1
καὶ ἐγένετο τὰ ὅρια φυλῆς υἱῶν Μανασση ὅτι οὗτος πρωτότοκος τῷ Ιωσηφ τῷ Μαχιρ πρωτοτόκῳ Μανασση πατρὶ Γαλααδ ἀνὴρ γὰρ πολεμιστὴς ἦν ἐν τῇ Γαλααδίτιδι καὶ ἐν τῇ Βασανίτιδι
And the borders of the tribe of the sons of Manasseh came to be — for he was the firstborn of Joseph — for Machir the firstborn of Manasseh, the father of Gilead (for he was a man of war): they fell in Gilead and in Bashan.
καὶ ἐγένετο opens a fresh allotment-section in the distribution begun at ch. 13; the formula τὰ ὅρια φυλῆς ('the borders of the tribe of') is the structural header for each tribal lot. A causal ὅτι-clause justifies Manasseh's priority — he is Joseph's firstborn — and a parenthetical γάρ-clause characterizes Machir as a warrior, explaining why the Transjordanian Gilead and Bashan fall to his clan.
Word-by-word analysis· 29 words
καὶandnarrative conjunction (Hebraizing καί-parataxis)καὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
ἐγένετοcame to beAor Mid Indic 3 Sg · γίνομαιmain verb (existential: the lot 'came to be')→ constative aorist (the allotment as accomplished fact)γίνομαι: 'become / come to be / happen'; renders Hebrew הָיָה; καὶ ἐγένετο is the classic LXX rendering of וַיְהִי, here introducing the allotment of Manasseh; the singular verb stands with the neuter plural subject τὰ ὅρια per the standard Greek rule.
τὰtheNominativearticle (with ὅρια)τὰ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ὅριαborders / territoryNominativesubject (neuter plural)ὅριον (pl. ὅρια): 'boundary / border / (by extension) territory'; renders Hebrew גְּבוּל; in Joshua's allotment chapters τὰ ὅρια functions both for the boundary-line and for the bounded territory itself; here it heads the lot of Manasseh.
φυλῆςof the tribeGenitivegenitive (of the tribe to which the borders belong)φυλή: 'tribe / clan'; renders מַטֶּה / שֵׁבֶט; the standard term for one of the twelve tribes of Israel in the distribution narratives.
υἱῶνof the sonsGenitivegenitive (in apposition / dependent on φυλῆς)υἱός: 'son'; the Hebraism υἱοὶ + tribal name ('sons of Manasseh' = בְּנֵי מְנַשֶּׁה) is the standard LXX designation for the members of a tribe.
ΜανασσηManassehgenitive of relationship (indeclinable proper noun)Μανασσῆ: transliteration of Hebrew מְנַשֶּׁה, the elder son of Joseph (Gen 41:51); indeclinable in the LXX; the half-tribe of Manasseh received land both east (Transjordan) and west of the Jordan.
ὅτιbecausecausal conjunction (introducing justification of priority)ὅτι: 'because / that'; here causal, explaining why Manasseh leads off the Joseph-allotment: he is Joseph's firstborn and so receives his portion first.
οὗτοςthis one / heNominativesubject of implied copula (demonstrative pronoun: Manasseh)οὗτος: the demonstrative refers back to Manasseh; 'he was the firstborn of Joseph,' establishing his precedence among the Joseph tribes.
πρωτότοκοςfirstbornNominativepredicate nominative (with implied ἦν)πρωτότοκος: 'firstborn'; renders בְּכוֹר; Manasseh's status as Joseph's firstborn (Gen 41:51) grounds his priority in the allotment, though Jacob had earlier crossed his hands to bless Ephraim ahead of him (Gen 48:14).
τῷof / toDativearticle (with Ιωσηφ)τῷ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ΙωσηφJosephdative of relationship (indeclinable: 'firstborn to/of Joseph')Ιωσηφ: transliteration of Hebrew יוֹסֵף; indeclinable; the patriarch whose two sons Manasseh and Ephraim become the two Joseph-tribes, so that Joseph receives a double portion in the land.
τῷtoDativearticle (with Μαχιρ; dative of advantage: 'for Machir')τῷ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ΜαχιρMachirdative of advantage (indeclinable: the lot falls 'to Machir')Μαχιρ: transliteration of Hebrew מָכִיר, the firstborn of Manasseh (Gen 50:23; Num 26:29); the Machirite clan conquered and settled Gilead and Bashan in Transjordan (Num 32:39–40).
πρωτοτόκῳfirstbornDativeapposition to Μαχιρ (dative)πρωτότοκος (dat. πρωτοτόκῳ): here designating Machir as the firstborn of Manasseh, doubling the firstborn-motif of the verse — firstborn of Joseph (Manasseh), firstborn of Manasseh (Machir).
Μανασσηof Manassehgenitive of relationship (indeclinable: 'firstborn of Manasseh')Μανασση: function word shaping the local clause or phrase relation in this oracle.
πατρὶfatherDativeapposition to Μαχιρ (dative: 'the father of Gilead')πατήρ (dat. πατρί): 'father'; renders אָב; 'father of Gilead' is a clan-founder idiom — Machir is the ancestor-eponym of the Gileadite population, not the literal father of a man named Gilead.
Γαλααδof Gileadgenitive of relationship (indeclinable place/clan name)Γαλααδ: transliteration of Hebrew גִּלְעָד; both a region of Transjordan and the eponymous clan descended from Machir; indeclinable here.
ἀνὴρa manNominativesubject of parenthetical clause (with ἦν)ἀνήρ: 'man'; renders אִישׁ; the parenthetical ἀνὴρ … πολεμιστὴς ἦν characterizes Machir's clan as warlike, explaining their fitness to hold the frontier territories of Gilead and Bashan.
γὰρforexplanatory particle (post-positive; introduces parenthetical reason)γάρ: 'for'; post-positive; introduces the explanation that Machir was a warrior, which is why the militarily-held Transjordanian lands fell to his clan.
πολεμιστὴςa warriorNominativepredicate nominative (with ἦν: 'was a man of war')πολεμιστής: 'warrior / fighting man'; renders אִישׁ מִלְחָמָה; the phrase ἀνὴρ … πολεμιστής marks Machir/Gilead as a martial clan, the conquerors of the Amorite kingdoms east of the Jordan (Num 32:39).
ἦνwasImpf Act Indic 3 Sg · εἰμίverb of parenthetical clause (descriptive copula)→ descriptive imperfect (settled characteristic)εἰμί (impf. ἦν): 'be'; the imperfect describes Machir's enduring martial character, a standing trait rather than a single event.
ἐνinpreposition + dative (locative)ἐν: preposition governing its complement and marking the relation specified by the clause.
τῇtheDativearticle (with Γαλααδίτιδι)τῇ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ΓαλααδίτιδιGileaditis (Gilead)object of ἐν (region name: place of the allotment)Γαλααδῖτις: the Greek region-name for the territory of Gilead in Transjordan; the article + region-name idiom (ἡ Γαλααδῖτις) is the LXX's way of naming a district; the Machirites held this highland east of the Jordan.
καὶandcoordinate conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
ἐνinpreposition + dative (locative, parallel)ἐν: preposition governing its complement and marking the relation specified by the clause.
τῇtheDativearticle (with Βασανίτιδι)τῇ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ΒασανίτιδιBasanitis (Bashan)object of ἐν (region name, parallel to Γαλααδίτιδι)Βασανῖτις: the Greek region-name for Bashan (Hebrew בָּשָׁן), the fertile highland east of the Jordan north of Gilead, the former kingdom of Og (Num 21:33); together Gilead and Bashan form the Transjordanian half of Manasseh's inheritance.
2
καὶ ἐγενήθη τοῖς υἱοῖς Μανασση τοῖς λοιποῖς κατὰ δήμους αὐτῶν τοῖς υἱοῖς Ιεζερ καὶ τοῖς υἱοῖς Κελεζ καὶ τοῖς υἱοῖς Ιεζιηλ καὶ τοῖς υἱοῖς Συχεμ καὶ τοῖς υἱοῖς Συμαριμ καὶ τοῖς υἱοῖς Οφερ οὗτοι οἱ ἄρσενες κατὰ δήμους αὐτῶν
And it came to be for the remaining sons of Manasseh according to their clans: for the sons of Iezer, and for the sons of Kelez, and for the sons of Ieziel, and for the sons of Sychem, and for the sons of Symarim, and for the sons of Opher — these were the males according to their clans.
After the Transjordanian Machir (v. 1), v. 2 distributes the western lot to the 'remaining' clans of Manasseh by their families (κατὰ δήμους αὐτῶν). The six clan-names (Iezer, Kelez, Ieziel, Sychem, Symarim, Opher) correspond to the Manassite families of Num 26:30–32; the closing οὗτοι οἱ ἄρσενες ('these were the males') frames the list as the male line, in deliberate contrast to the daughters of Zelophehad who follow in v. 3.
Word-by-word analysis· 39 words
καὶandnarrative conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
ἐγενήθηit came to beAor Pass Indic 3 Sg · γίνομαιmain verb (the lot 'came to be' for the clans)→ constative aorist (allotment as accomplished fact)γίνομαι (aor. pass. ἐγενήθη): the passive form is common in the LXX as a simple equivalent of the middle ἐγένετο, rendering וַיְהִי; 'it came to be for the sons of Manasseh' = the allotment fell to them.
τοῖςto theDativearticle (with υἱοῖς; dative of advantage)τοῖς: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
υἱοῖςsonsDativedative of advantage ('for the sons')υἱός (dat. pl. υἱοῖς): the recipients of the western Manassite allotment; the dative marks them as the beneficiaries of the lot.
Μανασσηof Manassehgenitive of relationship (indeclinable)Μανασση: function word shaping the local clause or phrase relation in this oracle.
τοῖςtheDativearticle (with λοιποῖς)τοῖς: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
λοιποῖςremainingDativeattributive adjective ('the remaining sons')λοιπός: 'remaining / rest'; renders יֶתֶר / נוֹתָר; here 'the remaining sons of Manasseh' = those not part of Machir's clan, who receive the western (cisjordanian) territory.
κατὰaccording topreposition + accusative (distributive)κατά + acc.: 'according to / by'; the distributive idiom κατὰ δήμους ('clan by clan') renders לְמִשְׁפְּחֹתָם, the standard formula for dividing land by family units.
δήμουςclansAccusativeaccusative object of κατά (distributive)δῆμος: 'people / district / clan'; in the LXX of the Pentateuch and Joshua it renders מִשְׁפָּחָה ('family / clan'), the sub-tribal kinship unit by which the land was apportioned.
αὐτῶνtheirGenitivegenitive of possession ('their clans')αὐτῶν: pronominal form marking person, possession, or reference within the clause.
τοῖςto theDativearticle (with υἱοῖς)τοῖς: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
υἱοῖςsonsDativedative of advantage (first clan-recipient)υἱοῖς: lexical item interpreted according to its local syntactic role in this passage.
Ιεζερof Iezergenitive of relationship (indeclinable clan name)Ιεζερ: clan-name corresponding to Hebrew אִיעֶזֶר / Abiezer (Num 26:30); the Manassite families are listed as the recipients of the western lot.
καὶandcoordinate conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
τοῖςto theDativearticle (with υἱοῖς)τοῖς: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
υἱοῖςsonsDativedative of advantageυἱοῖς: lexical item interpreted according to its local syntactic role in this passage.
Κελεζof Kelezgenitive of relationship (indeclinable clan name)Κελεζ: clan-name corresponding to Hebrew חֵלֶק / Helek (Num 26:30), one of the Manassite families.
καὶandcoordinate conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
τοῖςto theDativearticle (with υἱοῖς)τοῖς: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
υἱοῖςsonsDativedative of advantageυἱοῖς: lexical item interpreted according to its local syntactic role in this passage.
Ιεζιηλof Iezielgenitive of relationship (indeclinable clan name)Ιεζιηλ: clan-name corresponding to Hebrew אַשְׂרִיאֵל / Asriel (Num 26:31), a Manassite family.
καὶandcoordinate conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
τοῖςto theDativearticle (with υἱοῖς)τοῖς: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
υἱοῖςsonsDativedative of advantageυἱοῖς: lexical item interpreted according to its local syntactic role in this passage.
Συχεμof Sychemgenitive of relationship (indeclinable clan/place name)Συχεμ: clan-name corresponding to Hebrew שֶׁכֶם / Shechem (Num 26:31); also the famous city in the central hill country, here a Manassite clan-eponym.
καὶandcoordinate conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
τοῖςto theDativearticle (with υἱοῖς)τοῖς: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
υἱοῖςsonsDativedative of advantageυἱοῖς: lexical item interpreted according to its local syntactic role in this passage.
Συμαριμof Symarimgenitive of relationship (indeclinable clan name)Συμαριμ: clan-name corresponding to Hebrew שְׁמִידָע / Shemida (Num 26:32), a Manassite family; the transliteration shows the translator's free rendering of the Hebrew name.
καὶandcoordinate conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
τοῖςto theDativearticle (with υἱοῖς)τοῖς: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
υἱοῖςsonsDativedative of advantageυἱοῖς: lexical item interpreted according to its local syntactic role in this passage.
Οφερof Ophergenitive of relationship (indeclinable clan name)Οφερ: clan-name corresponding to Hebrew חֵפֶר / Hepher (Num 26:32), the father of Zelophehad — significant because it is precisely the Hepher line that, lacking sons, produces the daughters of vv. 3–6.
