Joshua 17:13 (KJV)

What does Joshua 17:13 mean?

Joshua 17:13 describes how, once the Israelites became strong enough, they forced the Canaanites to pay tribute but did not completely drive them out of the land. The verse shows that the Israelites chose to make the Canaanites serve them rather than remove them entirely as earlier commanded.

This verse is part of the account of how the tribes of Israel settled in the land of Canaan after their conquest under Joshua’s leadership. The focus here is on the tribe of Manasseh and their dealings with the Canaanites living in their allotted territory. Instead of fully removing the Canaanites, as God had instructed earlier, the Israelites allowed them to remain as subjects who paid taxes or performed forced labor.

The Hebrew behind Joshua 17:13

• "Strong" (חָזַק, chazaq) means to become powerful or firm. The verse points out that the Israelites only imposed tribute after they felt secure and able, not before.
• "Put" (נָתַן, natan) here carries the sense of assigning or imposing something, in this case, the tribute or forced labor on the Canaanites.
• "Tribute" (מַס, mas) refers to a tax, levy, or forced labor. This shows the Israelites chose economic benefit over full obedience to the earlier command to remove the Canaanites.
• "Utterly drive... out" (יָרַשׁ, yarash) is often used for taking possession or dispossessing others from land. The verse highlights that the Israelites did not fully carry out this action, leaving the Canaanites in place.

Why Joshua 17:13 matters

• Joshua 17:13 clarifies that the Israelites did not fully obey the command to remove the Canaanites, which becomes a recurring issue in the book of Judges and later history.
• The verse shows a shift from total conquest to practical compromise, revealing the Israelites’ priorities and the challenges of settling the land.
• Understanding this verse helps explain later problems with idolatry and conflict, as the remaining Canaanite presence influenced Israel in the generations that followed.