## Rashi on Joshua Chapter 17

###### Rashi on Joshua 17:1:1
[Rashi on Joshua 17:1:1](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Rashi%20on%20Joshua/r/17:1:1)

**לְמָכִיר בְּכוֹר מְנַשֶּׁה** לְפִיכָךְ נָטַל תְּחִלָּה בִּימֵי משֶׁה בְּעֵבֶר הַיַּרְדֵּן, וַיְהִי לוֹ הַגִּלְעָד וְהַבָּשָׁן.

**The Book of Joshua, Metsudah Publications, 1997:**
**To Mochir, the firstborn of Menashe.** Since he was the firstborn, he was the first to take a portion in the days of Moshe, on the other side of the Jordan, and thus Gilod and Boshon were his portion.


###### Rashi on Joshua 17:5:1
[Rashi on Joshua 17:5:1](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Rashi%20on%20Joshua/r/17:5:1)

**וַיִּפְּלוּ חֶבְלֵי מְנַשֶּׁה עֲשָׂרָה** שִׁשָּׁה לְשִׁשָּׁה בָּתֵּי אָבוֹת הַמְּנוּיִים לְמַעְלָה, וְאַרְבַּע לִבְנוֹת צְלָפְחָד, לֹא שֶׁתְּהֵא כָּל אַחַת בֵּית אָב לְעַצְמָהּ אֶלָּא שֶׁנָּטְלוּ אַרְבָּעָה חֲלָקִים, חֵלֶק שֶׁל אֲבִיהֶם שֶׁהָיָה מִיּוֹצְאֵי מִצְרַיִם, וּלְפִי מִנְיַן הַיּוֹצְאִים מִמִּצְרַיִם נִתְחַלְּקָה הָאָרֶץ וְחִלְּקוּ עִם אֶחָיו בְּנִכְסֵי חֵפֶר אָבִיו, שֶׁהָיָה גַּם הוּא מִיּוֹצְאֵי מִצְרַיִם וְשֶׁהָיָה בְּכוֹר וְנָטַל שְׁנֵי חֲלָקִים, וְעוֹד הָיָה לָהֶם חֵלֶק אֲחִי אֲבִיהֶם שֶׁמֵּת בַּמִּדְבָּר בְּלֹא בָּנִים, וְנָטְלוּ נַחֲלָה בְּחֶלְקוֹ, כָּךְ אָמְרוּ רַבּוֹתֵינוּ בְּבָּבָא בַּתְרָא (קיח א), וְלֹא הוּזְקַק הַכָּתוּב לְהַשְׁמִיעֵנוּ מִנְיַן חֶלְקֵי הַבָּנוֹת, אֶלָּא לְלַמֵּד שֶׁנָּטְלוּ חֵלֶק בְּכוֹרָה וּלְהוֹדִיעַ שֶׁאֶרֶץ יִשְׂרָאֵל חֵלֶק יְרֻשָּׁה לָהֶם מֻחְזֶקֶת מֵאֲבוֹתֵיהֶם, שֶׁאִילּוּלֵי כֵּן אֵין הַבְּכוֹר נוֹטֵל בָּרָאוּי כְּבַמּוּחְזָק.

**The Book of Joshua, Metsudah Publications, 1997:**
**Ten portions of land fell to Menashe.** Six portions went to the family divisions mentioned above, and four went to the daughters of Tselophchod, not because each of them was considered an individual family division but rather because they took *these* four portions: the portion of their father who was one of those who went out of Egypt; since according to the number of those who went out of Egypt was the land divided; the portion their father shared with his brothers in the property of their father, Cheifer, since he too was one of those who went out of Egypt; and since their father, Tselophchod, was the firstborn, he received two portions [of Cheifer’s property]; and an additional portion from their father’s brother who died in the wilderness, without children and they received the inheritance of his share. This was stated by our Sages in *Bava Basra.*¹ It was unnecessary for Scripture to relate to us the number of the daughters’ share, except to teach us that they took the share of the firstborn, and to inform us that Eretz Yisroel was an actual inheritance to them [since it was considered] the actual possession of their fathers, for the firstborn does not receive an extra portion in potential property as he does in actual property.²

footnotes:
¹ Maseches Bava Basra 119A.
² A firstborn receives a double portion only of the property that actually belonged to his father, but not of the property that was only potentially his father’s. Regarding the inheritance of Eretz Yisroel, the portions that were destined for them were considered their actual possession and not just potential property. The daughters of Tzelophechod, therefore, were able to inherit that extra portion of their father.