οὗτοιtheseNominativesubject (demonstrative pronoun, summarizing the list)οὗτος (nom. pl. οὗτοι): the demonstrative gathers the six preceding clan-names into a single summary statement — 'these were the male clans.'
οἱtheNominativearticle (with ἄρσενες)οἱ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ἄρσενεςmalesNominativepredicate nominative ('these were the males')ἄρσην (pl. ἄρσενες): 'male'; renders זָכָר; the summary οὗτοι οἱ ἄρσενες explicitly marks the foregoing as the male clans of Manasseh, setting up the pointed contrast with the daughters of Zelophehad (v. 3), who as females nevertheless receive an inheritance.
κατὰaccording topreposition + accusative (distributive, repeated)κατὰ: preposition governing its complement and marking the relation specified by the clause.
δήμουςclansAccusativeaccusative object of κατά (distributive)δήμους: lexical item interpreted according to its local syntactic role in this passage.
αὐτῶνtheirGenitivegenitive of possessionαὐτῶν: pronominal form marking person, possession, or reference within the clause.
3
καὶ τῷ Σαλπααδ υἱῷ Οφερ οὐκ ἦσαν αὐτῷ υἱοὶ ἀλλ᾿ ἢ θυγατέρες καὶ ταῦτα τὰ ὀνόματα τῶν θυγατέρων Σαλπααδ Μααλα καὶ Νουα καὶ Εγλα καὶ Μελχα καὶ Θερσα
And as for Zelophehad son of Opher — he had no sons, but only daughters; and these are the names of the daughters of Zelophehad: Mahlah, and Noah, and Hoglah, and Milcah, and Tirzah.
The fronted dative τῷ Σαλπααδ ('as for Zelophehad') is a Hebraizing nominative-absolute / pendent construction marking the new topic, resumed by the dative αὐτῷ ('to him'). The clause sets up the legal problem of Num 27/36: a man of the Hepher (Οφερ) clan dies leaving only daughters. The five names are then catalogued, preparing for their petition in v. 4.
Word-by-word analysis· 28 words
καὶandnarrative conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
τῷas forDativearticle (with Σαλπααδ; fronted pendent dative)τῷ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ΣαλπααδZelophehadpendent dative of reference (indeclinable; topicalized)Σαλπααδ: transliteration of Hebrew צְלָפְחָד (Zelophehad); the man of the Hepher clan of Manasseh who died in the wilderness leaving five daughters and no sons (Num 26:33; 27:1).
υἱῷsonDativeapposition to Σαλπααδ (dative)υἱός (dat. υἱῷ): here in apposition, 'Zelophehad son of Opher,' locating him in the Hepher line of Manasseh listed in v. 2.
Οφερof Ophergenitive of relationship (indeclinable)Οφερ: function word shaping the local clause or phrase relation in this oracle.
οὐκnotnegation (with ἦσαν)οὐκ: function word shaping the local clause or phrase relation in this oracle.
ἦσανthere wereImpf Act Indic 3 Pl · εἰμίmain verb (existential: 'there were no sons')→ descriptive imperfect (state of affairs)εἰμί (impf. ἦσαν): existential 'there were'; the construction οὐκ ἦσαν αὐτῷ υἱοί ('he had no sons') is a Hebraism rendering לֹא־הָיוּ לוֹ בָּנִים, with the dative of possession αὐτῷ.
αὐτῷto himDativedative of possession ('he had')αὐτός (dat. αὐτῷ): dative of possession resuming the pendent τῷ Σαλπααδ; 'sons were not to him' = 'he had no sons.'
υἱοὶsonsNominativesubject of ἦσαν (existential)υἱοὶ: lexical item interpreted according to its local syntactic role in this passage.
ἀλλ᾿butstrong adversative (elided before ἤ)ἀλλά: 'but'; the combination ἀλλ᾿ ἤ ('but only / except') is a fixed LXX idiom marking exclusive exception — 'no sons, but only daughters.'
ἢonly / thanpart of the idiom ἀλλ᾿ ἤ ('but only')ἤ: 'than / or'; in the locution ἀλλ᾿ ἤ functions to restrict, 'except / but only'; renders Hebrew כִּי אִם.
θυγατέρεςdaughtersNominativesubject (implied: 'but only daughters were to him')θυγάτηρ (pl. θυγατέρες): 'daughter'; renders בַּת; the daughters of Zelophehad become the test-case for female inheritance in Israelite law (Num 27/36); their presence here is the hinge of the whole passage.
καὶandcoordinate conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
ταῦταtheseNominativesubject (demonstrative, with τὰ ὀνόματα)οὗτος (nom./acc. pl. n. ταῦτα): the demonstrative introducing the name-list; the formula καὶ ταῦτα τὰ ὀνόματα ('and these are the names') is a standard LXX list-header rendering וְאֵלֶּה שְׁמוֹת.
τὰtheNominativearticle (with ὀνόματα)τὰ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ὀνόματαnamesNominativepredicate nominative ('these are the names')ὄνομα (pl. ὀνόματα): 'name'; renders שֵׁם; the naming of the five daughters individually gives them legal and narrative identity, underscoring the significance of their inheritance-claim.
τῶνof theGenitivearticle (with θυγατέρων)τῶν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
θυγατέρωνdaughtersGenitivegenitive (of the daughters whose names follow)θυγατέρων: lexical item interpreted according to its local syntactic role in this passage.
Σαλπααδof Zelophehadgenitive of relationship (indeclinable)Σαλπααδ: function word shaping the local clause or phrase relation in this oracle.
ΜααλαMahlahnominative in apposition (first daughter, indeclinable)Μααλα: transliteration of Hebrew מַחְלָה (Mahlah), the first-named daughter of Zelophehad (Num 26:33; 27:1).
καὶandcoordinate conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
ΝουαNoahnominative in apposition (second daughter, indeclinable)Νουα: transliteration of Hebrew נֹעָה (Noah; not the patriarch Noah/Νωε), the second daughter of Zelophehad.
καὶandcoordinate conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
ΕγλαHoglahnominative in apposition (third daughter, indeclinable)Εγλα: transliteration of Hebrew חָגְלָה (Hoglah), the third daughter of Zelophehad.
καὶandcoordinate conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
ΜελχαMilcahnominative in apposition (fourth daughter, indeclinable)Μελχα: transliteration of Hebrew מִלְכָּה (Milcah), the fourth daughter of Zelophehad.
καὶandcoordinate conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
ΘερσαTirzahnominative in apposition (fifth daughter, indeclinable)Θερσα: transliteration of Hebrew תִּרְצָה (Tirzah), the fifth daughter of Zelophehad; the name later attaches to a northern royal city (1 Kgs 14:17).
4
καὶ ἔστησαν ἐναντίον Ελεαζαρ τοῦ ἱερέως καὶ ἐναντίον Ἰησοῦ καὶ ἐναντίον τῶν ἀρχόντων λέγουσαι ὁ θεὸς ἐνετείλατο διὰ χειρὸς Μωυσῆ δοῦναι ἡμῖν κληρονομίαν ἐν μέσῳ τῶν ἀδελφῶν ἡμῶν καὶ ἐδόθη αὐταῖς διὰ προστάγματος κυρίου κλῆρος ἐν τοῖς ἀδελφοῖς τοῦ πατρὸς αὐτῶν
And they stood before Eleazar the priest and before Joshua and before the rulers, saying, 'God commanded through the hand of Moses to give us an inheritance in the midst of our brothers'; and a lot was given to them by the command of the LORD among the brothers of their father.
The daughters formally 'stand before' the three constituted authorities — priest (Eleazar), leader (Joshua), and rulers — exactly the tribunal of Num 27:2. Their speech grounds the claim in prior divine command mediated διὰ χειρὸς Μωυσῆ. The narrator then reports the grant with a passive ἐδόθη and the key phrase διὰ προστάγματος κυρίου ('by the command of the LORD'), marking the inheritance as the fulfilment of a standing divine ordinance, not a fresh concession.
Word-by-word analysis· 41 words
καὶandnarrative conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
ἔστησανthey stoodAor Act Indic 3 Pl · ἵστημιmain verb (the daughters present themselves)→ constative aorist (formal act of standing before the tribunal)ἵστημι (aor. ἔστησαν, intransitive): 'stand / take one's stand'; renders עָמַד; the legal nuance is 'to present oneself / appear before' an authority; the daughters formally lodge their claim before the constituted leadership, as at Num 27:2.
ἐναντίονbeforepreposition + genitive (in the presence of)ἐναντίον: 'before / in the presence of'; Hebraism rendering לִפְנֵי; the triple ἐναντίον (priest / Joshua / rulers) enumerates the full tribunal of authority before which the claim is heard.
ΕλεαζαρEleazargenitive object of ἐναντίον (indeclinable proper noun)Ελεαζαρ: transliteration of Hebrew אֶלְעָזָר, son of Aaron and high priest after him (Num 20:28); together with Joshua he supervises the land-distribution (Josh 14:1).
τοῦtheGenitivearticle (with ἱερέως)τοῦ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ἱερέωςpriestGenitiveapposition to Ελεαζαρ (genitive)ἱερεύς (gen. ἱερέως): 'priest'; renders כֹּהֵן; the high-priestly office of Eleazar gives the proceedings their sacral, oracular dimension (cf. the Urim of Num 27:21).
καὶandcoordinate conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
ἐναντίονbeforepreposition + genitive (second member)ἐναντίον: preposition governing its complement and marking the relation specified by the clause.
ἸησοῦJoshuaGenitivegenitive object of ἐναντίον (declinable proper noun)Ἰησοῦς (gen. Ἰησοῦ): Greek form of Hebrew יְהוֹשֻׁעַ (Joshua son of Nun); declined as a contracted noun (gen./dat. Ἰησοῦ, acc. Ἰησοῦν); the same Greek name later borne by Jesus; here the leader who, with Eleazar, administers the inheritance.
καὶandcoordinate conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
ἐναντίονbeforepreposition + genitive (third member)ἐναντίον: preposition governing its complement and marking the relation specified by the clause.
τῶνtheGenitivearticle (with ἀρχόντων)τῶν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ἀρχόντωνrulersGenitivegenitive object of ἐναντίον (tribal leaders)ἄρχων (pl. ἀρχόντων): 'ruler / leader / chief'; renders נָשִׂיא; the tribal princes who, with the priest and Joshua, constitute the deciding assembly (cf. Num 27:2 'all the congregation').
λέγουσαιsayingPres Act Part Nom Fem Pl · λέγωcircumstantial participle (feminine, agreeing with the daughters; introduces speech)→ present participle (speech accompanying the act of standing)λέγω (pres. part. fem. pl. λέγουσαι): the feminine plural participle agrees with the daughters and introduces their direct speech; the gender of the participle is itself significant — it is the women who speak the legal claim.
ὁtheNominativearticle (with θεός)ὁ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
θεὸςGodNominativesubject of ἐνετείλατοθεός: 'God'; renders אֱלֹהִים; the daughters appeal directly to divine command as the ground of their claim, locating its authority above any human discretion.
ἐνετείλατοcommandedAor Mid Indic 3 Sg · ἐντέλλομαιmain verb of the daughters' speech (citing prior command)→ constative aorist (the past divine ordinance grounding the claim)ἐντέλλομαι: 'command / give charge'; renders צִוָּה; the aorist refers to the binding command already given through Moses (Num 27:6–7; 36:2), which the daughters now invoke as the legal basis for receiving land.
διὰthroughpreposition + genitive (agency / mediation)διά + gen.: 'through / by means of'; the phrase διὰ χειρὸς Μωυσῆ ('through the hand of Moses') is a Hebraism (בְּיַד מֹשֶׁה) marking Moses as the human mediator of the divine command.
χειρὸςthe handGenitivegenitive object of διά (instrumental Hebraism)χείρ (gen. χειρός): 'hand'; in the idiom διὰ χειρός = 'by the agency of'; the 'hand of Moses' stresses that the command, though divine in origin, came through the recognized Mosaic mediation.
Μωυσῆof MosesGenitivegenitive of relationship (with χειρός)Μωυσῆς (gen. Μωυσῆ): declined as a contracted noun in Rahlfs' LXX; the genitive marks Moses as the mediator whose 'hand' transmitted the divine ordinance concerning the daughters' inheritance.
δοῦναιto giveAor Act Inf · δίδωμιcomplementary infinitive (content of the command)→ aorist infinitive (the commanded act, viewed as a whole)δίδωμι (aor. inf. δοῦναι): 'give'; the infinitive expresses the content of what God commanded — to give the daughters an inheritance; renders the Hebrew infinitive construct לָתֵת.
ἡμῖνto usDativedative indirect object (the daughters as recipients)ἐγώ (dat. pl. ἡμῖν): the first-person plural marks the daughters as the direct beneficiaries of the commanded gift.
κληρονομίανan inheritanceAccusativedirect object of δοῦναικληρονομία: 'inheritance / heritage'; renders נַחֲלָה; the keyword of the land-distribution narratives, denoting the permanent, heritable possession of tribal land; the daughters' claim is precisely to be heirs of such a נַחֲלָה in the absence of male siblings.
ἐνinpreposition + dative (locative idiom)ἐν: preposition governing its complement and marking the relation specified by the clause.
