יהושע, פרק י״ז, פסוק י״ד

The process of dividing the land of Israel exposed complex gaps between the pre-established boundaries and the natural population growth of the tribes. This tension reached a peak when the descendants of Joseph approached Joshua with a grievance. Commentators differ on exactly who stood behind this complaint. Some suggest that both the tribes of Ephraim and Manasseh protested together [מצודת דוד]. However, the primary approach among commentators is that the grievance originated mainly from the tribe of Manasseh. This is rooted in the demographic shifts that occurred since the Exodus: while Ephraim’s population had decreased during the years in the desert, the descendants of Manasseh had multiplied significantly [רש״י, רד״ק]. A middle approach harmonizes these views, proposing that both tribes approached Joshua in brotherly solidarity, but the actual speaker was the half-tribe of Manasseh, which explains why the grievance was voiced as a singular individual [אברבנאל].

At the heart of their frustration was the fact that they received a single, shared allocation of land. They felt they were given a meager and limited territory, treated as though they were merely one small tribe [מצודת דוד, רלב״ג]. The lands of Ephraim and Manasseh had been drawn together as one continuous block, with no defined borders separating them [מלבי״ם, ביאור שטיינזלץ]. The underlying issue stemmed from the method of distribution, which divided the land into twelve equal portions based on the population that originally left Egypt. Because Manasseh’s ancestors were few at the time of the Exodus, their allotted area was small, entirely disproportionate to the massive nation they had since become [רד״ק]. Furthermore, they argued that the initial lottery was only meant to determine the geographic location of the territory. They believed Joshua retained the authority to expand the actual size of the land to accommodate their current numbers, leading them to expect a double portion [מלבי״ם].

The unique terminology used to describe their allocation further highlights their plight. Some interpret the specific term for their land as a measuring line, indicating a direct complaint about the physical smallness of the area. Conversely, others connect the term to pain and sorrow, expressing the deep distress they felt over the severe overcrowding in their territory [אברבנאל]. To solidify their demand for more space, the descendants of Joseph pointed to the divine blessing they had received. They argued that their current numbers were an undeniable, visible reality of God's favor, urging Joshua to simply look at how greatly they had multiplied [מצודת דוד, מצודת ציון, רש״י]. Others view this population boom as a miraculous, supernatural multiplication [אברבנאל], representing the direct fulfillment of God's ancient promise to Abraham and Jacob’s specific blessing to Joseph [רש״י, רלב״ג].

Despite acknowledging the justice of their claim, Joshua was unable to alter the territorial lines, as they had been strictly determined by God through the lottery and the Urim and Thummim. Instead, he offered a practical solution that required them to take initiative within their existing borders. He urged them to harness their immense manpower to clear the thick forests in the mountainous regions, thereby creating new land for settlement. Furthermore, he advised them to use these mountains as a strategic stronghold to wage war against the Canaanites in the valleys, ultimately driving them out and securing the space they so desperately needed [רד״ק, רלב״ג, אברבנאל].