inhabitants of En-tappuah.—
verse value 4244
Insights
Verse structure: 13 words, 62 letters. The shortest word is "that" (אֲשֶׁ֖ר, 3 letters) and the longest is "border·Manasseh" (גְבוּל־מְנַשֶּׁה֙, 8 letters). 4 words in this verse appear nowhere else in Joshua. Unique to this verse in Joshua (hapax): "border·Manasseh" (גְבוּל־מְנַשֶּׁה֙), "Shechem" (שְׁכֶ֑ם), "and·went" (וְהָלַ֤ךְ). The root גבול appears 2 times in this verse. 10 unique roots are used. Frequent roots: "from·Asher" (root אשר, 271x in Joshua); "and·it·was" (root היה, 150x in Joshua); "to·the·right" (root איל, 135x in Joshua). The etnachta (major mid-verse pause) falls on 'Shechem', dividing the verse into phrases of 7 and 6 words. Full calculation: וַיְהִ֤י [and·it·was] (31) + גְבוּל־מְנַשֶּׁה֙ [border·Manasseh] (436) + מֵאָשֵׁ֔ר [from·Asher] (541) + הַֽמִּכְמְתָ֔ת [Michmethath] (905) + אֲשֶׁ֖ר [that] (501) + עַל־פְּנֵ֣י [upon·face] (240) + שְׁכֶ֑ם [Shechem] (360) + וְהָלַ֤ךְ [and·went] (61) + הַגְּבוּל֙ [border] (46) + אֶל־הַיָּמִ֔ין [to·the·right] (146) + אֶל־יֹשְׁבֵ֖י [to·inhabitants·of] (353) + עֵ֥ין [En] (130) + תַּפּֽוּחַ [Tappuah] (494) = 4244.
Radak
"From Asher, the Makmetath." The boundary went out from the border of Asher to Makmetath, which is a place name, and it was opposite Shechem.
Metzudat David
"And the border of Manasseh was..." The breadth, from north to south, extended from the border of the children of Asher, who had inherited from the north of Manasseh, down to Michmethath, which stood opposite the southwestern corner of the inheritance of Ephraim, before Shechem, which belonged to Ephraim and stood in the southwestern corner.
"And the border shall go": From the west toward the east, on the northern side.
To the right. He turned diagonally toward the south, and came to the inhabitants of Ein Tappuach.
Malbim
“From Asher.” For Asher was to the north of Manasseh. Now, the boundary of Ephraim, the horizontal line delimiting between it and Manasseh, extended from Ataroth Addar to Beth Horon; except near Beth Horon, where an additional strip extended westward to Michmethath, which belonged to Ephraim (as stated above 16:5–6). From Michmethath in the north, the line ran north to south to En Tappuah. All that land, from Ataroth Addar to Tappuah in the south, and all that was enclosed within the area of the line that ran from Michmethath to Tappuah, belonged entirely to Manasseh. Thus, the boundary of Ephraim was severed from the cities that were set apart [as an enclave within Manasseh].
The land of Tappuah belonged to Manasseh; but Tappuah on the border of Manasseh belonged to the children of Ephraim.—
verse value 3020
Insights
Verse structure: 9 words, 40 letters. The shortest word is "land" (אֶ֣רֶץ, 3 letters) and the longest is "to·border" (אֶל־גְּב֥וּל, 6 letters). 1 word in this verse appears nowhere else in Joshua. Unique to this verse in Joshua (hapax): "and·Tappuah" (וְתַפּ֛וּחַ). The root מנשה appears 2 times in this verse. 7 unique roots are used. Frequent roots: "to·sons·of" (root בן, 156x in Joshua); "was" (root היה, 150x in Joshua); "land" (root ארץ, 95x in Joshua). The etnachta (major mid-verse pause) falls on 'Tappuah', dividing the verse into phrases of 4 and 5 words. Full calculation: לִמְנַשֶּׁ֕ה [to·Manasseh] (425) + הָיְתָ֖ה [was] (420) + אֶ֣רֶץ [land] (291) + תַּפּ֑וּחַ [Tappuah] (494) + וְתַפּ֛וּחַ [and·Tappuah] (500) + אֶל־גְּב֥וּל [to·border] (72) + מְנַשֶּׁ֖ה [Manasseh] (395) + לִבְנֵ֥י [to·sons·of] (92) + אֶפְרָֽיִם [Ephraim] (331) = 3020.
Rashi
The land of Tappuah. The villages and hamlets. And Tappuah itself, the city, was the children of Ephraim's.
Even to the border of Manasseh. On Manasseh's border to the end of his boundary.