###### Rashi on Joshua 17:6:1
[Rashi on Joshua 17:6:1](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Rashi%20on%20Joshua/r/17:6:1)

**וְאֶרֶץ הַגִּלְעָד** שֶׁבְּעֵבֶר הַיַּרְדֵּן הָיְתָה לִבְנֵי מְנַשֶּׁה הַנּוֹתָרִים.

**The Book of Joshua, Metsudah Publications, 1997:**
**And the land of Gilod**— that was on the other side of the Jordan belonged to the remaining sons of Menashe.


###### Rashi on Joshua 17:8:1
[Rashi on Joshua 17:8:1](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Rashi%20on%20Joshua/r/17:8:1)

**אֶרֶץ תַּפּוּחַ** הַכְּפָרִים וְהַחֲצֵרִים, וְתַפּוּחַ עַצְמָהּ הָעִיר הָיְתָה לִבְנֵי אֶפְרַיִם.

**The Book of Joshua, Metsudah Publications, 1997:**
**The land of Tapuach.** The villages and the towns [belonged to Menashe], but the city of Tapuach itself belonged to the descendants of Ephraim.


###### Rashi on Joshua 17:8:2
[Rashi on Joshua 17:8:2](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Rashi%20on%20Joshua/r/17:8:2)

**אֶל גְּבוּל מְנַשֶּׁה** עַל מֶצֶר מְנַשֶּׁה לְסוֹף גְּבוּלוֹ.

**The Book of Joshua, Metsudah Publications, 1997:**
**On Menashe’s boundary.** It was located on the border of Menashe, toward the end of his boundary.


###### Rashi on Joshua 17:9:1
[Rashi on Joshua 17:9:1](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Rashi%20on%20Joshua/r/17:9:1)

**עָרִים הָאֵלֶּה** מִתַּפּוּחַ עַד נַחַל קָנָה לְאֶפְרַיִם הָיוּ בְּתוֹךְ עָרֵי מְנַשֶּׁה.

**The Book of Joshua, Metsudah Publications, 1997:**
**These cities—** from Tapuach to the stream of Kanoh belonged to Ephraim, but were located among the cities of Menashe.


###### Rashi on Joshua 17:10:1
[Rashi on Joshua 17:10:1](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Rashi%20on%20Joshua/r/17:10:1)

**נֶגְבָּה לְאֶפְרַיִם** אֶפְרַיִם נָטַל חֶלְקוֹ מִדָּרוֹם לְצַד הָאָרֶץ שֶׁבֵּין בְּנֵי יְהוּדָה לִשְׁאָר הַשְּׁבָטִים.

**The Book of Joshua, Metsudah Publications, 1997:**
**The southern side belonged to Ephraim:** Ephraim took his share from the south, facing the land between the descendants of Yehudah and the rest of the tribes.


###### Rashi on Joshua 17:10:2
[Rashi on Joshua 17:10:2](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Rashi%20on%20Joshua/r/17:10:2)

**וְצָפוֹנָה לִמְנַשֶּׁה** מְנַשֶּׁה נָטַל לְצַד צָפוֹן.

**The Book of Joshua, Metsudah Publications, 1997:**
**The northern side belonged to Menashe.** Menashe took the land to the north.


###### Rashi on Joshua 17:11:1
[Rashi on Joshua 17:11:1](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Rashi%20on%20Joshua/r/17:11:1)

**שְׁלשֶׁת הַנָּפֶת** (תַּרְגּוּם:) תְּלָתָא פְּלָכִין, וּ'שְׁלשֶׁת הַנָּפֶת' הַנִּזְכָּרִים כָּאן שֶׁל דֹּאר וְשֶׁל עֵין דּוֹר הָיוּ, כְּמוֹ שֶׁאָמוּר לְמַעְלָה בְּסֵפֶר זֶה (יב כג): מֶלֶךְ דּוֹר לְנָפַת דּוֹר, וּבְפָסוּק אַחֵר אוֹמֵר (לעיל יא ב): לְנָפֶת דֹּאר מִיָּם, וְכָאן כָּךְ הוּא אוֹמֵר: וְאֶת יוֹשְׁבֵי דֹּאר וּבְנוֹתֶיהָ שְׁלשֶׁת הַנָּפֶת שֶׁהָיוּ לָהּ.

