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Commentary Index | Return to PrayerRequest.com | DownloadPaul Kretzmann Commentary - Joshua 17:14 - 17:18
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Joshua's Advice to the Children of Joseph
v. 14. And the children of Joseph, the tribes of Ephraim and Manasseh, spake unto Joshua, saying, Why hast thou given me but one lot and one portion to inherit, for the two tribes had been treated as one in the division of the land west of Jordan, seeing I am a great people, forasmuch as the Lord hath blessed me hitherto? So great had been Jehovah's blessing, that is their contention, up to this time, that they had become a numerous people and needed more room. But their objection was not well taken, for not only were the two tribes together less numerous than either Judah or Dan, but the territory assigned to them was also immensely fertile, the plateaus and valleys of this section of Canaan being unsurpassed in this respect.
v. 15. And Joshua answered them, in a well-deserved reproof, If thou be a great people, then get thee up to the wood country, the wooded range of hills, either to the northeast toward Mount Gilboa, or to the northwest toward Mount Carmel, and cut down for thyself there, clear the forest, in the land of the Perizzites and of the giants, of the Rephaim, who were still in possession of that country, if Mount Ephraim be too narrow for thee. If they would but drive out the heathen who still occupied parts of the territory allotted to them, especially the Plain of Jezreel, or Esdraelon, in the north, they would have room enough.
v. 16. And the children of Joseph said, The hill, Mount Ephraim with its tributary ranges, is not enough for us; and all the Canaanites that dwell in the land of the valley have chariots of iron, built of wood, but covered with iron, and with heavy iron tires, both they who are of Beth-shean and her towns, and they who are of the Valley of Jezreel. Here the real reason for the request appears, namely, the unwillingness to undertake the conflict, although Jehovah had promised His assistance.
v. 17. And Joshua spake unto the house of Joseph, denying their request, even to Ephraim and to Manasseh, saying, Thou art a great people and hast great power; thou shall not have one lot only;
v. 18. but the mountain shall be thine, by clearing the forested highlands throughout the territory allotted to them they would, as it were, obtain a second lot or portion; for it is a wood, and thou shall cut it down; and the outgoings of it shall be thine, the fields and plains adjoining the forests; for thou shall drive out the Canaanites, though they have iron chariots, and though they be strong. He wanted to direct their thoughts to the promise of God's assistance and encourage them in the task assigned to them. He who desired the blessings of the Promised Land did not dare to give up the battle. He who refuses to fight on the Lord's side virtually surrenders to the enemy and loses the eternal blessings.