Joshua 17:1-18 - Sutcliffe's Commentary on the Old and New Testaments

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Joshua 17:14. Why hast thou given me but one lot? Joshua added mount Ephraim: though it was a military country, and though the Canaanites had chariots of iron; yet with the help of Ephraim, they must be driven out. Whereas the Ephraimites made a covenant with them, and took their tribute. Joshua seems to have his greatest difficulties in adjusting the lots of the two half tribes.

REFLECTIONS.

We here find Machir rewarded for his valour, as Caleb had been for his faith. A choice lot in Gilead and Bashan fell to his enjoyment: and if God is not wanting to reward the faith and virtues of men, it is wise in the civil government to reward heroic and virtuous actions. Rewards so conferred elevate the national character, and very much contribute to the safety of the state, by exciting confidence in the government, and emulation among equals.

The complaints which Manasseh here brings, are not founded on the want of land, for God's lot could not be unfair, but on the mountains being covered with woods, and the plains inhabited by the Canaanites, whom they could not drive out. And why could they not drive them out? Because alas, they had giants, and because they had chariots armed with scythes. Terrors which had affrighted their fathers at Kadesh-barnea. And why, it is farther asked, could they not drive them out? Was it for the want of men? Nay, for this tribe had eighty five thousand able to go forth to war. They had the fine example of Caleb to encourage them, who had expelled the enemy, and destroyed the giants in his lot; they had all the promises in common with Israel. But in vain does God work miracles, in vain does he load a people with privileges, if they do not help themselves by improving his grace.

Did Joshua, the hero of his people, admit the propriety of pleas founded on fear? Quite the contrary: he commanded them to relieve themselves by industry and valour, to clear the woods with the axe, and the plains with the sword. He would allow of no pleas drawn from the giants, and from the chariots of iron. Let us hence learn to supply our temporal wants by the blessing of God crowning our industry, and all our spiritual wants by pleading the promises, and by so fighting against our spiritual foes as not to be afraid of any adversary. Complaints originating in cowardice and sloth will find no redress with God.

Related Commentaries of Joshua 17:1

Joshua 17:1-18

1 There was also a lot for the tribe of Manasseh; for he was the firstborn of Joseph; to wit, for Machir the firstborn of Manasseh, the father of Gilead: because he was a man of war, therefore he had Gilead and Bashan.

2 There was also a lot for the rest of the children of Manasseh by their families; for the children of Abiezer,a and for the children of Helek, and for the children of Asriel, and for the children of Shechem, and for the children of Hepher, and for the children of Shemida: these were the male children of Manasseh the son of Joseph by their families.

3 But Zelophehad, the son of Hepher, the son of Gilead, the son of Machir, the son of Manasseh, had no sons, but daughters: and these are the names of his daughters, Mahlah, and Noah, Hoglah, Milcah, and Tirzah.

4 And they came near before Eleazar the priest, and before Joshua the son of Nun, and before the princes, saying, The LORD commanded Moses to give us an inheritance among our brethren. Therefore according to the commandment of the LORD he gave them an inheritance among the brethren of their father.

5 And there fell ten portions to Manasseh, beside the land of Gilead and Bashan, which were on the other side Jordan;

6 Because the daughters of Manasseh had an inheritance among his sons: and the rest of Manasseh's sons had the land of Gilead.

7 And the coast of Manasseh was from Asher to Michmethah, that lieth before Shechem; and the border went along on the right hand unto the inhabitants of Entappuah.

8 Now Manasseh had the land of Tappuah: but Tappuah on the border of Manasseh belonged to the children of Ephraim;

9 And the coast descended unto the river Kanah,b southward of the river: these cities of Ephraim are among the cities of Manasseh: the coast of Manasseh also was on the north side of the river, and the outgoings of it were at the sea:

10 Southward it was Ephraim's, and northward it was Manasseh's, and the sea is his border; and they met together in Asher on the north, and in Issachar on the east.

11 And Manasseh had in Issachar and in Asher Bethshean and her towns, and Ibleam and her towns, and the inhabitants of Dor and her towns, and the inhabitants of Endor and her towns, and the inhabitants of Taanach and her towns, and the inhabitants of Megiddo and her towns, even three countries.

12 Yet the children of Manasseh could not drive out the inhabitants of those cities; but the Canaanites would dwell in that land.

13 Yet it came to pass, when the children of Israel were waxen strong, that they put the Canaanites to tribute; but did not utterly drive them out.

14 And the children of Joseph spake unto Joshua, saying, Why hast thou given me but one lot and one portion to inherit, seeing I am a great people, forasmuch as the LORD hath blessed me hitherto?

15 And Joshua answered them, If thou be a great people, then get thee up to the wood country, and cut down for thyself there in the land of the Perizzites and of the giants,c if mount Ephraim be too narrow for thee.

16 And the children of Joseph said, The hill is not enough for us: and all the Canaanites that dwell in the land of the valley have chariots of iron, both they who are of Bethshean and her towns, and they who are of the valley of Jezreel.

17 And Joshua spake unto the house of Joseph, even to Ephraim and to Manasseh, saying, Thou art a great people, and hast great power: thou shalt not have one lot only:

18 But the mountain shall be thine; for it is a wood, and thou shalt cut it down: and the outgoings of it shall be thine: for thou shalt drive out the Canaanites, though they have iron chariots, and though they be strong.