**The Book of Joshua, Metsudah Publications, 1997:**
**These were three regions.** [as the Targum], Three provinces. The three regions mentioned here consisted of Dor and Ein dor, as stated above in this Seifer:³ “The king of Dor of the Dor region,” and in another verse it states:⁴ “In the region of Dor on the west,” and here it is stated: “The inhabitants of Dor and its towns.” These are three regions that belonged to her.

footnotes:
³ Above 12:23.
⁴ Above 11:2.


###### Rashi on Joshua 17:12:1
[Rashi on Joshua 17:12:1](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Rashi%20on%20Joshua/r/17:12:1)

**וַיּוֹאֶל** וַיֹּאבֶה.

**The Book of Joshua, Metsudah Publications, 1997:**
**Resolved**—were willing.⁵

footnotes:
⁵ The tribe of Menashe set a bad precedent by taxing the Canaanites instead of destroying them as the Torah commanded. This evil practice was soon adopted by the other tribes. Even though the tribe of Ephraim also did not drive out the Canaanites (see above 16:10), they at least forced them into slave labor, whereas the tribe of Menashe demanded only a money tax. This was considered a graver sin as it allowed these Canaanites the ability to influence the Jews much more than those who were actually enslaved.


###### Rashi on Joshua 17:14:1
[Rashi on Joshua 17:14:1](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Rashi%20on%20Joshua/r/17:14:1)

**וַיְדַבְּרוּ בְּנֵי יוֹסֵף** שֵׁבֶט מְנַשֶּׁה.

**The Book of Joshua, Metsudah Publications, 1997:**
**And the descendants of Yoseif spoke.** Referring specifically to the descendants of Menashe.⁶

footnotes:
⁶ According to Rashi even though the tribe of Ephraim was part of the “descendants of Yoseif”, they did not join the tribe of Menashe in their complaint. The reason being, as Rashi later explains, was that while the tribe of Menashe had experienced a sharp increase of their population, the tribe of Ephraim experienced a decrease in its population, and were therefore quite satisfied with their portion of inheritance. This is based on the opinion that the size of the individual tribe’s inheritance was determined by their number at the time they left Egypt. During the years in the desert Menashe grew faster than any other tribe. When they left Egypt their number was 32,200 and when they entered Eretz Yisroel it was 52,700, an increase of 20,500. They were given land for 32,200 portions but they had to divide it among all 52,700 members of their tribe, and this was the basis of their complaint.


###### Rashi on Joshua 17:14:2
[Rashi on Joshua 17:14:2](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Rashi%20on%20Joshua/r/17:14:2)

**עַד אֲשֶׁר־עַד־כֹּה בֵּרְכַנִי ה'** עַד אֲשֶׁר רָאִיתָ שֶׁנִּתְרַבָּה מִנְיָנוֹ מִמִּנְיָן רִאשׁוֹן לְמִנְיָן שֵׁנִי עֶשְׂרִים אֶלֶף וַחֲמֵשׁ מֵאוֹת כְּמִנְיַן 'כֹּה' בְּגִימְטַרְיָה, בְּמִנְיָן רִאשׁוֹן אַתָּה מוֹצֵא בִּמְנַשֶּׁה בְּסֵפֶר בְּמִדְבָּר (א לה): שְׁנַיִם וּשְׁלשִׁים אֶלֶף וּמָאתַיִם, וּבְפִינְחָס (שם כו לד): שְׁנַיִם וַחֲמִשִּׁים אֶלֶף וּשְׂבַע מֵאוֹת. דָּבָר אַחֵר: **עַד אֲשֶׁר עַד כֹּה** בְּרָכָה נֶאֶמְרָה לְאַבְרָהָם (בראשית טו ה): כֹּה יִהְיֶה זַרְעֲךָ, נִתְקַיְּימָה בִּי, וּלְפִי פְּשׁוּטוֹ: **עַד אֲשֶׁר עַד כֹּה** עַד אֲשֶׁר כָּךְ, כַּאֲשֶׁר אַתָּה רוֹאֶה.

