Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Joshua 17:17
And Joshua spoke 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]:
17. And Joshua spake ] The reply of the descendants of Joseph betrayed a spirit of discontent mingled with cowardice and unbelief. Joshua therefore contents himself, “with no less wisdom than patriotism,” by telling them that what more they won must be by their own exertions.
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
Thou shalt not have one lot only – i. e. by dispossessing the Canaanites, thou shalt double the portion of land at thy disposal. The but with which the King James Version begins Jos 17:18 should be for.
Fuente: Albert Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
Thou needest and deservest more than that lot, of which thou art actually possessed, and thou hast power to get more; which if thou endeavourest to do, God will bless thee, and give thee more.
Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole
14-18. the children of Joseph spakeunto JoshuaThe two tribes join in laying a complaint beforethe leader, as to the narrow boundaries of their allotment and itsinsufficiency to be the residence of tribes so vastly increased. ButJoshua’s answer was full of wisdom as well as patriotism. Knowingtheir character, he treated them accordingly, and sarcasticallyturned all their arguments against themselves. Thus he rebuked theirunbelief and cowardice.
Fuente: Jamieson, Fausset and Brown’s Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
And Joshua spake unto the house of Joseph, [even] to Ephraim and to Manasseh,…. From whence it is clear that some of both were present; and they being brethren, and their interests united, and their cities intermixed, it would be to their mutual advantage to have an enlargement; which the tribe of Manasseh wanted more especially, more of their cities that fell to their lot being in the hands of the Canaanites, than of any other:
saying, thou [art] a great people, and hast great power; were very numerous, and so able to contend with the Canaanites, and make themselves more room:
thou shalt not have one lot [only]; or only have what they were possessed of, but should have more; and, as they wanted more, they were able enough to get more; and if they exerted their power, relying on the providence of God, through his blessing on their endeavours, they would certainly have an increase of their portion.
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
17. Joshua spake The old hero still remains firm, and continues to answer only by yet more stinging irony.
Thou shalt not have one lot only Thy unconquered territory even in the mountains shall be another lot, if only thou art a great people enough to take it.
Fuente: Whedon’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
‘ And Joshua spoke to the house of Joseph, even to Ephraim and to Manasseh, saying, “You are a great people, and have great power, you shall not have one lot only, but the hill country will be yours, for though it is a forest you will cut it down and its goings out will be yours, for you will drive out the Canaanites although they have iron chariots, and although they are strong.’
Joshua then made a prophetic declaration. He first gave them a feeling of their great power and importance. Let them cease their fear and as a large people look to YHWH Whose power they could enjoy. Then he forecast that they would indeed cut down a forest to make way for themselves among the mountains and would eventually defeat the Canaanites with their iron chariots. Certainly later Megiddo and Taanach did become available to their control.
“You shall not have one lot only.” This did not meant that they would receive a second lot but that they could make for themselves a second lot by utilising what had been seen as unusable land.
“Its goings out shall be yours.” They would not be confined to the hill country but through victories over the Canaanites would be able to go out into the plains. They were thus to have faith in YHWH and go forward.
“Even to Ephraim and to Manasseh.” Note the change of order from Jos 16:4. What followed Jos 16:4 had in fact put Ephraim first. As with the blessing of Jacob the position of the sons was transposed. This would later be the established order.
So all these words were included in the narrative as an encouragement for God’s people to take the initiative and make opportunities were they do not seem to exist, and not to sit around moaning but to go forward in faith. Then all will open up to them, even what seems unachievable.
It is a reminder to us that lack of opportunity often arises from our unwillingness to look around and see what is available. We want to have it easily, without effort. Thus we miss the opportunities that are there.
Fuente: Commentary Series on the Bible by Peter Pett
Ver. 17, 18. And Joshua spake, &c. Joshua replies to the solicitations of the children of Joseph, by repeating, that it is not his intention that they should have but one lot, as if they were but one single tribe: nor that they should dwell pent up in a portion too much confined; but that he chose they should make use of their arms, for extending their habitations, and possessing more than the lot which had fallen to them. “Use your strength,” he means to tell them; “shew a courage suited to your numbers: go, master the mountains which confine you; cut down the woods, make ye openings for going still further into all the adjacent valleys; and remember, that so long as you make not yourselves unworthy of the Divine assistance, neither the Canaanites, nor their formidable chariots, ought in the least to intimidate you: if God be for you, all shall bend before you.” Thus, equally firm, just, and impartial, Joshua sends back the children of Joseph, uninfluenced by their objections, and unshaken by their complaints. The mountain here mentioned was, in all probability, mount Gilboa, which stood north of Manasseh, and reached from the country about Kishon, as far as to Beth-shean. See Calmet.
Fuente: Commentary on the Holy Bible by Thomas Coke
Jos 17:17 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]:
Ver. 17. Thou art a great people, and hast great power. ] And therefore it were a shame for thee to want room, to despair of victory, having God’s promise for thine encouragement, and being so well able to deal with the enemy: , said she to her son, when she gave him a shield, and sent him forth to the battle: Either bring this back with thee, or be thou brought back dead upon it. Either vanquish or die, said the Black Prince’s father to him at the battle of Cressy, where he was in great distress. So saith Joshua here to his contribules: If you want room, cut your way through a wood of men, through a forest of wood; cast not perils, but venture and prosper.
“ “Audaces Deus ipse iuvat. ”
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
Thou art a great: Jos 17:14
Reciprocal: Gen 48:16 – a multitude
Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
Jos 17:17. Thou art a great people, and hast great power Joshua was not moved from his resolution by their objections, but told them, that by their own confession they were very numerous, and consequently of great power, and therefore need not be straitened in their habitations. Thou shalt not have one lot only Thou needest and deservest more than one lot, of which thou art actually possessed, and thou hast power to get more; which, if thou endeavourest to do, God will bless and give thee more. The mountain shall be thine Added to the present portion. This was probably mount Gilboa, which stood north of Manasseh, and reached from the country about Kishon, as far as Beth-shean. See Calmet. The outgoings shall be thine The valleys or fields belonging to it. For thou shalt drive out the Canaanites That is, with the divine aid, which God had taught them confidently to expect, commanding them to trust in him, and not be afraid of their enemies, though they had chariots of iron, and though they were strong, Deu 20:1. Blessed is the man who trusteth in the Lord, and whose hope the Lord is.