μέσῳthe midstDativedative object of ἐν (ἐν μέσῳ: 'in the midst of')μέσος (dat. μέσῳ): 'middle / midst'; ἐν μέσῳ τῶν ἀδελφῶν ('among the brothers') renders בְּתוֹךְ אֲחֵי; the daughters are to hold land integrated within the kinship-allotment, not on its margins.
τῶνof theGenitivearticle (with ἀδελφῶν)τῶν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ἀδελφῶνbrothersGenitivegenitive (those among whom the inheritance lies)ἀδελφός (gen. pl. ἀδελφῶν): 'brother / kinsman'; renders אָח; here the wider male kin of Zelophehad's clan, among whom the daughters claim a co-equal landholding.
ἡμῶνourGenitivegenitive of possession ('our brothers')ἡμῶν: pronominal form marking person, possession, or reference within the clause.
καὶandnarrative conjunction (transition from speech to fulfilment)καὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
ἐδόθηwas givenAor Pass Indic 3 Sg · δίδωμιmain verb (narrator's report of the grant)→ constative aorist passive (the inheritance duly granted)δίδωμι (aor. pass. ἐδόθη): 'was given'; the passive — with God/the tribunal as implicit agent — reports the successful outcome of the petition; the divine passive underscores that the grant fulfils YHWH's own command.
αὐταῖςto themDativedative indirect object (feminine: the daughters)αὐτός (dat. fem. pl. αὐταῖς): the feminine pronoun confirms that it is the daughters themselves, as women, who receive the lot — the legal innovation of Num 27 here enacted.
διὰbypreposition + genitive (means / authorization)διά + gen.: 'by means of / through'; διὰ προστάγματος κυρίου marks the grant as authorized by a standing divine ordinance.
προστάγματοςcommand / ordinanceGenitivegenitive object of διά (the authorizing decree)πρόσταγμα: 'command / decree / ordinance'; renders מִצְוָה / פֶּה ('mouth/command'); the phrase διὰ προστάγματος κυρίου ('by the command of the LORD') frames the grant as the execution of YHWH's own legal ruling, the climax of the Zelophehad case (Num 27/36).
κυρίουof the LORDGenitivegenitive (whose command it is)κύριος (gen. κυρίου): the standard LXX rendering of the Tetragrammaton יהוה; the inheritance is granted not by human concession but 'by the command of the LORD,' giving it covenantal and irrevocable force.
κλῆροςa lot / portionNominativesubject of ἐδόθηκλῆρος: 'lot / portion / allotted inheritance'; renders גּוֹרָל / חֵלֶק; originally the casting-lot, then the share assigned by lot; the daughters receive a full κλῆρος, the same land-share a son would have held.
ἐνamongpreposition + dative (location of the lot)ἐν: preposition governing its complement and marking the relation specified by the clause.
τοῖςtheDativearticle (with ἀδελφοῖς)τοῖς: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ἀδελφοῖςbrothersDativedative object of ἐν ('among the brothers')ἀδελφός (dat. pl. ἀδελφοῖς): the male kinsmen of Zelophehad's father's house, among whom the daughters' lot is set, fulfilling the request 'in the midst of our brothers' (v. 4a).
τοῦof theGenitivearticle (with πατρός)τοῦ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
πατρὸςfatherGenitivegenitive of relationship ('their father's brothers')πατήρ (gen. πατρός): 'father'; the phrase 'the brothers of their father' specifies the agnatic kin-group within Manasseh that absorbs the daughters' holding, preserving the land within the clan (the concern of Num 36).
αὐτῶνtheirGenitivegenitive of possessionαὐτῶν: pronominal form marking person, possession, or reference within the clause.
5
καὶ ἔπεσεν ὁ σχοινισμὸς αὐτῶν ἀπὸ Ανασσα καὶ πεδίον Λαβεκ ἐκ τῆς Γαλααδ ἥ ἐστιν πέραν τοῦ Ιορδάνου
And their measured portion fell from Anassa, and the plain of Labek out of Gilead, which is beyond the Jordan.
The idiom ἔπεσεν ὁ σχοινισμός ('the measuring-line fell') renders the Hebrew נָפַל חֶבֶל — the allotment determined by lot is described as 'falling' to its recipients. The transliterated toponyms Ανασσα and Λαβεκ reflect the Greek translator's difficulty with the Hebrew place-names; the clause notes that the daughters' inheritance, counted with the male clans, enlarged Manasseh's portions beyond the Transjordanian Gilead.
Word-by-word analysis· 18 words
καὶandnarrative conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
ἔπεσενfellAor Act Indic 3 Sg · πίπτωmain verb (the allotment 'fell' to them)→ constative aorist (the lot determined and assigned)πίπτω (aor. ἔπεσεν): 'fall'; the idiom 'the line/lot fell' (ἔπεσεν ὁ σχοινισμός) renders Hebrew נָפַל with חֶבֶל/גּוֹרָל — the share assigned by lot is said to 'fall' to its holders (cf. Ps 15:6 LXX, σχοινία ἐπέπεσάν μοι).
ὁtheNominativearticle (with σχοινισμός)ὁ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
σχοινισμὸςmeasured portionNominativesubject of ἔπεσενσχοινισμός: 'measuring / measured-off territory'; from σχοινίον ('measuring-cord'); renders Hebrew חֶבֶל ('measuring-line / allotted region'); the measured land-share apportioned to Manasseh; a near-synonym of κλῆρος in the distribution lexicon.
αὐτῶνtheirGenitivegenitive of possession ('their portion')αὐτῶν: pronominal form marking person, possession, or reference within the clause.
ἀπὸfrompreposition + genitive (starting point)ἀπὸ: preposition governing its complement and marking the relation specified by the clause.
ΑνασσαAnassaobject of ἀπό (indeclinable place name)Ανασσα: a transliterated toponym whose Hebrew original is uncertain (perhaps connected with the territory of the daughters' portion); one of several garbled place-names in the Greek Joshua's boundary-lists.
καὶandcoordinate conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
πεδίονthe plainNominativenominative (further item of the allotment, loosely appended)πεδίον: 'plain / level country'; renders Hebrew בִּקְעָה / מִישׁוֹר; here 'the plain of Labek' is named as a further component of the measured portion.
Λαβεκof Labekgenitive of relationship (indeclinable place name)Λαβεκ: a transliterated toponym of uncertain Hebrew origin; the plain associated with it is reckoned to Manasseh's portion.
ἐκout ofpreposition + genitive (source / region)ἐκ: preposition governing its complement and marking the relation specified by the clause.
τῆςtheGenitivearticle (with Γαλααδ)τῆς: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ΓαλααδGileadobject of ἐκ (indeclinable region name, with fem. article)Γαλααδ: Gilead, treated here as a feminine region-name (note the article τῆς and the feminine relative ἥ following); the wider Transjordanian highland from which the portion is reckoned.
ἥwhichNominativerelative pronoun (feminine, referring to Gilead)ὅς, ἥ, ὅ (nom. fem. ἥ): the feminine relative agrees with the region-name Γαλααδ (construed as feminine, sc. γῆ/χώρα), introducing the locating clause 'which is beyond the Jordan.'
ἐστινisPres Act Indic 3 Sg · εἰμίverb of relative clause (locating copula)→ stative present (geographical fact)εἰμί (pres. ἐστιν): the copula in the locating relative clause, fixing Gilead's position relative to the Jordan.
πέρανbeyondimproper preposition + genitive ('beyond / across')πέραν: 'beyond / across / on the other side'; with the genitive τοῦ Ιορδάνου renders Hebrew בְּעֵבֶר הַיַּרְדֵּן ('beyond the Jordan'), the standard designation for Transjordan.
τοῦtheGenitivearticle (with Ιορδάνου)τοῦ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ΙορδάνουJordanobject of πέραν (place name; the river boundary)Ιορδάνης: the Jordan river (Hebrew יַרְדֵּן); the great north–south watercourse dividing the Transjordanian (Machir/Gilead) from the cisjordanian Manassite territories.
6
ὅτι θυγατέρες υἱῶν Μανασση ἐκληρονόμησαν κλῆρον ἐν μέσῳ τῶν ἀδελφῶν αὐτῶν ἡ δὲ γῆ Γαλααδ ἐγενήθη τοῖς υἱοῖς Μανασση τοῖς καταλελειμμένοις
For the daughters of the sons of Manasseh inherited a lot in the midst of their brothers; and the land of Gilead came to be for the remaining sons of Manasseh.
The causal ὅτi explains the enlargement of v. 5: because the daughters (as heirs) received a lot among the brothers, the count of Manassite portions increased. A contrastive ἡ δέ-clause then assigns the Transjordanian Gilead to the 'remaining' (καταλελειμμένοις) Manassites, balancing the western daughters' allotment against the eastern Machirite land.
Word-by-word analysis· 21 words
ὅτιfor / becausecausal conjunctionὅτι: 'because / for'; introduces the reason the daughters' lot is counted with the clan-portions — they themselves inherited as heirs.
θυγατέρεςdaughtersNominativesubject of ἐκληρονόμησανθυγάτηρ (pl. θυγατέρες): the daughters of Zelophehad, here as a class — the females who, exceptionally, inherit tribal land.
υἱῶνof the sonsGenitivegenitive of relationship (dependent on θυγατέρες)υἱός (gen. pl. υἱῶν): 'daughters of the sons of Manasseh' locates them within the Manassite descent-line, establishing their right to a Manassite portion.
Μανασσηof Manassehgenitive of relationship (indeclinable)Μανασση: function word shaping the local clause or phrase relation in this oracle.
ἐκληρονόμησανinheritedAor Act Indic 3 Pl · κληρονομέωmain verb (the daughters as subjects of inheriting)→ constative aorist (the act of inheriting accomplished)κληρονομέω: 'inherit / take possession of'; renders נָחַל; the verb governing the whole land-narrative; its use with θυγατέρες as subject is the striking point — women here perform the act normally reserved to sons.
κλῆρονa lotAccusativedirect object of ἐκληρονόμησαν (cognate object)κλῆρος (acc. κλῆρον): the inherited share; the construction κλῆρον ἐκληρονόμησαν is quasi-cognate ('inherited an inheritance-share'), emphasizing that the daughters received a full, proper land-portion.
ἐνinpreposition + dative (locative idiom)ἐν: preposition governing its complement and marking the relation specified by the clause.
μέσῳthe midstDativedative object of ἐν ('in the midst of')μέσος (dat. μέσῳ): ἐν μέσῳ τῶν ἀδελφῶν echoes the daughters' own request in v. 4, now reported as fulfilled — their lot lies integrated among the kinsmen's lands.
τῶνof theGenitivearticle (with ἀδελφῶν)τῶν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ἀδελφῶνbrothersGenitivegenitive (among whom the lot lies)ἀδελφός (gen. pl. ἀδελφῶν): the male kinsmen of the daughters' clan, among whom their inheritance is set.
αὐτῶνtheirGenitivegenitive of possessionαὐτῶν: pronominal form marking person, possession, or reference within the clause.
ἡtheNominativearticle (with γῆ)ἡ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
δὲand / butmild adversative / continuative (post-positive)δέ: post-positive; here lightly contrastive, distinguishing the western daughters' allotment from the eastern Gilead assigned to the remaining clans.
γῆlandNominativesubject of ἐγενήθηγῆ: 'land / earth / territory'; renders אֶרֶץ; 'the land of Gilead' is the Transjordanian holding distinguished from the cisjordanian portions.
Γαλααδof Gileadgenitive of relationship (indeclinable; 'the land of Gilead')Γαλααδ: here in the appositional/genitival phrase 'the land of Gilead,' the eastern territory of the Machirite Manassites.
ἐγενήθηcame to beAor Pass Indic 3 Sg · γίνομαιmain verb (the land 'came to be' for the remaining clans)→ constative aorist (allotment as accomplished fact)γίνομαι (aor. pass. ἐγενήθη): 'came to be / fell to'; renders הָיָה; the land of Gilead 'came to be' the portion of the Manassites not reckoned among the daughters' western lot.
τοῖςto theDativearticle (with υἱοῖς; dative of advantage)τοῖς: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
υἱοῖςsonsDativedative of advantageυἱοῖς: lexical item interpreted according to its local syntactic role in this passage.
Μανασσηof Manassehgenitive of relationship (indeclinable)Μανασση: function word shaping the local clause or phrase relation in this oracle.
τοῖςtheDativearticle (with καταλελειμμένοις)τοῖς: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
καταλελειμμένοιςremaining / left overPerf Pass Part Dat Masc Pl · καταλείπωsubstantival participle (attributive: 'the remaining ones')→ perfect participle (settled resultant state: those who remain)καταλείπω (perf. pass. part. καταλελειμμένοις): 'leave behind / leave remaining'; the perfect passive denotes a fixed resultant state ('those who have been left over'); here the Manassite clans not counted with the daughters' western portion, who hold Gilead.
7
καὶ ἐγενήθη ὅρια υἱῶν Μανασση Δηλαναθ ἥ ἐστιν κατὰ πρόσωπον υἱῶν Αναθ καὶ πορεύεται ἐπὶ τὰ ὅρια ἐπὶ Ιαμιν καὶ Ιασσιβ ἐπὶ πηγὴν Θαφθωθ
And the borders of the sons of Manasseh came to be Delanath, which is over against the sons of Anath, and it goes along the borders to Iamin and Iassib, to the spring of Thaphthoth.