**The Book of Joshua, Metsudah Publications, 1997:**
**For until now so much has Adonoy blessed me.** For you have seen that my population has increased from the first counting to the second counting by twenty thousand, five hundred, which is the numerical equivilent of כּה (25). In the first counting you found the number of Menashe, stated in Seifer Bamidbar,⁷ to be thirty two thousand, two hundred, and in Parshes Pinchos⁸ their number was fifty two thousand, seven hundred. Another explanation is: until now, until כּה referring to the blessing that was said to Avrohom, “So (כּה) shall be your seed.”⁹ This blessing has been fulfilled in my tribe. And according to its plain meaning, until now-as I am now— until I am the multitude you see now.

footnotes:
⁷ Parshas Bamidbar 1:35.
⁸ Bamidbar 26:34.
⁹ Bereishis 15:5.


###### Rashi on Joshua 17:15:1
[Rashi on Joshua 17:15:1](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Rashi%20on%20Joshua/r/17:15:1)

**אִם עַם רַב אַתָּה** יֵשׁ בְּךָ כֹּחַ לִכְרוֹת יְעָרוֹת וּלְפַנּוֹתָהּ, כְּעֵין שֶׁקּוֹרִין אישרטי"ר בְּלַעַז וְשָׁם תִּבְנֶה עָרִים.

**The Book of Joshua, Metsudah Publications, 1997:**
**If you are indeed such a multitude of people—** then you have the strength to cut down forests and to clear them, as expressed in old French, essarter, and there you will be able to build cities.¹⁰

footnotes:
¹⁰ Yehoshua obviously could not change the portion that had been alloted to them in accordance with the method with which the Ribono Shel Olam had commanded him to distribute the land. He therefore suggested that they clear the forest in the mountains, which would give them sufficient land to settle their families and to build cities for them. This land was unclaimed and could be theirs after clearing it and settling there.


###### Rashi on Joshua 17:15:2
[Rashi on Joshua 17:15:2](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Rashi%20on%20Joshua/r/17:15:2)

**וּבֵרֵאתָ** לְשׁוֹן כְּרִיתָה, כְּמוֹ (יחזקאל כג מז): וּבָרֵא אוֹתְהֶן בְּחַרְבוֹתָם, אישרטרא"ש בְּלַעַז.

**The Book of Joshua, Metsudah Publications, 1997:**
**And cut out—** This is an expression of cutting, as stated, “And they will cut them down with their swords,”¹¹ essarteras-in Old French,

footnotes:
¹¹ Yechezkeil 23:47.


###### Rashi on Joshua 17:15:3
[Rashi on Joshua 17:15:3](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Rashi%20on%20Joshua/r/17:15:3)

**אָץ** דָּחוּק.

**The Book of Joshua, Metsudah Publications, 1997:**
**Crowded**—dense [or stress].


###### Rashi on Joshua 17:16:1
[Rashi on Joshua 17:16:1](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Rashi%20on%20Joshua/r/17:16:1)

**לֹא יִמָּצֵא לָנוּ הָהָר** כִּי אָץ הוּא לָנוּ כַּאֲשֶׁר אָמַרְתָּ.

**The Book of Joshua, Metsudah Publications, 1997:**
**The mountain will not be sufficient for us.** For it is too crowded for us as you [just] said.


###### Rashi on Joshua 17:16:2
[Rashi on Joshua 17:16:2](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Rashi%20on%20Joshua/r/17:16:2)

**לֹא יִמָּצֵא** לֹא יַסְפִּיק.

**The Book of Joshua, Metsudah Publications, 1997:**
**It will not be sufficient.** It will not be enough.


###### Rashi on Joshua 17:16:3
[Rashi on Joshua 17:16:3](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Rashi%20on%20Joshua/r/17:16:3)

**וְרֶכֶב בַּרְזֶל** וּמַה שֶּׁאַתָּה אוֹמֵר לַעֲלוֹת הַיַּעְרָה וְלִכְבּוֹשׁ בְּאֶרֶץ הַפְּרִיזִּי וְהָרְפָאִים, עַם חָזָק הוּא אוֹתוֹ כְּנַעֲנִי וְרֶכֶב בַּרְזֶל לוֹ, וְאַל תִּתְמַהּ אִם קְרָאוֹ לַפְּרִיזִי וּרְפָאִים כְּנַעֲנִי, כִּי כֻּלַּם בְּנֵי כְּנַעַן הָיוּ.

