When several tribes do not drive out the remaining hostile inhabitants of the land, Joshua's plans to divide the land among the Israelite tribes starts to go awry. We saw this happen to Judah (Joshua 15:63), and we see it happen again to Ephraim and West Manasseh (16:10; 17:12-13, 16)–descendants of the mighty patriarch Joseph.

Joshua is happy to talk to the five women of faith–Zelophehad's daughters Mahlah, Noah, Hoglah, Milkah, and Tirzah–who clearly and compellingly cite the promise Moses gave them (17:4, see Numbers 27:1-11; 36:1-12). Some of the men may have baulked at assigning family lands to women, as traditionally, only sons inherited land from their fathers. Joshua may have felt pressured by them, but nevertheless, he appears glad to obey the Lord and implement an important legal precedent (Joshua 17:4). Women in that patriarchal society had limited rights, but now, they had one more.

In contrast, Joshua is not ready to entertain the leaders of Ephraim and West Manasseh, who bicker and complain about the size of their allotment (v. 14). When they complain that it is too small for their large population, Joshua challenges them to clear the trees and settle in the forested hill country (v. 15). But this is not what they want to hear. They insist that the hill country is not sufficient for them, and that the Canaanites in the region possess iron chariots (v. 16). Again, Joshua reminds his fellow tribesmen that they are numerous and powerful, and therefore fully capable of expanding their territory by clearing the hill country and driving out the enemy Canaanites (vv. 17-18).

If only they would exhibit courageous faith!