The boundary-survey proper begins, tracing the western Manassite frontier through a chain of toponyms. The verb πορεύεται ('it goes') is the technical present of boundary-description (the line 'travels' from point to point), as in the survey-lists of Josh 15–19. Several names (Δηλαναθ, Θαφθωθ) are heavily transliterated, reflecting the translator's uncertainty over the Hebrew Vorlage.
Word-by-word analysis· 24 words
καὶandnarrative conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
ἐγενήθηcame to beAor Pass Indic 3 Sg · γίνομαιmain verb (the borders 'came to be' / ran)→ constative aorist (the boundary as fixed)γίνομαι (aor. pass. ἐγενήθη): here the boundary 'came to be' / was fixed; the singular verb stands with the neuter plural subject ὅρια.
ὅριαbordersNominativesubject (neuter plural)ὅριον (pl. ὅρια): 'border / boundary-line'; here the frontier of cisjordanian Manasseh whose course the verse traces.
υἱῶνof the sonsGenitivegenitive of relationshipυἱῶν: lexical item interpreted according to its local syntactic role in this passage.
Μανασσηof Manassehgenitive of relationship (indeclinable)Μανασση: function word shaping the local clause or phrase relation in this oracle.
ΔηλαναθDelanathpredicate (the boundary's starting place; indeclinable)Δηλαναθ: a transliterated toponym (often connected with Hebrew אֲשֵׁר / the territory toward Asher, or a corruption thereof); the starting reference-point of the Manassite boundary in the Greek tradition.
ἥwhichNominativerelative pronoun (feminine, with locating clause)ὅς, ἥ, ὅ (nom. fem. ἥ): the relative (agreeing with an understood feminine 'land/place') introduces the clause locating Delanath 'over against the sons of Anath.'
ἐστινisPres Act Indic 3 Sg · εἰμίverb of relative clause (locating copula)→ stative present (geographical fact)εἰμί (pres. ἐστιν): the locating copula in the boundary-survey, fixing the position of the named place.
κατὰover againstpreposition + accusative (in the idiom κατὰ πρόσωπον)κατά + acc.: in the phrase κατὰ πρόσωπον ('facing / opposite / over against'), a Hebraism for עַל־פְּנֵי, locating one place directly in front of another.
πρόσωπονthe faceAccusativeaccusative in adverbial phrase (κατὰ πρόσωπον: 'facing')πρόσωπον: 'face / front'; in κατὰ πρόσωπον = 'opposite / over against'; renders פָּנִים in the directional idiom עַל־פְּנֵי.
υἱῶνof the sonsGenitivegenitive (dependent on πρόσωπον)υἱῶν: lexical item interpreted according to its local syntactic role in this passage.
Αναθof Anathgenitive of relationship (indeclinable place/clan name)Αναθ: a transliterated name (probably the inhabitants of a locality whose Hebrew form underlies הַתַּפּוּחַ/אֵן־תַּפּוּחַ in the MT boundary); 'the sons of Anath' marks the neighbouring population over against which Delanath lies.
καὶandcoordinate conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
πορεύεταιit goesPres Mid Indic 3 Sg · πορεύομαιmain verb (boundary-survey present: 'the border goes')→ descriptive present (the line traced point to point)πορεύομαι: 'go / proceed / travel'; in the survey-lists the boundary is the grammatical subject — 'it goes' from one landmark to the next; renders Hebrew הָלַךְ / יָצָא in the boundary formulae of Josh 15–19.
ἐπὶalong / topreposition + accusative (extent / direction)ἐπὶ: preposition governing its complement and marking the relation specified by the clause.
τὰtheAccusativearticle (with ὅρια)τὰ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ὅριαbordersAccusativeaccusative object of ἐπί (the line follows the borders)ὅριον (acc. pl. ὅρια): the boundary 'goes along the borders' — the line proceeds following the established frontier toward the next landmarks.
ἐπὶtopreposition + accusative (direction toward a landmark)ἐπὶ: preposition governing its complement and marking the relation specified by the clause.
ΙαμινIaminobject of ἐπί (indeclinable place name)Ιαμιν: a transliterated toponym (perhaps reflecting Hebrew יָמִין 'south/right' or a place-name); a point on the Manassite boundary.
καὶandcoordinate conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
ΙασσιβIassibobject of ἐπί (indeclinable place name)Ιασσιβ: a transliterated toponym of uncertain Hebrew origin (often linked with the inhabitants of En-Tappuah); a further point on the boundary line.
ἐπὶtopreposition + accusative (direction toward the spring)ἐπὶ: preposition governing its complement and marking the relation specified by the clause.
πηγὴνthe springAccusativeaccusative object of ἐπί ('to the spring of')πηγή: 'spring / fountain'; renders Hebrew עֵין; springs are characteristic boundary-markers in the survey-lists (cf. Hebrew אֵין־תַּפּוּחַ, 'spring of Tappuah').
Θαφθωθof Thaphthothgenitive of relationship (indeclinable place name; 'spring of Thaphthoth')Θαφθωθ: a transliteration corresponding to Hebrew תַּפּוּחַ (Tappuah); the 'spring of Thaphthoth' = the spring of Tappuah, a boundary-point between Manasseh and Ephraim (cf. v. 8).
8
τῷ Μανασση ἔσται καὶ Θαφεθ ἐπὶ τῶν ὁρίων Μανασση τοῖς υἱοῖς Εφραιμ
It shall belong to Manasseh; but Thapheth, on the borders of Manasseh, belongs to the sons of Ephraim.
A clarifying note on a shared frontier-zone: the land of Tappuah belongs to Manasseh, but the town itself (Θαφεθ), though sitting on Manasseh's border, is reckoned to Ephraim — the same divided arrangement made explicit in the MT (Josh 16:9; 17:8–9). The fronted datives τῷ Μανασση and τοῖς υἱοῖς Εφραιμ mark the contrasting owners.
Word-by-word analysis· 12 words
τῷtoDativearticle (with Μανασση; dative of possession)τῷ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ΜανασσηManassehdative of possession (indeclinable: 'it shall belong to Manasseh')Μανασσῆ: the dative of possession with ἔσται ('shall be to Manasseh') asserts that the surrounding land-region is Manassite.
ἔσταιshall belongFut Mid Indic 3 Sg · εἰμίmain verb (future of assignment: 'it shall be to')→ future of settled assignment (legal allotment)εἰμί (fut. ἔσται): the future-of-possession ('shall belong to'), the standard idiom of the allotment-lists for assigning territory to a tribe.
καὶbut / andconjunction (here mildly adversative, introducing the exception)καί: 'and / but'; here introducing the contrasting case — the town itself, unlike its surrounding land, goes to Ephraim.
ΘαφεθThaphethsubject of implied ἔσται (indeclinable place name)Θαφεθ: a transliteration of Hebrew תַּפּוּחַ (Tappuah), the town corresponding to the 'spring of Thaphthoth' of v. 7; though on Manasseh's border, the town is assigned to Ephraim.
ἐπὶonpreposition + genitive (position: 'on the borders')ἐπὶ: preposition governing its complement and marking the relation specified by the clause.
τῶνtheGenitivearticle (with ὁρίων)τῶν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ὁρίωνbordersGenitivegenitive object of ἐπί ('on the borders of Manasseh')ὅριον (gen. pl. ὁρίων): the town Thapheth sits 'on the borders of Manasseh' — its location is Manassite, but its ownership Ephraimite, the point of the verse.
Μανασσηof Manassehgenitive of relationship (indeclinable)Μανασση: function word shaping the local clause or phrase relation in this oracle.
τοῖςto theDativearticle (with υἱοῖς; dative of possession)τοῖς: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
υἱοῖςsonsDativedative of possession ('belongs to the sons of Ephraim')υἱός (dat. pl. υἱοῖς): the 'sons of Ephraim' are the possessors of the town Thapheth, despite its location on Manasseh's frontier.
Εφραιμof Ephraimgenitive of relationship (indeclinable)Εφραιμ: transliteration of Hebrew אֶפְרַיִם, the younger son of Joseph (Gen 41:52) and the second Joseph-tribe, whose territory borders Manasseh's on the south.
9
καὶ καταβήσεται τὰ ὅρια ἐπὶ φάραγγα Καρανα ἐπὶ λίβα κατὰ φάραγγα Ιαριηλ τερέμινθος τῷ Εφραιμ ἀνὰ μέσον πόλεως Μανασση καὶ ὅρια Μανασση ἐπὶ τὸν βορρᾶν εἰς τὸν χειμάρρουν καὶ ἔσται αὐτοῦ ἡ διέξοδος θάλασσα
And the borders shall go down to the ravine of Karana, southward along the ravine of Iariel — the terebinth belongs to Ephraim — between the city of Manasseh; and the borders of Manasseh go northward to the wadi, and its outgoing shall be at the sea.
The line 'goes down' (καταβήσεται — the technical descent-verb of survey-lists) to a ravine, runs southward, and terminates at the Mediterranean. The term διέξοδος ('outgoing / terminus') is the standard boundary-list word for where a frontier ends; here it ends at the sea (θάλασσα), the western limit of the Joseph-tribes' land. Interspersed clauses again parcel border-features between Ephraim and Manasseh.
Word-by-word analysis· 34 words
καὶandnarrative conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
καταβήσεταιshall go downFut Mid Indic 3 Sg · καταβαίνωmain verb (boundary-survey descent)→ predictive/descriptive future (the line's course)καταβαίνω (fut. καταβήσεται): 'go down / descend'; renders יָרַד; in the survey-lists the boundary 'descends' from highland to valley; the future tense is conventional in these boundary-descriptions.
τὰtheNominativearticle (with ὅρια)τὰ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ὅριαbordersNominativesubject (neuter plural)ὅριον (pl. ὅρια): the frontier-line, grammatical subject of the descent-verb.
ἐπὶtopreposition + accusative (direction)ἐπὶ: preposition governing its complement and marking the relation specified by the clause.
φάραγγαthe ravineAccusativeaccusative object of ἐπίφάραγξ (acc. φάραγγα): 'ravine / gorge / wadi-valley'; renders נַחַל / גַּיְא; ravines are natural boundary-markers; here 'the ravine of Karana.'
Καραναof Karanagenitive of relationship (indeclinable place name)Καρανα: a transliterated toponym (corresponding to the MT's נַחַל קָנָה, 'wadi Kanah'); the ravine forming part of the Ephraim–Manasseh boundary.
ἐπὶtowardpreposition + accusative (directional: southward)ἐπὶ: preposition governing its complement and marking the relation specified by the clause.
λίβαthe southAccusativeaccusative object of ἐπί (direction: 'toward the southwest')λίψ (acc. λίβα): properly the southwest wind, then by extension 'south / southwest'; in the LXX a standard compass-term rendering נֶגֶב / תֵּימָן; here marking the southward run of the boundary.
κατὰalongpreposition + accusative (extent along a feature)κατὰ: preposition governing its complement and marking the relation specified by the clause.
φάραγγαthe ravineAccusativeaccusative object of κατάφάραγξ (acc. φάραγγα): the ravine continues to define the boundary's course; 'along the ravine of Iariel.'
Ιαριηλof Iarielgenitive of relationship (indeclinable place name)Ιαριηλ: a transliterated toponym of uncertain Hebrew origin; the ravine of Iariel marks a further stage of the boundary.
τερέμινθοςterebinthNominativenominative (a landmark tree; loosely appended)τερέμινθος (= τερέβινθος): 'terebinth / turpentine-tree'; renders Hebrew אֵלָה; a prominent tree serving as a boundary-landmark; the note 'the terebinth belongs to Ephraim' assigns this marker to the southern Joseph-tribe.
τῷtoDativearticle (with Εφραιμ; dative of possession)τῷ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ΕφραιμEphraimdative of possession (indeclinable: 'belongs to Ephraim')Εφραιμ: the terebinth-landmark is reckoned to Ephraim, another instance of the verse parcelling individual border-features between the two Joseph-tribes.
ἀνὰinpreposition + accusative (distributive idiom ἀνὰ μέσον)ἀνά + acc.: in the fixed idiom ἀνὰ μέσον ('between / in the midst of'), a Hebraism rendering בֵּין; marks the position of the boundary between two reference-points.
μέσονthe midstAccusativeaccusative in adverbial phrase (ἀνὰ μέσον: 'between')μέσος (acc. μέσον): in ἀνὰ μέσον = 'between'; the boundary passes between 'the city of Manasseh' and the adjacent territory.
πόλεωςof the cityGenitivegenitive (dependent on ἀνὰ μέσον)πόλις (gen. πόλεως): 'city'; renders עִיר; 'the city of Manasseh' (probably the MT's Tappuah) is one of the points between which the boundary runs.
Μανασσηof Manassehgenitive of relationship (indeclinable)Μανασση: function word shaping the local clause or phrase relation in this oracle.
καὶandcoordinate conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
ὅριαbordersNominativesubject (the borders of Manasseh, resuming the survey)ὅριον (pl. ὅρια): the boundary of Manasseh, here turning northward toward the wadi.
Μανασσηof Manassehgenitive of relationship (indeclinable)Μανασση: function word shaping the local clause or phrase relation in this oracle.
ἐπὶtowardpreposition + accusative (direction: northward)ἐπὶ: preposition governing its complement and marking the relation specified by the clause.
τὸνtheAccusativearticle (with βορρᾶν)τὸν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
βορρᾶνnorthAccusativeaccusative object of ἐπί (direction)βορρᾶς (acc. βορρᾶν): 'north / north wind'; renders צָפוֹן; a standard compass-term in the boundary-lists; the line now runs northward.