Metzudat David
“Land of Tappuah.” The places surrounding Tappuah, but the city of Tappuah itself, even though it stood on the border of Manasseh, nevertheless belonged to Ephraim.
Malbim
“To Manasseh.” Behold, the northern breadth, which is the portion of Manasseh extending from Michmethath to the sea, was entirely for Manasseh. But the southern breadth, which extends from Tappuah to the sea, was divided, with its northern half belonging to Manasseh and its southern half to Ephraim (there were cities that served as the boundary between them).
"The land of Tappuah." This refers to the region in the north, which belonged to Manasseh.
And Tappuah. The city itself, which was on the southern side, near the border of Manasseh, belonged to the children of Ephraim.
And the border went down to the brook of Kanah, southward of the brook, by cities which belonged to Ephraim among the cities of Manasseh; but the border of Manasseh was on the north side of the brook; and the goings out thereof were at the sea:
verse value 4336
Insights
Verse structure: 19 words, 80 letters. The shortest word is "torrent" (נַ֨חַל, 3 letters) and the longest is "to·Ephraim" (לְאֶפְרַ֔יִם, 6 letters). Words sharing gematria 395: Manasseh, Manasseh. The root נחל appears 3 times in this verse. 13 unique roots are used. Frequent roots: "and·it·was" (root היה, 150x in Joshua); "cities" (root עיר, 138x in Joshua); "border" (root גבול, 84x in Joshua). The etnachta (major mid-verse pause) falls on 'Manasseh', dividing the verse into phrases of 12 and 7 words.
Rashi
These cities. From Tappuah even to the brook of Kanah, they were Ephraim's among Manasseh's cities.
Metzudat David
"And the border went down." This means the border that descended from Tappuah to the brook of Kanah, south of the brook mentioned above. These cities that stood within that border belonged to Ephraim, even though they were situated among the cities of Manasseh, as is written above:
"Its extremities." The end of the boundary of Manasseh extends to the sea:
Malbim
And it went down. Likewise the southern boundary, divided between Manasseh and Ephraim, went down as far as the Wadi Kanah. For there, to the south of the wadi, were these cities, which there belonged to Ephraim in the midst of the cities of Manasseh. That is, they were the separating cities already mentioned (Joshua 16:8), and from the north of the wadi it belonged to Manasseh as far as the Great Sea.
southward it was Ephraim’s, and northward it was Manasseh’s, and the sea was his border; and they reached to Asher on the north, and to Issachar on the east.
verse value 3343
Insights
Verse structure: 12 words, 61 letters. The shortest word is "sea" (הַיָּ֖ם, 3 letters) and the longest is "and·at·Issachar" (וּבְיִשָּׂשכָ֖ר, 7 letters). 3 words in this verse appear nowhere else in Joshua. Unique to this verse in Joshua (hapax): "his·border" (גְּבוּל֑וֹ), "they·will·encounter" (יִפְגְּע֣וּן), "and·at·Issachar" (וּבְיִשָּׂשכָ֖ר). The root צפון appears 2 times in this verse. 11 unique roots are used. Frequent roots: "and·at·Asher" (root אשר, 271x in Joshua); "and·it·was" (root היה, 150x in Joshua); "his·border" (root גבול, 84x in Joshua). First appearance of the root יששכר ("and·at·Issachar") in Joshua. The etnachta (major mid-verse pause) falls on 'his·border', dividing the verse into phrases of 7 and 5 words. Full calculation: נֶ֣גְבָּה [south-country] (60) + לְאֶפְרַ֗יִם [to·Ephraim] (361) + וְצָפ֙וֹנָה֙ [north] (237) + לִמְנַשֶּׁ֔ה [to·Manasseh] (425) + וַיְהִ֥י [and·it·was] (31) + הַיָּ֖ם [sea] (55) + גְּבוּל֑וֹ [his·border] (47) + וּבְאָשֵׁר֙ [and·at·Asher] (509) + יִפְגְּע֣וּן [they·will·encounter] (219) + מִצָּפ֔וֹן [north] (266) + וּבְיִשָּׂשכָ֖ר [and·at·Issachar] (838) + מִמִּזְרָֽח [from·east] (295) = 3343.
Rashi
Southward to Ephraim. Ephraim took his portion from the south, to the land that is between the children of Judah and the other tribes.
And northward to Manasseh. Manasseh took to the north.
Metzudat David
"To the south, [belonging] to Ephraim." With the strip that the sons of Joseph took, Ephraim took its southern part, and Manasseh its northern part.
Its border. That of Manasseh:
"And with Asher." [Meaning] in the border of Asher:
"They shall meet." Manasseh with Asher, on the north of Manasseh:
"From the east." For the inheritance of Issachar was by the Jordan, to the east of Manasseh.
