Biblical Hebrew Forum

["Dr. Joe Sprinkle (office)" <jsprinkl AT tfc.edu>]

JOS 17:11 Within Issachar and Asher, Manasseh also had Beth Shan, Ibleam and 
the people of Dor, Endor, Taanach and Megiddo, together with their 
surrounding settlements (the third in the list is Naphoth).JOS 17:12 Yet the 
Manassites were not able to occupy these towns, for the Canaanites were 
determined to live in that region. 

I have a question about this verse.  How is it that Manasseh has territory 
"within" (preposition Be) the territory of Issachar and Asher?  It seems 
strange language. I would have expected it to be within Manasseh's territory. 
 Asher's territory is NW, north of Carmel along the coast. Anyone with a more 
elegant solution?

Joe Sprinkle