εἰςtopreposition + accusative (terminus)εἰς: preposition governing its complement and marking the relation specified by the clause.
τὸνtheAccusativearticle (with χειμάρρουν)τὸν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
χειμάρρουνthe wadi / torrentAccusativeaccusative object of εἰς (boundary feature)χείμαρρος / χειμάρρους (acc. χειμάρρουν): 'winter-torrent / wadi'; renders נַחַל; a seasonal watercourse serving as a boundary-line; the line reaches the wadi (the Kanah) and follows it to the sea.
καὶandcoordinate conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
ἔσταιshall beFut Mid Indic 3 Sg · εἰμίmain verb (the terminus 'shall be at the sea')→ future of settled assignment (the boundary's fixed terminus)εἰμί (fut. ἔσται): the future-of-possession identifying the boundary's terminus; 'its outgoing shall be the sea.'
αὐτοῦitsGenitivegenitive of possession (the boundary's terminus)αὐτός (gen. αὐτοῦ): 'its'; refers to the boundary, whose διέξοδος ('outgoing') is now specified.
ἡtheNominativearticle (with διέξοδος)ἡ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
διέξοδοςoutgoing / terminusNominativesubject of ἔσταιδιέξοδος: 'outgoing / extremity / point of exit'; renders Hebrew תּוֹצָאוֹת; the technical boundary-list term for where a frontier 'comes out' / terminates; here the line terminates at the sea.
θάλασσαthe seaNominativepredicate nominative ('its terminus shall be the sea')θάλασσα: 'sea'; renders יָם; the Mediterranean, the western limit of the Joseph-tribes' allotment; 'the sea' also commonly means 'westward' in Hebrew idiom.
10
ἀπὸ λιβὸς τῷ Εφραιμ καὶ ἐπὶ βορρᾶν Μανασση καὶ ἔσται ἡ θάλασσα ὅρια αὐτοῖς καὶ ἐπὶ Ασηρ συνάψουσιν ἐπὶ βορρᾶν καὶ τῷ Ισσαχαρ ἀπ᾿ ἀνατολῶν
From the south it is Ephraim's, and to the north it is Manasseh's; and the sea shall be the border for them; and toward Asher they shall meet on the north, and toward Issachar on the east.
A compass-summary: Ephraim to the south, Manasseh to the north, the sea as the western edge, and the adjoining tribes Asher (north) and Issachar (east). The verb συνάπτω ('join / abut / border on') is the technical term for territories meeting at a shared frontier. The verse fixes Manasseh's place in the larger tribal grid before turning to the Canaanite enclaves (v. 11).
Word-by-word analysis· 25 words
ἀπὸfrompreposition + genitive (directional starting point)ἀπὸ: preposition governing its complement and marking the relation specified by the clause.
λιβὸςthe southGenitivegenitive object of ἀπό ('from the south')λίψ (gen. λιβός): 'south / southwest'; here 'from the south' = on the southern side, where the territory is Ephraim's.
τῷtoDativearticle (with Εφραιμ; dative of possession)τῷ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ΕφραιμEphraimdative of possession (indeclinable: 'it is Ephraim's')Εφραιμ: the southern Joseph-tribe; the dative of possession marks the southern zone as Ephraimite.
καὶandcoordinate conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
ἐπὶto / onpreposition + accusative (direction: northward)ἐπὶ: preposition governing its complement and marking the relation specified by the clause.
βορρᾶνnorthAccusativeaccusative object of ἐπί (direction)βορρᾶς (acc. βορρᾶν): 'north'; the northern side is Manasseh's, as the southern is Ephraim's.
ΜανασσηManasseh'sdative/genitive of possession (indeclinable: 'it is Manasseh's')Μανασσῆ: the northern Joseph-tribe; the indeclinable form here functions as possessor ('to the north, Manasseh's').
καὶandcoordinate conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
ἔσταιshall beFut Mid Indic 3 Sg · εἰμίmain verb ('the sea shall be the border')→ future of settled assignmentεἰμί (fut. ἔσται): identifies the sea as the common western boundary of both Joseph-tribes.
ἡtheNominativearticle (with θάλασσα)ἡ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
θάλασσαthe seaNominativesubject of ἔσταιθάλασσα: the Mediterranean; the sea forms the shared western edge of Ephraim and Manasseh.
ὅριαa borderNominativepredicate nominative ('the sea shall be a border')ὅριον (pl. ὅρια): here predicate — the sea functions as the boundary; the neuter plural is used for the boundary-line collectively.
αὐτοῖςfor themDativedative of advantage ('for them' = both tribes)αὐτός (dat. pl. αὐτοῖς): 'for them' — the two Joseph-tribes, for whom the sea is the western boundary.
καὶandcoordinate conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
ἐπὶtowardpreposition + accusative (direction toward a neighbour)ἐπὶ: preposition governing its complement and marking the relation specified by the clause.
ΑσηρAsherobject of ἐπί (indeclinable tribal name)Ασηρ: transliteration of Hebrew אָשֵׁר (Asher), the tribe whose territory lies to the north of Manasseh along the coast; one of the bordering tribes here.
συνάψουσινthey shall meet / abutFut Act Indic 3 Pl · συνάπτωmain verb (territories 'join' / share a frontier)→ predictive future (the established adjacency)συνάπτω: 'join together / abut / be contiguous'; the technical boundary-term for two territories that meet at a common frontier; renders Hebrew פָּגַע ('touch / meet'); 'they shall meet Asher on the north.'
ἐπὶonpreposition + accusative (direction: north)ἐπὶ: preposition governing its complement and marking the relation specified by the clause.
βορρᾶνthe northAccusativeaccusative object of ἐπί (direction)βορρᾶς (acc. βορρᾶν): the meeting with Asher is on the northern side of Manasseh.
καὶandcoordinate conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
τῷwithDativearticle (with Ισσαχαρ; dative with συνάπτω understood)τῷ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ΙσσαχαρIssachardative of association (indeclinable tribal name; 'with Issachar')Ισσαχαρ: transliteration of Hebrew יִשָּׂשכָר (Issachar), the tribe to the east of Manasseh; with συνάψουσιν understood — Manasseh meets Issachar on the eastern side.
ἀπ᾿frompreposition + genitive (directional: from the east; elided before vowel)ἀπ᾿: preposition governing its complement and marking the relation specified by the clause.
ἀνατολῶνthe eastGenitivegenitive object of ἀπό ('from the east / on the east')ἀνατολή (gen. pl. ἀνατολῶν): 'rising (of the sun) / east'; renders מִזְרָח / קֶדֶם; the plural ἀνατολαί is the standard LXX compass-term for 'the east'; Issachar abuts Manasseh on the eastern side.
11
καὶ ἔσται Μανασση ἐν Ισσαχαρ καὶ ἐν Ασηρ Βαιθσαν καὶ αἱ κῶμαι αὐτῶν καὶ τοὺς κατοικοῦντας Δωρ καὶ τὰς κώμας αὐτῆς καὶ τοὺς κατοικοῦντας Μαγεδδω καὶ τὰς κώμας αὐτῆς καὶ τὸ τρίτον τῆς Ναφετα καὶ τὰς κώμας αὐτῆς
And Manasseh shall have, within Issachar and within Asher: Beth-shean and their villages, and the inhabitants of Dor and its villages, and the inhabitants of Megiddo and its villages, and the third part of Napheta and its villages.
Manasseh holds a string of Canaanite-occupied cities lying geographically within neighbouring Issachar and Asher: Beth-shean, Dor, Megiddo, Napheta (Naphath-dor) — the great fortified centres of the Jezreel-and-coast corridor. The shift to accusatives (τοὺς κατοικοῦντας) is loose, but the substantival participle 'the inhabitants' anticipates v. 12: these are precisely the populations Manasseh could not dislodge.
Word-by-word analysis· 38 words
καὶandnarrative conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
ἔσταιshall have / shall beFut Mid Indic 3 Sg · εἰμίmain verb (possession idiom: 'Manasseh shall have')→ future of settled assignment (these cities allotted to Manasseh)εἰμί (fut. ἔσται): the possession-future; 'there shall be to Manasseh' = 'Manasseh shall have' these enclave-cities within the neighbouring tribal lands.
ΜανασσηManassehdative of possession (indeclinable: 'to Manasseh')Μανασσῆ: the possessor of the listed enclave-cities, which lie inside Issachar and Asher.
ἐνwithinpreposition + dative (location)ἐν: preposition governing its complement and marking the relation specified by the clause.
ΙσσαχαρIssacharobject of ἐν (indeclinable tribal name)Ισσαχαρ: the cities lie within the territory of Issachar (Beth-shean in particular lay in the Jezreel valley region).
καὶandcoordinate conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
ἐνwithinpreposition + dative (location)ἐν: preposition governing its complement and marking the relation specified by the clause.
ΑσηρAsherobject of ἐν (indeclinable tribal name)Ασηρ: some of the enclave-cities (Dor on the coast) lie within Asher's territory.
ΒαιθσανBeth-sheansubject/appositive (indeclinable place name; first city)Βαιθσαν: transliteration of Hebrew בֵּית־שְׁאָן (Beth-shean), the great fortified city commanding the eastern end of the Jezreel valley; one of the cities Manasseh failed to take (Judg 1:27).
καὶandcoordinate conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
αἱtheNominativearticle (with κῶμαι)αἱ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
κῶμαιvillagesNominativeappositive (the dependent villages of the cities)κώμη (pl. κῶμαι): 'village / hamlet'; renders Hebrew בַּת ('daughter[-town]') in the city-list idiom 'the city and its daughter-villages'; the dependent settlements of each fortified centre.
αὐτῶνtheirGenitivegenitive of possessionαὐτῶν: pronominal form marking person, possession, or reference within the clause.
καὶandcoordinate conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
τοὺςtheAccusativearticle (with κατοικοῦντας)τοὺς: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
κατοικοῦνταςinhabitantsPres Act Part Acc Masc Pl · κατοικέωsubstantival participle (object: 'the inhabitants of Dor')→ present participle (those dwelling there: ongoing habitation)κατοικέω (pres. part. κατοικοῦντας): 'dwell / inhabit'; renders יָשַׁב; the substantival participle οἱ κατοικοῦντες ('the inhabitants') names the Canaanite populations of the cities — precisely those not driven out (v. 12).
ΔωρDorobject (indeclinable place name; city)Δωρ: transliteration of Hebrew דּוֹר (Dor), the coastal city south of Carmel ('Naphath-dor'); one of the unconquered Canaanite cities (Judg 1:27).
καὶandcoordinate conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
τὰςtheAccusativearticle (with κώμας)τὰς: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
κώμαςvillagesAccusativeobject (the dependent villages of Dor)κώμη (acc. pl. κώμας): the daughter-villages of Dor.
αὐτῆςitsGenitivegenitive of possession (feminine: 'its villages')αὐτῆς: pronominal form marking person, possession, or reference within the clause.
καὶandcoordinate conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
τοὺςtheAccusativearticle (with κατοικοῦντας)τοὺς: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
κατοικοῦνταςinhabitantsPres Act Part Acc Masc Pl · κατοικέωsubstantival participle (object: 'the inhabitants of Megiddo')→ present participle (ongoing habitation)κατοικέω (pres. part. κατοικοῦντας): the inhabitants of Megiddo, another unconquered Canaanite population.
ΜαγεδδωMegiddoobject (indeclinable place name; city)Μαγεδδω: transliteration of Hebrew מְגִדּוֹ (Megiddo), the strategic fortress controlling the pass into the Jezreel valley; another city Manasseh could not take (Judg 1:27).
καὶandcoordinate conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
τὰςtheAccusativearticle (with κώμας)τὰς: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
κώμαςvillagesAccusativeobject (the villages of Megiddo)κώμας: lexical item interpreted according to its local syntactic role in this passage.
αὐτῆςitsGenitivegenitive of possessionαὐτῆς: pronominal form marking person, possession, or reference within the clause.
καὶandcoordinate conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
τὸtheAccusativearticle (with τρίτον)τὸ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
τρίτονthird partAccusativeobject (substantivized ordinal: 'the third [part] of')τρίτος: 'third'; the substantivized neuter τὸ τρίτον = 'the third part'; the LXX here reflects a Hebrew Vorlage understood as 'the third [region/height] of' (probably נָפֶת, the 'heights of Dor'), rendering the difficult MT שְׁלֹשֶׁת הַנָּפֶת.
τῆςof theGenitivearticle (with Ναφετα)τῆς: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
Ναφεταof Naphetagenitive of relationship (indeclinable place name, with fem. article)Ναφετα: transliteration of Hebrew נָפֶת / נָפוֹת (the 'heights' of Dor, נָפַת דּוֹר); 'the third part of Napheta' renders the obscure MT phrase שְׁלֹשֶׁת הַנָּפֶת, the third region of the Dor highland.
καὶandcoordinate conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
τὰςtheAccusativearticle (with κώμας)τὰς: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
κώμαςvillagesAccusativeobject (the villages of Napheta)κώμας: lexical item interpreted according to its local syntactic role in this passage.
αὐτῆςitsGenitivegenitive of possessionαὐτῆς: pronominal form marking person, possession, or reference within the clause.