Metzudat Zion
יִפְגָּעוּן (yifga'un, will they encounter). Will they meet.
Malbim
"Negbah [southward]." This means that up to the sea, the boundary was divided: the south belonged to Ephraim, and the north belonged to Manasseh, and the sea served as the western boundary for both.
"And Asher." After he had explained the southern boundary of Manasseh, which was initially distinct on its own from Ataroth Addar to Tappuah, and from Tappuah to the sea was shared with Ephraim, and the general boundary shared by the sons of Joseph on their southern side he had already indicated at the beginning of section 16, and until now he had not informed us of the northern boundary of Manasseh, he says that in its north it met with Asher, which was to the north of Manasseh (as stated above 19:14). And on its east, the line running from north to south on the eastern side of Manasseh began to extend from Michmethath, which protruded from the boundary of Ephraim toward the north; and therefore above Michmethath was the boundary of Issachar, which was a neighbor to Ephraim on the eastern side (as stated above there, 17).
And Manasseh had in Issachar and in Asher Beth-shean and its towns, and Ibleam and its towns, and the inhabitants of Dor and its towns, and the inhabitants of En-dor and its towns, and the inhabitants of Taanach and its towns, and the inhabitants of Megiddo and its towns, even the three regions.
verse value 9996
Insights
Verse structure: 22 words, 119 letters. The shortest word is "Dor" (דֹ֣אר, 3 letters) and the longest is "and·its·towns" (וּ֠בְנוֹתֶ֠יהָ, 7 letters). Words sharing gematria 479: and·its·towns, and·its·towns, and·its·towns, and·its·towns, and·its·towns. 6 words in this verse appear nowhere else in Joshua. Unique to this verse in Joshua (hapax): "in·Issachar" (בְּיִשָּׂשכָ֣ר), "Beth-shean" (בֵּית־שְׁאָ֣ן), "and·Ibleam" (וְיִבְלְעָ֨ם). The root בת appears 6 times in this verse. 14 unique roots are used. Frequent roots: "and·in·Asher" (root אשר, 271x in Joshua); "and·it·was" (root היה, 150x in Joshua); "Beth-shean" (root בית, 65x in Joshua). The etnachta (major mid-verse pause) falls on 'and·its·towns', dividing the verse into phrases of 20 and 2 words.
Rashi
Three districts. Three 'pilkin' (districts). And the three districts mentioned here were the district of Dor and the district of Ein-Dor, as stated above in this book (12:23): the king of Dor, in the region of Dor. And in another verse he says (above 11:2): the region of Dor, westward. And here also he says: and the inhabitants of Dor, and its villages, the three districts that were hers.
Metzudat David
"And it came to pass for Manasseh, etc." There were cities belonging to Manasseh within the inheritance of Issachar and Asher, which were adjacent to him.
"The three districts." These cities stood in three districts:
Malbim
"And it came to pass." And besides this, he had other territories in Issachar and Asher, his neighbors.
"The three regions [naphot]." Explanation: the three districts were separate provinces joined together as one province, and were therefore called "the three regions."
Yet the children of Manasseh could not drive out the inhabitants of those cities; but the Canaanites were resolved to dwell in that land.
verse value 3574
Insights
Verse structure: 12 words, 54 letters. The shortest word is "and·not" (וְלֹ֤א, 3 letters) and the longest is "the·cities" (אֶת־הֶעָרִ֣ים, 7 letters). 1 word in this verse appears nowhere else in Joshua. Unique to this verse in Joshua (hapax): "and·consented" (וַיּ֙וֹאֶל֙). 12 unique roots are used. Frequent roots: "son" (root בן, 156x in Joshua); "the·cities" (root עיר, 138x in Joshua); "in·the·land" (root ארץ, 95x in Joshua). The etnachta (major mid-verse pause) falls on 'these', dividing the verse into phrases of 7 and 5 words. Full calculation: וְלֹ֤א [and·not] (37) + יָֽכְלוּ֙ [were·able] (66) + בְּנֵ֣י [son] (62) + מְנַשֶּׁ֔ה [Manasseh] (395) + לְהוֹרִ֖ישׁ [to·dispossess] (551) + אֶת־הֶעָרִ֣ים [the·cities] (726) + הָאֵ֑לֶּה [these] (41) + וַיּ֙וֹאֶל֙ [and·consented] (53) + הַֽכְּנַעֲנִ֔י [Canaanite] (205) + לָשֶׁ֖בֶת [to·dwell] (732) + בָּאָ֥רֶץ [in·the·land] (293) + הַזֹּֽאת [this] (413) = 3574.