**The Book of Joshua, Metsudah Publications, 1997:**
**Iron chariots.** ‘And that what you say, go up to the forest and conquer the land of the Perezzites and the Rephaim [is not so simple] because the Canaanites are a mighty people, and they possess iron chariots.’ Do not wonder if Scripture refers to the Perezzites and Rephaim as Canaanites for they were all descendants of the original Canaan.¹²

footnotes:
¹² The original Canaan was the grandson of Noach, who was cursed by Noach. See Bereishis 9:25.


###### Rashi on Joshua 17:18:1
[Rashi on Joshua 17:18:1](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Rashi%20on%20Joshua/r/17:18:1)

**כִּי הַר יִהְיֶה־לָּךְ** אוֹתוֹ שֶׁאָמַרְתִּי לְךָ עֲלֵה לְךָ הַיַּעֲרָה.

**The Book of Joshua, Metsudah Publications, 1997:**
**For the mountain will be yours.** The mountain of which I said to you “Go up to the forest.”


###### Rashi on Joshua 17:18:2
[Rashi on Joshua 17:18:2](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Rashi%20on%20Joshua/r/17:18:2)

**כִּי יַעַר הוּא וּבֵרֵאתוֹ** כִּי יַעַר הוּא וְאֵינוֹ רָאוּי אֶלָּא לְעַם רַב וִיבָרְאוּהוּ וִיפַנּוּהוּ.

**The Book of Joshua, Metsudah Publications, 1997:**
**For it is a forest and you will cut it down.** For it is a forest and it is only fitting for a multitude of people, that will cut it down and clear it.


###### Rashi on Joshua 17:18:3
[Rashi on Joshua 17:18:3](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Rashi%20on%20Joshua/r/17:18:3)

**וּבֵרֵאתוֹ** אַתָּה שֶׁאַתָּה עַם רַב.

**The Book of Joshua, Metsudah Publications, 1997:**
**And you will cut it down.** You who are a multitude of people.


###### Rashi on Joshua 17:18:4
[Rashi on Joshua 17:18:4](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Rashi%20on%20Joshua/r/17:18:4)

**וְהָיָה לְךָ תֹּצְאֹתָיו כִּי תוֹרִיש אֶת הַכְּנַעֲנִי** עַל יְדֵי שֶׁאַתָּה עַם רַב.

**The Book of Joshua, Metsudah Publications, 1997:**
**And as far as it extends will be yours.** For you will drive out the Canaanites. Because you are a multitude of people.


###### Rashi on Joshua 17:18:5
[Rashi on Joshua 17:18:5](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Rashi%20on%20Joshua/r/17:18:5)

**כִּי רֶכֶב בַּרְזֶל לוֹ** וְאֵין אֶחָד מִשְּׁאָר הַשְּׁבָטִים כְּדַאי לְהִלָּחֵם בּוֹ.

**The Book of Joshua, Metsudah Publications, 1997:**
**Even though they possess iron chariots.** None of the other tribes have sufficient man power to fight them.


###### Rashi on Joshua 17:18:6
[Rashi on Joshua 17:18:6](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Rashi%20on%20Joshua/r/17:18:6)

**כִּי חָזָק הוּא** וְאַתָּה יֵשׁ בְּךָ הַיְכוֹלֶת וְתּוֹרִישֶׁנּוּ, וְרַבּוֹתֵינוּ פֵּירְשׁוּ (בבא בתרא קיח א): עֲלֵה לְךָ הַיַּעְרָה, הַחְבִּיאוּ עַצְמְכֶם בַּיְעָרוֹת שֶׁלֹּא תִּשְׁלוֹט בָּכֶם עַיִן הָרָע.

**The Book of Joshua, Metsudah Publications, 1997:**
**Even though they are stong.** You have the ability and will drive them out. Our Rabbis explained [the meaning of] ‘Go up to the forest— Hide yourselves in the forest and the “evil eye” will have no power over you.’¹³

footnotes:
¹³ Yehoshua implied that the forest would protect them against the “evil eye.” Because they were so numerous and multiplied so rapidly, they would invoke jealousy from their neighbors. It was therefore to their advantage to live in a forest area where they would not be so visible. If they would live in the cities of the plains, everyone would see how numerous they were, but in the forest they would not be as visible.