12
καὶ οὐκ ἠδυνάσθησαν οἱ υἱοὶ Μανασση ἐξολεθρεῦσαι τὰς πόλεις ταύτας καὶ ἤρχετο ὁ Χαναναῖος κατοικεῖν ἐν τῇ γῇ ταύτῃ
And the sons of Manasseh were not able to destroy these cities; and the Canaanite began to dwell in this land.
The programmatic conquest-failure note (paralleling Judg 1:27–28): Manasseh 'was not able' (οὐκ ἠδυνάσθησαν) to dispossess the great fortified cities of v. 11, and so the Canaanite 'began to dwell' (ἤρχετο … κατοικεῖν) — i.e., remained settled — in the land. This sets up the forced-labour solution of v. 13 and flags the incompleteness of Israel's possession.
Word-by-word analysis· 19 words
καὶandnarrative conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
οὐκnotnegation (with ἠδυνάσθησαν)οὐκ: function word shaping the local clause or phrase relation in this oracle.
ἠδυνάσθησανwere ableAor Pass Indic 3 Pl · δύναμαιmain verb (with complementary infinitive: 'were not able to destroy')→ constative aorist (the failure as a fact of the conquest)δύναμαι (aor. pass. ἠδυνάσθησαν): 'be able'; renders יָכֹל; the negated 'were not able' is the conquest-failure formula (cf. Judg 1:27, לֹא הוֹרִישׁ); the double-augmented form ἠδυνάσθησαν is the common LXX/Koine aorist of δύναμαι.
οἱtheNominativearticle (with υἱοί)οἱ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
υἱοὶsonsNominativesubject of ἠδυνάσθησανυἱός (nom. pl. υἱοί): the sons of Manasseh, who fail to dislodge the Canaanite cities.
Μανασσηof Manassehgenitive of relationship (indeclinable)Μανασση: function word shaping the local clause or phrase relation in this oracle.
ἐξολεθρεῦσαιto destroy utterlyAor Act Inf · ἐξολεθρεύωcomplementary infinitive (object of ἠδυνάσθησαν)→ aorist infinitive (the act of total destruction, viewed as a whole)ἐξολεθρεύω: 'destroy utterly / exterminate'; renders הוֹרִישׁ ('dispossess') / הֶחֱרִים; the strong compound (ἐξ-) denotes complete extermination — the herem-conquest ideal which Manasseh fails to carry out against these cities.
τὰςtheAccusativearticle (with πόλεις)τὰς: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
πόλειςcitiesAccusativedirect object of ἐξολεθρεῦσαιπόλις (acc. pl. πόλεις): the fortified Canaanite cities of v. 11 (Beth-shean, Dor, Megiddo, etc.) that Manasseh could not destroy.
ταύταςtheseAccusativedemonstrative adjective (with πόλεις)οὗτος (acc. fem. pl. ταύτας): 'these'; the demonstrative points back to the enumerated cities of v. 11.
καὶandnarrative conjunction (result)καὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
ἤρχετοbeganImpf Mid Indic 3 Sg · ἄρχομαιmain verb (inceptive, with complementary infinitive κατοικεῖν)→ inceptive/iterative imperfect ('began / proceeded to dwell')ἄρχομαι (impf. ἤρχετο): 'begin'; with the complementary infinitive κατοικεῖν = 'began to dwell'; the imperfect conveys the Canaanite's persistent, settled continuance in the land — they were not removed but entrenched themselves.
ὁtheNominativearticle (with Χαναναῖος)ὁ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ΧαναναῖοςCanaaniteNominativesubject of ἤρχετο (collective singular: 'the Canaanite')Χαναναῖος: 'Canaanite'; a declinable gentilic noun (cf. Αἰγύπτιος) rendering הַכְּנַעֲנִי; the collective singular 'the Canaanite' denotes the indigenous population as a whole, persisting in the unconquered cities.
κατοικεῖνto dwellPres Act Inf · κατοικέωcomplementary infinitive (object of ἤρχετο)→ present infinitive (ongoing habitation)κατοικέω (pres. inf. κατοικεῖν): 'dwell / settle'; renders יָשַׁב; the present infinitive expresses continued residence — the Canaanite goes on living in the land Israel failed to clear.
ἐνinpreposition + dative (locative)ἐν: preposition governing its complement and marking the relation specified by the clause.
τῇtheDativearticle (with γῇ)τῇ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
γῇlandDativedative of place (locative)γῆ (dat. γῇ): 'land'; the territory of the enclave-cities, where the Canaanite remained settled.
ταύτῃthisDativedemonstrative adjective (with γῇ)οὗτος (dat. fem. ταύτῃ): 'this'; deictic, pointing to the land of the unconquered cities just enumerated.
13
καὶ ἐγενήθη καὶ ἐπεὶ κατίσχυσαν οἱ υἱοὶ Ισραηλ καὶ ἐποίησαν τοὺς Χαναναίους ὑπηκόους ἐξολεθρεῦσαι δὲ αὐτοὺς οὐκ ἐξωλέθρευσαν
And it came about, when the sons of Israel grew strong, that they made the Canaanites subject; but to destroy them utterly they did not destroy them.
The forced-labour solution: once Israel grew strong (κατίσχυσαν), it subjected the Canaanites (ἐποίησαν … ὑπηκόους) but did not exterminate them. The closing clause is built on a fronted infinitive ἐξολεθρεῦσαι resumed by the cognate finite verb οὐκ ἐξωλέθρευσαν — a Hebraizing emphatic construction ('to destroy them, they did not destroy') stressing the deliberateness of the non-extermination, a key motif of the incomplete-conquest theology (cf. Judg 1:28; 2:1–3).
Word-by-word analysis· 18 words
καὶandnarrative conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
ἐγενήθηit came aboutAor Pass Indic 3 Sg · γίνομαιmain verb (narrative-framing 'it came to pass')→ constative aorist (framing the following event)γίνομαι (aor. pass. ἐγενήθη): καὶ ἐγενήθη here functions as the narrative-framing 'and it came about,' rendering וַיְהִי, introducing the temporal clause that follows.
καὶandconjunction (Hebraizing apodosis-marker after the temporal clause)καί: the second καί mirrors the Hebrew waw introducing the apodosis after a 'when'-clause (וַיְהִי כִּי … וַ-); 'and it came about, when …, that they made.'
ἐπεὶwhentemporal conjunction (introducing the 'when'-clause)ἐπεί: 'when / since'; here temporal, rendering Hebrew כִּי / כַּאֲשֶׁר; introduces the condition under which the subjugation occurred — Israel's growth in strength.
κατίσχυσανgrew strongAor Act Indic 3 Pl · κατισχύωverb of temporal clause→ ingressive aorist ('became strong / prevailed')κατισχύω: 'be strong / prevail / grow powerful'; renders חָזַק; the ingressive aorist marks Israel's coming-to-strength as the precondition for subjugating (rather than expelling) the Canaanites.
οἱtheNominativearticle (with υἱοί)οἱ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
υἱοὶsonsNominativesubject of κατίσχυσαν and ἐποίησανυἱός (nom. pl. υἱοί): 'the sons of Israel' — the nation as a whole, now strong enough to dominate the Canaanite enclaves.
Ισραηλof Israelgenitive of relationship (indeclinable)Ισραηλ: transliteration of Hebrew יִשְׂרָאֵל; here the whole people, broadening from Manasseh to all Israel in the conquest-summary.
καὶthat / andconjunction (apodosis: 'they made')καὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
ἐποίησανthey madeAor Act Indic 3 Pl · ποιέωmain verb of apodosis (double-accusative: 'made the Canaanites subject')→ constative aorist (the act of subjugation)ποιέω (aor. ἐποίησαν): 'make / do'; here in the double-accusative construction ποιεῖν τινα ὑπήκοον ('make someone subject'), rendering Hebrew שׂוּם לְמַס ('put to forced labour'); Israel reduced the Canaanites to tributary/corvée status.
τοὺςtheAccusativearticle (with Χαναναίους)τοὺς: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ΧαναναίουςCanaanitesAccusativedirect object (first accusative of the double-accusative)Χαναναῖος (acc. pl. Χαναναίους): the indigenous Canaanite population, here the object of subjugation; declinable gentilic noun.
ὑπηκόουςsubject / tributaryAccusativepredicate accusative (second accusative: 'made them subject')ὑπήκοος: 'obedient / subject / tributary'; renders Hebrew מַס ('forced labour / corvée') in the idiom שׂוּם לְמַס; the Canaanites are reduced to a subjected labour-force rather than destroyed — the forced-labour note flagged in the conquest narratives.
ἐξολεθρεῦσαιto destroy utterlyAor Act Inf · ἐξολεθρεύωfronted infinitive (Hebraizing emphatic: anticipates the cognate finite verb)→ aorist infinitive (the act of extermination, set in emphatic fronted position)ἐξολεθρεύω (aor. inf. ἐξολεθρεῦσαι): the fronted infinitive ἐξολεθρεῦσαι δὲ αὐτούς … οὐκ ἐξωλέθρευσαν renders the Hebrew emphatic infinitive-absolute construction (הוֹרֵשׁ לֹא הוֹרִישׁוֹ, 'they did not utterly drive them out'); the fronting throws stress on the verbal idea — extermination was precisely what they did NOT do.
δὲbutadversative particle (post-positive; marks the contrast)δέ: 'but'; post-positive; contrasts the subjugation just reported with the non-extermination now stated.
αὐτοὺςthemAccusativedirect object (of both the infinitive and the finite verb)αὐτός (acc. pl. αὐτούς): 'them' = the Canaanites, the object of the (non-)extermination.
οὐκnotnegation (with ἐξωλέθρευσαν)οὐκ: function word shaping the local clause or phrase relation in this oracle.
ἐξωλέθρευσανthey destroyedAor Act Indic 3 Pl · ἐξολεθρεύωmain verb (cognate finite verb resuming the fronted infinitive)→ constative aorist (the extermination that did not occur)ἐξολεθρεύω (aor. ἐξωλέθρευσαν): the finite verb completing the emphatic construction with the fronted infinitive; 'to destroy them, they did not destroy' = 'they utterly failed to exterminate them'; the augmented stem ἐξωλεθρ- is the regular aorist of the compound; the verse seals the incomplete-conquest theme.
14
ἀντεῖπαν δὲ οἱ υἱοὶ Ιωσηφ τῷ Ἰησοῦ λέγοντες διὰ τί ἐκληρονόμησας ἡμᾶς κλῆρον ἕνα καὶ σχοίνισμα ἕν ἐγὼ δὲ λαὸς πολύς εἰμι καὶ ὁ θεὸς εὐλόγησέν με
But the sons of Joseph answered back to Joshua, saying, 'Why have you given us one lot and one measuring-line as an inheritance, seeing that I am a numerous people and God has blessed me?'
The verb ἀντεῖπαν ('answered back / objected') marks the complaint as a formal counter-claim. The Joseph-tribes protest that a single lot is inadequate for so populous a group. The shift to the singular first person (ἐγὼ … λαὸς πολύς εἰμι, 'I am a numerous people') personifies the tribes as one speaker, and the appeal to divine blessing (ὁ θεὸς εὐλόγησέν με) grounds the complaint in the patriarchal promise of multiplication (Gen 48:4, 16).
Word-by-word analysis· 27 words
ἀντεῖπανanswered back / objectedAor Act Indic 3 Pl · ἀντιλέγωmain verb (speech-introducing, with adversative force)→ constative aorist (the act of objecting)ἀντιλέγω (aor. ἀντεῖπαν): 'speak against / contradict / answer back'; the ἀντι- prefix marks the speech as a remonstrance or counter-claim; the Joseph-tribes formally protest their allotment to Joshua.
δὲbutnarrative continuative / mild adversative (post-positive)δέ: post-positive; marks the new episode and the adversative posture of the Joseph-tribes' complaint.
οἱtheNominativearticle (with υἱοί)οἱ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
υἱοὶsonsNominativesubject of ἀντεῖπανυἱός (nom. pl. υἱοί): 'the sons of Joseph' = the combined tribes of Ephraim and Manasseh, lodging a joint complaint.
Ιωσηφof Josephgenitive of relationship (indeclinable)Ιωσηφ: the patriarch; 'the sons of Joseph' denotes the two Joseph-tribes acting together.
τῷtoDativearticle (with Ἰησοῦ; dative of indirect object)τῷ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ἸησοῦJoshuaDativedative indirect object (recipient of the complaint)Ἰησοῦς (dat. Ἰησοῦ): Joshua son of Nun; the dative marks him as the addressee of the Joseph-tribes' objection.
λέγοντεςsayingPres Act Part Nom Masc Pl · λέγωcircumstantial participle (introducing direct speech)→ present participle (speech accompanying the objecting)λέγω (pres. part. λέγοντες): the standard participle introducing direct discourse, rendering Hebrew לֵאמֹר.
διὰbecause ofpreposition + accusative (in the interrogative idiom διὰ τί)διά + acc.: in the fixed interrogative διὰ τί ('why / for what reason'); the Joseph-tribes demand the rationale for their single allotment.
τίwhat / whyAccusativeinterrogative pronoun (in διὰ τί: 'why')τίς, τί: interrogative pronoun; the neuter τί with διά = 'why'; introduces the rhetorical complaint.
ἐκληρονόμησαςhave you given as inheritanceAor Act Indic 2 Sg · κληρονομέωmain verb of the question (causative sense: 'cause to inherit / apportion')→ constative aorist (the completed act of allotment, here questioned)κληρονομέω (aor. 2 sg. ἐκληρονόμησας): normally 'inherit,' but here in the causative/transitive sense 'give as an inheritance / apportion' (rendering the Hiphil הִנְחִיל); 'why have you apportioned to us only one lot?' — Joshua is charged with the inadequate distribution.