Rashi
And they desired. And they wished.
Metzudat Zion
וַיּוֹאֶל (va-yo'el, and he was willing/determined). An expression of willingness, like (Joshua 7:7) "velu ho'alnu" [if only we had been content to dwell beyond the Jordan].
Malbim
"And they were not able." Behold, what Manasseh had in Issachar and Asher — this occurred afterward, when Joshua said to him, "And it shall be yours," [along] with its boundary extensions, as will be recounted in the ensuing verses. And yet, despite all this, the children of Manasseh were not able to dispossess, etc.
And it came to pass, when the children of Israel were waxen strong, that they put the Canaanites to taskwork, but did not utterly drive them out.
verse value 3068
Insights
Verse structure: 11 words, 47 letters. Verse gematria: 3068 is divisible by 26, the value of the divine name Hashem. The shortest word is "for" (כִּ֤י, 2 letters) and the longest is "Canaanite" (אֶת־הַֽכְּנַעֲנִ֖י, 8 letters). Words sharing gematria 31: and·it·was, not. 1 word in this verse appears nowhere else in Joshua. Unique to this verse in Joshua (hapax): "to·tribute" (לָמַ֑ס). The root ירש appears 2 times in this verse. 10 unique roots are used. Frequent roots: "son" (root בן, 156x in Joshua); "and·it·was" (root היה, 150x in Joshua); "Israel" (root ישראל, 112x in Joshua). The etnachta (major mid-verse pause) falls on 'to·tribute', dividing the verse into phrases of 8 and 3 words. Full calculation: וַיְהִ֗י [and·it·was] (31) + כִּ֤י [for] (30) + חָֽזְקוּ֙ [they·strengthened] (121) + בְּנֵ֣י [son] (62) + יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל [Israel] (541) + וַיִּתְּנ֥וּ [and·they·gave] (472) + אֶת־הַֽכְּנַעֲנִ֖י [Canaanite] (606) + לָמַ֑ס [to·tribute] (130) + וְהוֹרֵ֖שׁ [and·utterly] (517) + לֹ֥א [not] (31) + הֽוֹרִישֽׁוֹ [his·dispossessing] (527) = 3068.
Metzudat Zion
וְהוֹרֵשׁ (ve-horesh, and dispossess). A matter of dispossession.
And the children of Joseph spoke to Joshua, saying: ‘Why have you given me but one lot and one part for an inheritance, seeing I am a great people, forasmuch as Hashem has blessed me thus?’
verse value 4289
Insights
Verse structure: 19 words, 78 letters. Notable word values: "one" (אֶחָד֙) = 13, the value of echad ('one') and ahavah ('love'). The shortest word is "to·me" (לִּ֜י, 2 letters) and the longest is "Joshua" (אֶת־יְהוֹשֻׁ֖עַ, 7 letters). Words sharing gematria 13: one, one. 5 words in this verse appear nowhere else in Joshua. Unique to this verse in Joshua (hapax): "why?" (מַדּ֩וּעַ֩), "you·gave" (נָתַ֨תָּה), "and·cord" (וְחֶ֣בֶל). The root אחד appears 2 times in this verse. 18 unique roots are used. Frequent roots: "that·until·thus" (root אשר, 271x in Joshua); "Hashem" (root יהוה, 217x in Joshua); "son" (root בן, 156x in Joshua). The etnachta (major mid-verse pause) falls on 'saying', dividing the verse into phrases of 5 and 14 words.
Rashi
And the children of Joseph spoke. The tribe of Manasseh.
As the Lord has blessed me even until now. Until you see that our number has increased from the first count to the second count by twenty thousand and five hundred, according to the gematria of 'koh' (thus), which is twenty-five. In the first count you find in Manasseh in the book of Numbers (1:34): thirty-two thousand and two hundred. And in Pinchas (there 26:34): fifty-two thousand and seven hundred. Another explanation: as the Lord has blessed me even until now, a blessing was said to Abraham (Genesis 15:5): 'koh yehiyeh zar'akha' (so shall your seed be), it was fulfilled in me. And according to its plain meaning: as the Lord has blessed me even until now, even until thus, as you see.
