12
1Yet the people of Manasseh could not take possession of those cities, but the Canaanites persisted in dwelling in that land.
13
Now when the people of Israel grew strong, they put the Canaanites 2to forced labor, but did not utterly drive them out.
14
Then 3the people of Joseph spoke to Joshua, saying, "Why have you given me but 4one lot and one portion as an inheritance, although I am 5a numerous people, since all along the LORD has blessed me?"
15
And Joshua said to them, "If you are a numerous people, go up by yourselves to the forest, and there clear ground for yourselves in the land of the Perizzites and 6the Rephaim, since 7the hill country of Ephraim is too narrow for you."
16
The people of Joseph said, "The hill country is not enough for us. Yet all the Canaanites who dwell in the plain have 8chariots of iron, both those in Beth-shean and its villages and those in 9the Valley of Jezreel."
17
Then Joshua said to the house of Joseph, to Ephraim and Manasseh, "You are a numerous people and have great power. You shall not have one allotment only,
18
but the hill country shall be yours, for though it is a forest, you shall clear it and possess it to its farthest borders. For you shall drive out the Canaanites, 10though they have chariots of iron, and though they are strong."