ἡμᾶςusAccusativedirect object (those given the inheritance)ἐγώ (acc. pl. ἡμᾶς): 'us' — the Joseph-tribes as recipients of the allotment.
κλῆρονlotAccusativeaccusative of the thing apportioned ('one lot')κλῆρος (acc. κλῆρον): the allotted share; the complaint is that only a single κλῆρος was assigned to a doubly-numerous people.
ἕναoneAccusativenumeral adjective (with κλῆρον)εἷς, μία, ἕν (acc. masc. ἕνα): 'one'; the emphasis on 'one lot … one line' underlines the perceived inadequacy of the single allotment.
καὶandcoordinate conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
σχοίνισμαmeasuring-line / measured portionAccusativeaccusative (parallel to κλῆρον)σχοίνισμα: 'measured-off portion / allotment by measuring-cord'; near-synonym of σχοινισμός (v. 5) and κλῆρος; renders Hebrew חֶבֶל; 'one lot and one line' is a hendiadys for a single, undivided inheritance-share.
ἕνoneAccusativenumeral adjective (with σχοίνισμα)εἷς, μία, ἕν (acc. neut. ἕν): 'one'; agrees with neuter σχοίνισμα; reinforces the single-allotment complaint.
ἐγὼINominativesubject (emphatic personal pronoun; the tribes as one speaker)ἐγώ: the emphatic 'I' personifies the Joseph-tribes as a single collective speaker; the singular self-reference dramatizes the unity and magnitude of their claim.
δὲbut / andadversative particle (post-positive; 'whereas I am')δέ: post-positive; introduces the ground of the complaint — 'whereas I am a numerous people.'
λαὸςa peopleNominativepredicate nominative (with εἰμι)λαός: 'people'; here the Joseph-tribes describe themselves as a single great λαός, too numerous for one lot.
πολύςnumerous / greatNominativepredicate adjective (with λαός: 'a numerous people')πολύς: 'much / many / numerous'; renders רַב; λαὸς πολύς ('a numerous people') is the crux of the complaint and the keyword Joshua takes up in his reply (vv. 15, 17).
εἰμιI amPres Act Indic 1 Sg · εἰμίmain verb (copula of the self-description)→ stative present (present condition of the people)εἰμί (pres. 1 sg. εἰμι): the copula in the emphatic self-assertion 'I am a numerous people.'
καὶandcoordinate conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
ὁtheNominativearticle (with θεός)ὁ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
θεὸςGodNominativesubject of εὐλόγησενθεός: 'God'; the appeal to divine blessing grounds the tribes' numerical greatness in God's own act, making the complaint a claim on the covenant promise.
εὐλόγησένblessedAor Act Indic 3 Sg · εὐλογέωmain verb (the ground of the people's numerousness)→ constative aorist (the accomplished divine blessing)εὐλογέω (aor. εὐλόγησεν): 'bless'; renders בֵּרַךְ; the tribes attribute their multiplication to God's blessing (cf. Jacob's blessing of Joseph, Gen 48:16; 49:22–26), making their crowdedness a sign of divine favour rather than a problem of their own making.
μεmeAccusativedirect object (the collective 'me' = the Joseph-tribes)ἐγώ (acc. με): 'me'; the singular object continues the personification of the tribes as one blessed people.
15
καὶ εἶπεν αὐτοῖς Ἰησοῦς εἰ λαὸς πολὺς εἶ ἀνάβηθι εἰς τὸν δρυμὸν καὶ ἐκκάθαρον σεαυτῷ εἰ στενοχωρεῖ σε τὸ ὄρος τὸ Εφραιμ
And Joshua said to them, 'If you are a numerous people, go up into the forest and clear it for yourself, if the hill country of Ephraim is too cramped for you.'
Joshua answers the complaint by turning its own premise (λαὸς πολύς) into the basis for a challenge: if you really are so numerous, then act like it — go up and clear forested land for yourselves. The two aorist imperatives ἀνάβηθι … ἐκκάθαρον issue a self-help charge; the reflexive σεαυτῷ ('for yourself') throws the responsibility back on the tribes. The conditional εἰ στενοχωρεῖ frames their grievance as a problem they can solve by expansion into the wooded highland.
Word-by-word analysis· 22 words
καὶandnarrative conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
εἶπενsaidAor Act Indic 3 Sg · λέγωmain verb (speech-introduction)→ constative aorist (single speech-act)λέγω (aor. εἶπεν): introduces Joshua's reply to the Joseph-tribes.
αὐτοῖςto themDativedative indirect object (the Joseph-tribes)αὐτός (dat. pl. αὐτοῖς): 'to them' — the complaining sons of Joseph.
ἸησοῦςJoshuaNominativesubject of εἶπενἸησοῦς (nom.): Joshua son of Nun, the leader responding to the complaint.
εἰifconditional conjunction (protasis of a real condition)εἰ: 'if'; with the indicative εἶ states a real/assumed condition — 'if (as you claim) you are a numerous people'; Joshua provisionally grants their premise to press the challenge.
λαὸςa peopleNominativepredicate nominative (with εἶ)λαός: 'people'; Joshua echoes the tribes' own self-description (λαὸς πολύς, v. 14).
πολὺςnumerousNominativepredicate adjective (with λαός)πολύς: 'numerous'; the catchword from v. 14, now thrown back as the premise of Joshua's imperative.
εἶyou arePres Act Indic 2 Sg · εἰμίverb of the protasis (copula)→ stative present (the assumed condition)εἰμί (pres. 2 sg. εἶ): the singular 'you are' continues the personification of the tribes as one collective addressee.
ἀνάβηθιgo upAor Act Impv 2 Sg · ἀναβαίνωmain verb (imperative: command to ascend)→ ingressive aorist imperative (decisive command to go up)ἀναβαίνω (aor. impv. ἀνάβηθι): 'go up / ascend'; renders עָלָה; the command to 'go up into the forest' directs the tribes to the forested highland (probably the central or Transjordanian wooded hills) to be cleared for settlement.
εἰςintopreposition + accusative (direction)εἰς: preposition governing its complement and marking the relation specified by the clause.
τὸνtheAccusativearticle (with δρυμόν)τὸν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
δρυμὸνforestAccusativeaccusative object of εἰς (the wooded land to be cleared)δρυμός: 'wood / forest / thicket'; renders Hebrew יַעַר; the forested hill country that the Joseph-tribes are to clear for additional living-space; the keyword of Joshua's reply, repeated in vv. 18.
καὶandcoordinate conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
ἐκκάθαρονclear it outAor Act Impv 2 Sg · ἐκκαθαίρωmain verb (second imperative: clear the forest)→ ingressive aorist imperative (decisive command to clear)ἐκκαθαίρω (aor. impv. ἐκκάθαρον): 'clear out / cleanse thoroughly'; the ἐκ- compound denotes complete clearing — here felling the forest to open ground for cultivation and settlement; renders Hebrew בָּרָא ('clear [land]').
σεαυτῷfor yourselfDativereflexive pronoun (dative of advantage)σεαυτοῦ (dat. σεαυτῷ): reflexive 'for yourself'; the dative of advantage throws the responsibility back on the tribes — they must win the extra land by their own effort.
εἰifconditional conjunction (real condition)εἰ: 'if'; introduces the conceded grievance — 'if the hill country is indeed too cramped for you.'
στενοχωρεῖis too cramped / constrainsPres Act Indic 3 Sg · στενοχωρέωverb of the protasis (with σε as object)→ descriptive present (the present constraint)στενοχωρέω: 'confine / cramp / press for room'; from στενός ('narrow') + χώρα ('space'); 'if the mountain cramps you' = if the hill country gives you too little room; vividly conveys the overcrowding the tribes complain of.
σεyouAccusativedirect object of στενοχωρεῖσύ (acc. σε): 'you'; the singular object, continuing the collective personification.
τὸtheNominativearticle (with ὄρος)τὸ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ὄροςhill country / mountainNominativesubject of στενοχωρεῖὄρος: 'mountain / hill country'; renders Hebrew הַר; 'the mountain of Ephraim' = the central highland of Ephraim, the heartland of the Joseph-tribes, here said to be too small for them.
τὸtheNominativearticle (with Εφραιμ; attributive, defining the hill country)τὸ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
Εφραιμof Ephraimgenitive of relationship (indeclinable; 'the hill country of Ephraim')Εφραιμ: the hill country of Ephraim, the central-Palestinian highland that formed the core of Joseph's western inheritance; the article τὸ before the indeclinable name marks the appositional 'the [hill country], that of Ephraim.'
16
καὶ εἶπαν οὐκ ἀρκέσει ἡμῖν τὸ ὄρος τὸ Εφραιμ καὶ ἵππος ἐπίλεκτος καὶ σίδηρος τῷ Χαναναίῳ τῷ κατοικοῦντι ἐν αὐτῷ ἐν Βαιθσαν καὶ ἐν ταῖς κώμαις αὐτῆς ἐν τῇ κοιλάδι Ιεζραελ
And they said, 'The hill country of Ephraim will not be enough for us, and the Canaanite who dwells in it has choice cavalry and iron — in Beth-shean and in its villages, in the valley of Jezreel.'
The tribes press a double objection: the hill country will not suffice (οὐκ ἀρκέσει), and the lowland they covet is held by a militarily superior Canaanite — equipped with ἵππος ἐπίλεκτος ('choice cavalry') and σίδηρος ('iron', i.e. iron chariotry) — entrenched in Beth-shean and the fertile valley of Jezreel. The objection thus pivots from a problem of space to a problem of military power, which Joshua addresses in vv. 17–18.
Word-by-word analysis· 31 words
καὶandnarrative conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
εἶπανthey saidAor Act Indic 3 Pl · λέγωmain verb (speech-introduction)→ constative aorist (single speech-act)λέγω (aor. 3 pl. εἶπαν): the Koine/LXX alpha-aorist form (for classical εἶπον); introduces the tribes' counter-objection.
οὐκnotnegation (with ἀρκέσει)οὐκ: function word shaping the local clause or phrase relation in this oracle.
ἀρκέσειwill be enoughFut Act Indic 3 Sg · ἀρκέωmain verb (with dative ἡμῖν: 'will not suffice for us')→ predictive future (the anticipated insufficiency)ἀρκέω: 'be enough / suffice'; with the dative of the person — 'the hill country will not be sufficient for us'; the tribes reject Joshua's solution as inadequate to their numbers.
ἡμῖνfor usDativedative of advantage (with ἀρκέσει)ἐγώ (dat. pl. ἡμῖν): 'for us'; the dative with the impersonal-ish ἀρκέσει.
τὸtheNominativearticle (with ὄρος)τὸ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ὄροςhill countryNominativesubject of ἀρκέσειὄρος: 'hill country'; the highland of Ephraim, declared insufficient for the populous Joseph-tribes.
τὸtheNominativearticle (with Εφραιμ; attributive)τὸ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
Εφραιμof Ephraimgenitive of relationship (indeclinable)Εφραιμ: the hill country of Ephraim, repeated from v. 15 — the tribes concede Joshua's geography but deny its adequacy.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction (introducing the second objection)καὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
ἵπποςcavalry / horseNominativesubject of implied verb ('there is cavalry to the Canaanite')ἵππος: 'horse'; collectively 'cavalry / chariot-horse'; renders Hebrew רֶכֶב (chariotry); the Canaanite's mounted/charioted force is the military obstacle to taking the lowland.
ἐπίλεκτοςchoice / selectNominativeattributive adjective (with ἵππος: 'choice cavalry')ἐπίλεκτος: 'picked / choice / elite'; from ἐπιλέγω ('select'); 'choice cavalry' stresses the quality of the Canaanite military advantage.
καὶandcoordinate conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
σίδηροςironNominativesubject of implied verb (parallel to ἵππος)σίδηρος: 'iron'; renders Hebrew בַּרְזֶל; here metonymic for the iron-fitted war-chariots of the Canaanites (the 'chariots of iron' of Judg 1:19; 4:3), the technological edge the tribes fear.
τῷto theDativearticle (with Χαναναίῳ; dative of possession)τῷ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ΧαναναίῳCanaaniteDativedative of possession ('the Canaanite has')Χαναναῖος (dat. Χαναναίῳ): the indigenous Canaanite of the lowland; the dative of possession — cavalry and iron 'belong to the Canaanite' = he possesses them.
τῷtheDativearticle (with κατοικοῦντι)τῷ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
κατοικοῦντιdwellingPres Act Part Dat Masc Sg · κατοικέωattributive participle (modifying Χαναναίῳ: 'who dwells in it')→ present participle (ongoing habitation)κατοικέω (pres. part. dat. κατοικοῦντι): 'dwelling'; the attributive participle specifies the Canaanite as the one settled in the lowland region the tribes covet.
ἐνinpreposition + dative (locative)ἐν: preposition governing its complement and marking the relation specified by the clause.
αὐτῷitDativeobject of ἐν (referring to the land/region)αὐτός (dat. αὐτῷ): 'in it' — in the land/lowland where the Canaanite dwells.
ἐνinpreposition + dative (locative, specifying)ἐν: preposition governing its complement and marking the relation specified by the clause.