Radak
"And the children of Joseph spoke" (Joshua 17:14). [This refers to] the tribe of the children of Manasseh, but the children of Ephraim had no need to cry out, because they were more numerous when they left Egypt than when they entered the Land. But the children of Manasseh were more numerous when they entered the Land than when they left Egypt—by twenty thousand and five hundred. Therefore, they cried out, because their fathers, who were among those who left Egypt, were few, and they themselves were a large multitude, yet they did not take their portion except corresponding to their fathers who were among those who left Egypt, as it is stated: "According to the names of the tribes of their fathers they shall inherit" (Numbers 26:55). And what is meant by [the verses], "To these shall the land be divided," [and] "each according to his numbered [status]" (Numbers 26:53–54)? To exclude the children who were then under twenty years old, who did not take a portion in the Land; rather, the Land was divided only for those who were twenty years old, according to the count of those who left Egypt. It was not divided for those under twenty, even though they reached the age of twenty at the time of the division of the Land. And what is meant by "one lot and one portion" (Joshua 17:14)? Because the Land of Israel was divided among the tribes, and they made twelve equal portions. Whoever had a large multitude in his tribe had no more than another tribe that was small. And because of this, the children of Joseph cried out, because they were not given to Manasseh more than another tribe that was smaller than him, even though they were a large multitude. And further proof that it was the children of Manasseh who were crying out, and not the children of Ephraim, is their response to Joshua: "The hill country is not enough for us," etc., "and all who dwell in the valley of Beth Shean and its towns" (Joshua 17:16), and this belonged to Manasseh. And what is meant by "the land was divided by the command of the Lord and by lot"? Because of the good portion and the bad portion: whoever received the good portion by lot, it was his; and whoever received the bad portion by lot, it was his. And even so, they would add silver: whoever had the good portion would add silver to whoever had the bad portion. And according to this order was the division of the Land: Eleazar, clothed with the Urim and Thummim, and Joshua and all Israel standing before him, and the lots of the tribes and the lots of the territories placed before him. And he would direct [himself] by the Holy Spirit and say: "If Zebulun comes up, let the territory of Acco come up." He would draw from the lots of the tribes, and Zebulun would come up in his hand; he would draw from the lots of the territories, and the territory of Acco would come up in his hand. And he would direct [himself] again by the Holy Spirit and say: "If Naphtali comes up, let the territory of Gennesaret come up." He would draw from the lots of the tribes, and Naphtali would come up in his hand; from the lots of the territories, and the territory of Gennesaret would come up in his hand. And so for every tribe and tribe. And the tribe would divide [its portion] into divisions for the houses of their fathers according to those who left Egypt. And this is what is stated: "To the many you shall increase his inheritance, and to the few you shall diminish his inheritance" (Numbers 26:54). And whoever had many houses of fathers when they left Egypt took many portions, even though they were now few. And whoever had few [houses of fathers] when they left Egypt took few portions, even though they were now numerous, like the children of Joseph. And even though the children of Joseph cried out, their crying out did not benefit them, because Joshua could not add to their inheritance except as it was given to them by the command of the Lord, by lot. But Joshua gave them advice to cut down the forest that was adjacent to their portion, and it was the hill country that belonged to Ephraim, and the valley of that hill country belonged to Manasseh. And he said to them that they should spread out in the portion of Ephraim and in the land of the Perizzites and the Rephaim. And this is what is stated: "For the hill country of Ephraim is too narrow for you" (Joshua 17:15), meaning: if the hill country of Ephraim is cramped for you, you shall add for yourself more; after you cut down the forest of the hill country, you shall add for yourself more in the land of the Perizzites and the Rephaim that are adjacent.
Ralbag
And it is mentioned that the inheritance of the children of Joseph came together, until it was included within other boundaries, as is mentioned here. And he related afterward that they complained about this to Joshua, and said to him: 'Why have you given us only one lot and one portion to inherit, whereas we are a great people, since the Lord has blessed me hitherto?' And therefore it is possible that their seed increase greatly in this way, until the land that fell to them as an inheritance not contain them. And their manner of multiplication will be clear from the number mentioned in the portion of Pinchas: they were already more than the tribe of Reuben and Simeon. And in this was fulfilled what Jacob said, 'Ephraim and Manasseh shall be mine, as Reuben and Simeon.' As we explained in its place. Or they mean in 'one lot' -- a limited lot that it is not possible for them to expand it in what is destined. And Joshua answered them what is fitting to reconcile them with: that within their inheritance itself it is possible for them to expand their boundary. And that is: in that mountain there was a great forest, and if they cut the trees in it, it is possible for them to dwell in it.
Metzudat David
You gave to me. To all the sons of Joseph, to Manasseh and to Ephraim:
"Inheritance, one lot." This means: a small inheritance, as if it were a single lot and a single district.
A great multitude. And this inheritance is not sufficient for me:
Thus far. Until it multiplied, as you see:
Metzudat Zion
כֹּה (koh, thus/so far). Meaning, as you can see.
