12 Yet the Manassites were not able to occupy these towns, for the Canaanites were determined to live in that region.
12 Yet the children of Manasseh could not drive out the inhabitants of those cities; but the Canaanites would dwell in that land.
12 Yet the people of Manasseh could not take possession of those cities, but the Canaanites persisted in dwelling in that land.
12 The people of Manasseh never were able to take over these towns - the Canaanites wouldn't budge.
12 Yet the children of Manasseh could not drive out the inhabitants of those cities, but the Canaanites were determined to dwell in that land.
12 But the descendants of Manasseh were unable to occupy these towns because the Canaanites were determined to stay in that region.
Matthew Henry's Commentary on Joshua 17:12
Commentary on Joshua 17:7-13
(Read Joshua 17:7-13)
There was great communication between Manasseh and Ephraim. Though each tribe had its inheritance, yet they should intermix one with another, to do good offices one to another, as became those, who, though of different tribes, were all one Israel, and were bound to love as brethren. But they suffered the Canaanites to live among them, against the command of God, to serve their own ends.