ΒαιθσανBeth-sheanobject of ἐν (indeclinable place name)Βαιθσαν: Beth-shean (cf. v. 11), the fortified city at the junction of the Jordan and Jezreel valleys, a stronghold of Canaanite chariotry.
καὶandcoordinate conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
ἐνinpreposition + dative (locative)ἐν: preposition governing its complement and marking the relation specified by the clause.
ταῖςtheDativearticle (with κώμαις)ταῖς: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
κώμαιςvillagesDativeobject of ἐν (the dependent villages of Beth-shean)κώμη (dat. pl. κώμαις): the daughter-villages of Beth-shean, part of the Canaanite-held lowland.
αὐτῆςitsGenitivegenitive of possessionαὐτῆς: pronominal form marking person, possession, or reference within the clause.
ἐνinpreposition + dative (locative)ἐν: preposition governing its complement and marking the relation specified by the clause.
τῇtheDativearticle (with κοιλάδι)τῇ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
κοιλάδιvalleyDativeobject of ἐν ('in the valley of Jezreel')κοιλάς (dat. κοιλάδι): 'valley / hollow / plain'; renders Hebrew עֵמֶק; the broad fertile valley where chariotry could be deployed — precisely the terrain favouring the Canaanite's military advantage.
Ιεζραελof Jezreelgenitive of relationship (indeclinable place name; 'valley of Jezreel')Ιεζραελ: transliteration of Hebrew יִזְרְעֶאל (Jezreel); the great fertile valley dividing Galilee from the central highlands, the classic arena of chariot-warfare (cf. Judg 4–5; Hos 1:5).
17
καὶ εἶπεν Ἰησοῦς τοῖς υἱοῖς Ιωσηφ εἰ λαὸς πολὺς εἶ καὶ ἰσχὺν μεγάλην ἔχεις οὐκ ἔσται σοι κλῆρος εἷς
And Joshua said to the sons of Joseph, 'If you are a numerous people and have great strength, there shall not be for you only one lot.'
Joshua answers again, now conceding the tribes' claim in order to enlarge the challenge: if you are both numerous AND strong (λαὸς πολύς … ἰσχὺν μεγάλην), then you shall not be confined to one lot. The statement οὐκ ἔσται σοι κλῆρος εἷς both affirms their entitlement to more land and obligates them to win it — the additional territory is the forest of v. 18, to be taken by their own strength.
Word-by-word analysis· 19 words
καὶandnarrative conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
εἶπενsaidAor Act Indic 3 Sg · λέγωmain verb (speech-introduction)→ constative aorist (single speech-act)λέγω (aor. εἶπεν): introduces Joshua's renewed reply to the Joseph-tribes.
ἸησοῦςJoshuaNominativesubject of εἶπενἸησοῦς (nom.): Joshua son of Nun.
τοῖςto theDativearticle (with υἱοῖς)τοῖς: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
υἱοῖςsonsDativedative indirect object (the Joseph-tribes)υἱός (dat. pl. υἱοῖς): 'to the sons of Joseph' — the addressees of Joshua's second reply.
Ιωσηφof Josephgenitive of relationship (indeclinable)Ιωσηφ: function word shaping the local clause or phrase relation in this oracle.
εἰifconditional conjunction (real condition)εἰ: 'if'; with the indicative, granting the tribes' claim as the premise of the promise that follows.
λαὸςa peopleNominativepredicate nominative (with εἶ)λαός: 'people'; Joshua again takes up the tribes' self-description, λαὸς πολύς.
πολὺςnumerousNominativepredicate adjective (with λαός)πολύς: 'numerous'; the recurring catchword of the complaint and reply.
εἶyou arePres Act Indic 2 Sg · εἰμίverb of the protasis (copula)→ stative present (assumed condition)εἰμί (pres. 2 sg. εἶ): the singular 'you are,' continuing the collective personification of the tribes.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction (adding the second condition)καὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
ἰσχὺνstrengthAccusativedirect object of ἔχειςἰσχύς (acc. ἰσχύν): 'strength / might'; renders Hebrew כֹּחַ / חַיִל; Joshua adds 'great strength' to the premise — both numbers and power — turning the tribes' fear of the Canaanite into an argument for action.
μεγάληνgreatAccusativeattributive adjective (with ἰσχύν)μέγας (acc. fem. μεγάλην): 'great'; 'great strength' — the resource by which the tribes are to gain additional land.
ἔχειςyou havePres Act Indic 2 Sg · ἔχωverb of the protasis (second condition)→ stative present (present possession)ἔχω (pres. 2 sg. ἔχεις): 'have / hold'; the singular continues the personification; 'you have great strength' is the premise Joshua presses to obligate the tribes to act.
οὐκnotnegation (with ἔσται)οὐκ: function word shaping the local clause or phrase relation in this oracle.
ἔσταιthere shall beFut Mid Indic 3 Sg · εἰμίmain verb of apodosis (with dative σοι: 'there shall be to you')→ predictive future (the promised enlargement)εἰμί (fut. ἔσται): 'there shall be'; with the dative of possession σοι — 'you shall not have only one lot,' i.e. you are entitled to (and must take) more than the single allotment.
σοιfor youDativedative of possession (with ἔσται)σύ (dat. σοι): 'to/for you'; the dative of possession; the singular maintains the personification of the tribes.
κλῆροςa lotNominativesubject of ἔσταικλῆρος: 'lot / allotted portion'; the keyword of the dispute; Joshua promises that the tribes' inheritance will not be limited to a single κλῆρος.
εἷςone / only oneNominativenumeral adjective (with κλῆρος: 'one lot')εἷς, μία, ἕν (nom. masc. εἷς): 'one'; 'not one lot [only]' answers the complaint of v. 14 (κλῆρον ἕνα) — the tribes will have more, but they must clear and conquer it.
18
ὁ γὰρ δρυμὸς ἔσται σοι ὅτι δρυμός ἐστιν καὶ ἐκκαθαριεῖς αὐτὸν καὶ ἔσται σοι καὶ ὅταν ἐξολεθρεύσῃς τὸν Χαναναῖον ὅτι ἵππος ἐπίλεκτός ἐστιν αὐτῷ σὺ γὰρ ὑπερισχύεις αὐτοῦ
For the forest shall be yours, since it is a forest, and you shall clear it, and it shall be yours even to its farthest limits; for you shall drive out the Canaanite, although he has choice cavalry — for you are stronger than he.
Joshua's final word grounds (γάρ) the promise of v. 17: the forest itself will become their possession once they clear it (ἐκκαθαριεῖς), and they will dispossess the Canaanite despite his iron chariotry, 'for you are stronger than he' (σὺ γὰρ ὑπερισχύεις αὐτοῦ). The verb ὑπερισχύω ('be superior in strength') is the chapter's decisive theological note: Israel's numerical/divine blessing translates into real superiority over the technologically advantaged enemy — provided they act. The chapter ends on a charge to faith-driven conquest, not on a record of its accomplishment.
Word-by-word analysis· 28 words
ὁtheNominativearticle (with δρυμός)ὁ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
γὰρforexplanatory particle (post-positive; grounds v. 17's promise)γάρ: 'for'; post-positive; grounds the promise of more than one lot — the additional land is precisely the forest, which becomes theirs by clearing.
δρυμὸςforestNominativesubject of ἔσταιδρυμός: 'forest / wood'; the wooded highland of v. 15; Joshua now declares it will become the tribes' possession.
ἔσταιshall beFut Mid Indic 3 Sg · εἰμίmain verb (with dative σοι: 'shall be yours')→ predictive future (the promised possession)εἰμί (fut. ἔσται): 'shall be (yours)'; the future-of-possession promising the forest as the tribes' enlarged inheritance.
σοιyours / for youDativedative of possessionσύ (dat. σοι): 'to/for you'; the singular continues the personification of the tribes as one addressee.
ὅτιsince / becausecausal conjunctionὅτι: 'because / since'; 'since it is a forest' — its forested (hence clearable, unsettled) character is the reason it can become available land for the tribes.
δρυμόςa forestNominativepredicate nominative (with ἐστιν)δρυμός: 'forest'; the repetition (ὁ δρυμὸς … δρυμός ἐστιν) emphasizes that the land is wooded — not yet cleared or held, therefore open to the tribes' enterprise.
ἐστινisPres Act Indic 3 Sg · εἰμίverb of causal clause (copula)→ stative present (the land's present condition)εἰμί (pres. ἐστιν): the copula in the causal clause, 'since it is (a) forest.'
καὶandcoordinate conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
ἐκκαθαριεῖςyou shall clear itFut Act Indic 2 Sg · ἐκκαθαίρωmain verb (future of command/assurance)→ predictive future with imperatival force (you shall / are to clear)ἐκκαθαίρω (fut. 2 sg. ἐκκαθαριεῖς): 'clear out thoroughly'; resumes the imperative ἐκκάθαρον of v. 15 as a future of assurance — the tribes both will and must clear the forest to make it their own.
αὐτὸνitAccusativedirect object of ἐκκαθαριεῖς (the forest)αὐτός (acc. αὐτόν): 'it' = the forest (masc. δρυμός), the object of the clearing.
καὶandcoordinate conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
ἔσταιit shall beFut Mid Indic 3 Sg · εἰμίmain verb (with σοι: 'it shall be yours')→ predictive future (confirmed possession after clearing)εἰμί (fut. ἔσται): 'it shall be (yours)'; reaffirms the possession once the labour of clearing is done — the land is earned, then held.
σοιyoursDativedative of possessionσύ (dat. σοι): 'to/for you'; possession of the cleared forest.
καὶeven / alsoadverbial/intensive conjunction ('even to its limits')καί: here adverbial/intensive, extending the possession — 'and (it shall be yours) even when / to the extent that you drive out the Canaanite'; the LXX phrasing renders the MT's 'its farthest borders' (תֹּצְאֹתָיו) loosely.
ὅτανwhentemporal conjunction (+ subjunctive; indefinite-future condition)ὅταν: 'when(ever)'; with the aorist subjunctive ἐξολεθρεύσῃς it frames the dispossession of the Canaanite as the certain-but-future condition under which full possession is realized.
ἐξολεθρεύσῃςyou drive out / destroyAor Act Subj 2 Sg · ἐξολεθρεύωverb of temporal clause (subjunctive with ὅταν)→ aorist subjunctive (the anticipated decisive dispossession)ἐξολεθρεύω (aor. subj. ἐξολεθρεύσῃς): 'destroy utterly / dispossess'; the same strong verb as vv. 12–13, but now turned positive and predictive — what Manasseh failed to do, the Joseph-tribes are charged to accomplish; the aorist subjunctive presents the extermination as the achievable goal of the conquest.
τὸνtheAccusativearticle (with Χαναναῖον)τὸν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ΧαναναῖονCanaaniteAccusativedirect object of ἐξολεθρεύσῃςΧαναναῖος (acc. Χαναναῖον): the indigenous Canaanite, here the object to be dispossessed; the collective singular for the lowland population with their chariotry.
ὅτιalthough / forconjunction (concessive-causal: 'although / even though')ὅτι: 'because / although'; here with concessive nuance — 'even though he has choice cavalry' — acknowledging the Canaanite's military advantage only to override it with the final γάρ-clause.
ἵπποςcavalry / horseNominativesubject of ἐστιν (with dative αὐτῷ of possession)ἵππος: 'horse / cavalry / chariotry'; the Canaanite's mounted force, conceded as real but declared no obstacle to the stronger tribes.
ἐπίλεκτόςchoice / selectNominativeattributive adjective (with ἵππος)ἐπίλεκτος: 'picked / choice / elite'; the quality of the Canaanite cavalry, echoing the tribes' own objection in v. 16.
ἐστινis / there isPres Act Indic 3 Sg · εἰμίverb of concessive clause (with dative of possession αὐτῷ)→ stative present (the Canaanite's present possession)εἰμί (pres. ἐστιν): 'is / there is (to him)'; with the dative αὐτῷ = 'he has choice cavalry'; the possession-idiom.
αὐτῷto him / he hasDativedative of possession (with ἐστιν: 'he has')αὐτός (dat. αὐτῷ): 'to him'; the dative of possession — the choice cavalry belongs to the Canaanite.
σὺyouNominativesubject of ὑπερισχύεις (emphatic pronoun)σύ: the emphatic 'you' (the Joseph-tribes) set in contrast to the Canaanite (αὐτοῦ); the pronoun underscores the reversal — for all his cavalry, you are the stronger.
γὰρforexplanatory particle (post-positive; the clinching ground)γάρ: 'for'; post-positive; introduces the decisive reason the Canaanite's advantage is irrelevant — Israel's superior strength.
ὑπερισχύειςyou are stronger / prevail overPres Act Indic 2 Sg · ὑπερισχύωmain verb (clinching assertion, with genitive of comparison αὐτοῦ)→ gnomic/assured present (the settled fact of superiority)ὑπερισχύω: 'be superior in strength / prevail over / overpower'; the ὑπερ- compound intensifies ἰσχύω; with the genitive αὐτοῦ ('than he') it asserts Israel's decisive superiority over the Canaanite despite his chariotry — the theological climax of the chapter: divine blessing (v. 14) and great strength (v. 17) guarantee victory, if the tribes will act.
αὐτοῦthan heGenitivegenitive of comparison (with ὑπερισχύεις)αὐτός (gen. αὐτοῦ): 'than him'; the genitive of comparison governed by ὑπερισχύω — 'you are stronger than he,' the assurance on which the whole charge to conquest rests.