Malbim
"Why have You given me a portion, a single lot?" I have already explained that although two lots were cast for Ephraim and Manasseh, nevertheless they fell to them as one tract and one boundary, only that this boundary was divided into two parts. And we have already explained (at the beginning of Siman 14) that the lot indicated only in which place the boundary of the tribe would be, and afterwards it was in Joshua's power to increase or decrease it according to the number of the people of the tribe. And the children of Joseph were numerous in number of people compared to two tribes (in which was fulfilled [Genesis 48:8]):
"And I am a numerous people." And according to the head count [i.e., per capita census], it was necessary to double the allotments.
And Joshua said to them: ‘If you be a great people, get you up to the forest, and cut down for thyself there in the land of the Perizzites and of the Rephaim; since the hill-country of Ephraim is too narrow for you.’
verse value 4581
Insights
Verse structure: 17 words, 72 letters. Notable word values: "to·them" (אֲלֵיהֶ֜ם) = 86, equal to Elohim. The shortest word is "to·you" (לְךָ֣, 2 letters) and the longest is "and·the·Rephaim" (וְהָרְפָאִ֑ים, 7 letters). Words sharing gematria 50: to·you, to·you, to·you. 6 words in this verse appear nowhere else in Joshua. Unique to this verse in Joshua (hapax): "if·people·great" (אִם־עַם־רַ֤ב), "forest" (הַיַּ֔עְרָה), "and·clear" (וּבֵרֵאתָ֤). The root לך appears 3 times in this verse. 15 unique roots are used. Frequent roots: "and·said" (root אמר, 140x in Joshua); "Joshua" (root יהושע, 125x in Joshua); "in·land·of" (root ארץ, 95x in Joshua). The etnachta (major mid-verse pause) falls on 'and·the·Rephaim', dividing the verse into phrases of 14 and 3 words.
Rashi
If thou be a numerous people. There is in you strength to cut forests and clear it like what they call 'ishartir' in the language, and there you will build cities.
And thou shalt clear it. A term of cutting, as (Ezekiel 23:47): and thou shalt 'berot' (clear) them with swords. 'Ishartira' in the language.
Pressed. Cramped.
Radak
"And you shall clear [it], and it shall be yours." Explanation: You shall cut down the forest of the Perizzites and the Rephaim, and that mountain shall be yours for settlement, and you shall expand your inheritance there, with the willing consent of the children of Ephraim. For they will agree to this, because it is better for them that there be settlement than that there be forest. Furthermore, so that the Perizzites—and he is the Canaanite who is mentioned, because all seven nations are called Canaanites, since they were all sons of Canaan—may be dispossessed. Therefore, He said to them, "There shall not be for you one lot," meaning that you shall add your lot to the inheritance of the children of Ephraim. And they said, "The mountain shall not be found for us," even though the forest is cut down. And furthermore, if you say that we should add to the cities of the Perizzites and the Rephaim, [know that] the Canaanite who dwells in the valley has chariots of iron in that mountain, and we are afraid of him. Joshua said to Ephraim and to Manasseh: To Ephraim he said that they should help the children of Manasseh, and they would agree to cut down the forest for their benefit. And to Manasseh he said: Since you are a great people, you have great strength, and you are able to dispossess the Canaanite who dwells in the valley. And if you do not dispossess him, he will harm you, because he has chariots of iron. Therefore, you must strengthen yourselves until you dispossess him.
"And you shall clear." The meaning is cutting, and similarly, "and he shall cut them down with their swords" (Ezekiel 23:47), and Jonathan [ben Uzziel] translated it in the Targum as "and you shall prepare for yourself a place there." And there are those who explain that the matter refers to selection, from the context of "choose for yourselves a man" (1 Samuel 17:8).
Ralbag
And he also said to them that they turn to the land of the Perizzites and the Rephaim that are near to them, and fight with them and inherit their land. If the mountain of Ephraim with its forest not suffice for them. And they answered, the children of Joseph: 'The mountain is not enough for us, and what you have said to us to fight with the Perizzites and the Rephaim -- we cannot, for all the Canaanites who dwell in the land of the valley have chariots of iron, both they who are in Beth-shan and its daughters, and they who are in the valley of Jezreel'.
Metzudat David
“Go up through the forest.” This means: Since you are a numerous people, you will be able to ascend into the forest of the Perizzites and the Rephaites, to cut down the trees so that you may have a place to dwell. For had you been few in number, you would not have been able to muster the strength to cut down so many forest trees; but since you are a numerous people, you will be able to do so.
"For it is cramped for you." If Mount Ephraim, despite its great size, is pressed and narrow for you:
Metzudat Zion
And you shall clear. Its meaning is cutting, as in (Ezekiel 23:47): "and cut them down with their swords."
