Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Joshua 17:18

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.

18. the mountain ] i.e. “the mountain of Ephraim,” shall be thine, for it is a forest. It should fall to their lot because the house of Joseph was strong and able, and could clear the woodland.

the outgoings of it ] i.e. the fields and plains bordering upon the wood.

though they have ] Though they have war chariots, and are so formidable, yet wilt thou who art a great people and hast great power, drive them out. None of the tribes of Israel can compete with thee in strength! Use it then, and thou wilt gain not only the mountain, but the “outgoings” beyond, and as at the waters of Merom (Jos 11:7), the iron chariots and the military strength of thy foes will avail them nothing. “The long range of mountains running from Carmel south-eastward across central Palestine appeared like a frowning rampart defended by Canaanite foes.” But this was the very reason why the great house of Joseph should prove themselves worthy of their great power by scaling that rampart. It is plain from this passage that “at the time of the Israelitish invasion the mountains of Gilboa and the country adjacent were covered with dense forests, of which not a trace now remains, and which made them a more secure asylum for those who sought protection, than open fields could be. And it seems to have been a shrewd device of the great Hebrew chieftain, the counselling the descendants of Joseph to go up into the mountain land; for it would lead to the laying bare of the whole country, and would compel the adjacent inhabitants to come out from their places of refuge, and make open resistance to the invaders.” Ritter, ii. 328. Observe in the discontent now expressed by the “house of Joseph,” the mutterings of the louder complaints we afterwards hear them making against Gideon (Jdg 8:1-3), against Jephthah (Jdg 12:1-7), and against David (2Sa 20:1-5).

Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges

Verse 18. The outgoings of it shall be thine] Clear away the wood, occupy the mountain, and you shall soon be able to command all the valleys; and, possessing all the defiles of the country, you shall drive out the Canaanites, though they have chariots of iron: your situation will be advantageous, your numbers very respectable, and the hand of God will be upon you for good.

1. FROM the whole history of the Israelites we find that it was difficult to please them; they had a dissatisfied mind, and hence were rarely contented. From the above account we learn that the children of Joseph were much inclined to quarrel with Joshua, because they had not such a lot as they wished; though they could not be ignorant that their lot, as that of the others, had been determined by the especial providence of God.

2. Joshua treats them with great firmness; he would not attempt to alter the appointment of God, and he saw no reason to reverse or change the grant already made. They were both numerous and strong, and if they put forth their strength under the direction of even the ordinary providence of God, they had every reason to expect success.

3. Slothfulness is natural to man; it requires much training to induce him to labour for his daily bread; if God should miraculously send it he will wonder and eat it, and that is the whole. Strive to enter in at the strait gate is an ungracious word to many; they profess to trust in God’s mercy, but labour not to enter into that rest: God will not reverse his purpose to meet their slothfulness; they alone who overcome shall sit with Jesus upon his throne. Reader, take unto thee the whole armour of God, that thou mayest be able to stand in the evil day, and having done all – to STAND. And remember, that he only who endures to the end shall be saved.

Fuente: Adam Clarke’s Commentary and Critical Notes on the Bible

The outgoings of it; either,

1. The productions or of that land, when it is cleared from the wood, and purged; or rather,

2. The valleys and fields belonging or adjoining to it, for there the Canaanites were, Jos 17:16.

Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole

But the mountains shall be thine,…. Or “for” s it shall be thine; thou shalt get the possession of it, though attended with difficulties that seem insuperable:

for, or “if, though” t

it [is] a wood; the habitation of the Perizzites, and giants, and so dangerous to go un to it, and full of trees, and so seems unprofitable and useless:

and thou shalt cut it down; both the inhabitants of it, and the trees of it, and clear it of both, and make it both safe and commodious to dwell in, which would be a fine enlargement for them:

and the outgoings of it shall be thine; all it produces when cultivated, and all the parts adjacent to it:

for thou shall drive out the Canaanites; this Joshua assures them of, to encourage them to attempt it:

though they have iron chariots, [and] though they [be] strong; be not afraid of their chariots, though terrible, nor of their giants and mighty men, God will be on your side, and you have nothing to fear from them, see Jos 11:4; whether the tribes of Ephraim and Manasseh took this advice of Joshua is not said.

s “quia”, Pagninus, Montanus, Junius & Tremellius, Gussetius, p. 378. t “si”, Junius & Tremellius, “licet”, Ar. vers. Lat.

Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible

18. The mountain The same as the wood, Jos 17:15, and referring probably to Gilboa.

The outgoings of it “The fields and the plains bordering upon the wood.” Keil. “The defiles and avenues of approach.” Bush. “Extremities.” Furst.

[ Though they have iron chariots, and though they be strong It is altogether better to translate the word , here twice rendered though, by its ordinary meaning, for. This particle occurs five times in this verse, and has the same causal meaning every time. Render: For the mountain is thine; for it is a forest and thou shalt cut it down, and thine shall be its outgoings; for thou shalt drive out the Canaanite; for iron chariots are his! for strong is he! The force of Joshua’s words is in the irony they contain. The meaning is, Because the Canaanite has iron chariots and is so mighty, therefore thou a great people ought to glory in driving him out. He is a foeman worthy of thy steel.]

Fuente: Whedon’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments

REFLECTIONS

MY soul! in the view of the several boundaries of the tribes of Israel arise and behold those everlasting possessions, which thy Jesus hath purchased for thee by his blood. And oh! pray for the sweet offices of the Holy Ghost to be realized to thy experience, that they are thine in an everlasting covenant, which cannot be broken. And while the daughters of Joseph ‘ s tribe sue for their earthly inheritance, do thou plead for Jesus himself to be thine, and then he will bring with him all temporal, spiritual, and eternal blessings. Dearest Lord! while Joseph’s sons murmur because they have but one portion, oh teach me to seek no more! Be thou my portion, Lord, and never, never will I desire any other. In thee I have enough, and all the chariots of the enemy will not dismay, for in thee I shall discomfit an host of men, and by the help of my God leap over a wall.

Fuente: Hawker’s Poor Man’s Commentary (Old and New Testaments)

Jos 17:18 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.

Ver. 18. But the mountain shall be thine. ] Since God hath promised it, thou art bound to believe it; and being armed with God, and going on in his strength, thou shalt do great exploits, and devour greatest difficulties. Faith eateth its way through the Alps of whatsoever opposition, and sticketh at nothing.

For thou shalt drive out the Canaanites. ] Through the help of the Almighty, who will not fail thee, but give thee to feel and find, Quod nequaquam frustra nititur qui Deo innititur, that he laboureth not in vain who feareth God. Haec autem omnia cum suis tribulibus Iehoshuah quodammodo egit pertinacius, saith Junius. a Valiant Joshua seemeth here to bespeak his kinsmen, as once the Prince of Orange did his soldiers at the battle of Newport, where they had the sea on one side and the Spaniards on the other: If, said he, you will live, you must either eat up these Spaniards, or drink up this sea. b So here; either you must cast out these Canaanites, as you may, or still want room, as you must.

a Annot. in Loc.

b Hist. of Netherl.

Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)