"אץ." It denotes swiftness, as in (above 10:19) "and he did not hasten to come," and the meaning is that the place is narrow and small, and they will quickly pass from one end to the other.
Malbim
And He said, He answered them: To add and give to you beyond your allotted boundary—it is impossible, for Joshua could not give [land] except within the designated boundary—not in another border. Rather, since you are a great multitude, you will come with axes to cut down the forest, and in place of the forest trees there will be fields of grain. And this is what it says:
“Go up to your forest and cut down for yourself there,” meaning: There you will create a new land, full of fields and vineyards, by cutting down the trees and uprooting them from there, because Mount Ephraim is in a hurry for you (as it is said in Joshua 10:...).
And it did not hurry to go for a whole day)—it awaits you, that you will create it to be an inhabited land.
And the children of Joseph said: ‘The hill-country will not be enough for us; and all the Canaanites that dwell in the land of the valley have chariots of iron, both they who are in Beth-shean and its towns, and they who are in the valley of Jezreel.’
verse value 5340
Insights
Verse structure: 17 words, 87 letters. Notable word values: "to·us" (לָ֖נוּ) = 86, equal to Elohim. The shortest word is "son" (בְּנֵ֣י, 3 letters) and the longest is "in·all·the·Canaanite" (בְּכׇל־הַֽכְּנַעֲנִי֙, 9 letters). 8 words in this verse appear nowhere else in Joshua. Unique to this verse in Joshua (hapax): "not·be·found" (לֹא־יִמָּ֥צֵא), "in·all·the·Canaanite" (בְּכׇל־הַֽכְּנַעֲנִי֙), "that·dwells" (הַיֹּשֵׁ֣ב). The root אשר appears 2 times in this verse. 16 unique roots are used. Frequent roots: "to·whom" (root אשר, 271x in Joshua); "son" (root בן, 156x in Joshua); "and·they·said" (root אמר, 140x in Joshua). The etnachta (major mid-verse pause) falls on 'hill', dividing the verse into phrases of 6 and 11 words.
Rashi
The mountain is not enough for us. For it is cramped to us as you said.
Nor will it suffice. It will not be enough.
And though they have chariots of iron. And what you say to go up to the forest and to conquer in the land of the Perizzite and the Rephaim, that Canaanite is strong and he has chariots of iron. And do not wonder if they called the Perizzite and the Rephaim Canaanite, for they were all children of Canaan.
Metzudat David
"The mountain shall not be found for us." It is true that Mount Ephraim is not sufficient for us:
"And chariots of iron." This is to say: If you were to respond and argue, "But did they not also inherit the valley, and is that not sufficient for them?" To this we reply: The inhabitants of the valley are exceedingly strong, and the men of the chariots are like iron, and it is impossible to subdue them.
"To those in Beth Shean, etc." This explains that these are those [towns] in Beth Shean, etc., which were given as an inheritance to the tribe of Manasseh.
"In the Valley of Jezreel." For Jezreel itself was part of the inheritance of Issachar, and only the valley was their [the Josephites'] inheritance.
Metzudat Zion
יִמְצָא (yimtsa, will suffice). A matter of sufficiency, like (Numbers 11:22) "would it suffice for them."
Malbim
"And the sons of Joseph said"—they replied to him: What you are saying, that we should clear the mountain, to make from the forest upon it timber for a dwelling place—this will not help, for the mountain will not be found sufficient for us; it will not suffice for our needs, since we are more numerous.
This is the second reason: “And there were chariots of iron with the Canaanite who dwelt in the valley, beyond that mountain.” It would be good for the forest to serve as a partition between us and them, so that they would not come up and devastate the land with their instruments of destruction.
And Joshua spoke to the house of Joseph, even to Ephraim and to Manasseh, saying: ‘You are a great people, and have great power; you shall not have one lot only;
verse value 3518
Insights
Verse structure: 16 words, 66 letters. Notable word values: "one" (אֶחָֽד) = 13, the value of echad ('one') and ahavah ('love'). The shortest word is "to·you" (לָ֔ךְ, 2 letters) and the longest is "to·Ephraim" (לְאֶפְרַ֥יִם, 6 letters). Words sharing gematria 50: to·you, to·you. 3 words in this verse appear nowhere else in Joshua. Unique to this verse in Joshua (hapax): "and·to·Manasseh" (וְלִמְנַשֶּׁ֖ה), "and·strength" (וְכֹ֤חַ), "not·shall·be" (לֹֽא־יִֽהְיֶ֥ה). The root אמר appears 2 times in this verse. 14 unique roots are used. Frequent roots: "not·shall·be" (root היה, 150x in Joshua); "and·said" (root אמר, 140x in Joshua); "to·house·of" (root איל, 135x in Joshua). The etnachta (major mid-verse pause) falls on 'saying', dividing the verse into phrases of 7 and 9 words.
Ralbag
And Joshua answered them: 'Behold, you are indeed a great people, and you have great strength, because of the multiplication by which you are always increasing. And for this it is clear that what I gave you is not one limited lot that it is not possible to expand it'.
Metzudat David
"You are a great people. And for this you have great power to fight and expand your borders, so that your inheritance will not be small as if it were a single lot:"
Malbim
And Joshua said: Then Joshua saw that it was necessary to add to their border, namely, the cities of Asher and Issachar, which he added to Manasseh, such as Beth-shean, etc. (as stated above, verse 11). He said to them: Since you have two advantages, [a] you are numerous in quantity, and [b] you possess great strength in quality and power, therefore you shall not have a single lot; that is to say, you may add to your lot.
but the hill-country shall be yours; for though it is a forest, you shall cut it down, and the goings out thereof shall be yours; for you shall drive out the Canaanites, though they have chariots of iron, and though they be strong.’
verse value 4471
Insights
Verse structure: 18 words, 70 letters. Notable word values: "and·it·shall·be" (וְהָיָ֥ה) = 26, the value of the divine name Hashem. The shortest word is "for" (כִּ֣י, 2 letters) and the longest is "Canaanite" (אֶת־הַֽכְּנַעֲנִ֗י, 8 letters). Words sharing gematria 30: for, for, for. 5 words in this verse appear nowhere else in Joshua. Unique to this verse in Joshua (hapax): "shall·be·to·you" (יִֽהְיֶה־לָּךְ֙), "for·forest" (כִּֽי־יַ֣עַר), "and·you·shall·cut·it·down" (וּבֵ֣רֵאת֔וֹ). The root כי appears 3 times in this verse. 12 unique roots are used. Frequent roots: "shall·be·to·you" (root היה, 150x in Joshua); "it" (root הוא, 77x in Joshua); "for" (root כי, 70x in Joshua). The etnachta (major mid-verse pause) falls on 'his·limits', dividing the verse into phrases of 9 and 9 words.
Rashi
For the mountain shall be thine. That which I said to you: go up to the forest.
For it is a forest, and thou shalt clear it. For it is a forest and it is not fit except for a numerous people, and they shall clear it and empty it.
And thou shalt clear it. You, you who are a numerous people.
And its uttermost goings-out shall be thine, for thou shalt dispossess the Canaanite. Because you are a numerous people.
For though he has chariots of iron. And none of the other tribes is worthy to fight against him.
For he is strong. And you have in you the ability and you will dispossess him. And our Sages explained (Bava Batra 118a): go up to the forest, hide yourselves in the forests so that the evil eye will not have dominion over you.
Ralbag
And that is: 'the mountain shall be yours; you may clear the forest of it' -- and this is possible for you easily because of your being a great people. 'And its outskirts shall be yours, and you shall expand your boundary from that side, for you shall drive out the Canaanite because of your great strength. And the war with him is not possible for others from the rest of the tribes, for he has chariots of iron and is strong. But you will defeat him, for you are a great people and you have great strength'.
Metzudat David
"For the mountain shall be yours." This means: the forest that I mentioned, which stands on the mountain—behold, this shall be yours without great toil, for it is a forest, and many men will not be found there to fight against you.
"And you shall clear it." And you will cut down the trees to dwell there, and by this you will have its results, meaning, the boundary that extends from that mountain and onward.
"When you dispossess." For by virtue of the fact that you will dwell in the mountain, you will be able easily to dispossess the Canaanite who dwells in the valley, namely in Beth Shean, etc.
"for chariots": Even though he has men of chariots like iron, and even though he is strong, for the one who sits above on the mountain will be greatly strengthened over the one who sits below in the valley.
Malbim
For the mountain, [1] because you are a great nation, the mountain shall be yours, for your needs, for it is a forest and you shall clear it, and you shall build there cities of residence.
[2] Because you possess great strength, its farthest limits shall be yours as well—I am waiving for you even the mountain border beyond it, namely the valley, the cities which are in the portion of Asher and Issachar (which he mentioned above in verse 11). And they will not object to this, in that I am deducting from their inheritance, because he has chariots of iron, and he is also strong in his own right, and they will not be able to dispossess him. Rather, they will rejoice over this, because you will dispossess him from there. And this is an explanation of what was said above (Joshua 17:11):
"And Manasseh had [territory] in Asher and in Issachar"—and yet, even so, they too did not dispossess him.
Rashi
Radak
Metzudat David
Malbim