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Joshua Chapter
Seventeen
New King James Version (NKJV)
INTRODUCTION TO JOSHUA 17
This
chapter gives an account of the lot that fell to the half tribe of Manasseh
to
the male children of Manasseh
and to the daughters of Zelophehad
Joshua 17:1; and
describes the coast of that lot
Joshua 17:7; and
relates the request of the sons of Joseph
to have their lot enlarged
which
was granted
Joshua 17:14.
Joshua 17:1 There
was also a lot for the tribe of Manasseh
for he was the firstborn of
Joseph: namely for Machir the firstborn of Manasseh
the father of
Gilead
because he was a man of war; therefore he was given Gilead and Bashan.
YLT
1And the lot is for the
tribe of Manasseh (for he [is] first-born of Joseph)
for Machir first-born of
Manasseh
father of Gilead
for he hath been a man of war
and his are Gilead
and Bashan.
There was also a lot for the tribe of Manasseh
.... As well
as for the tribe of Ephraim:
for he was the firstborn of Joseph; and therefore
ought to have his part and share in the lot of the children of Joseph
though
Ephraim was preferred before him in the blessing of Jacob. Some think this is
given as a reason why he had a double portion
one on the other side Jordan
and another in the land of Canaan:
to wit
for Machir
the firstborn of Manasseh
the father of Gilead; who was the only son of
Manasseh
and so through him
and by his son Gilead
the whole tribe sprung
from that patriarch: and
because he was a man of war
therefore he had Gilead and Bashan; which were
given to his posterity by Moses
and lay on the other side Jordan
see Deuteronomy 3:13.
This Machir very likely had shown his warlike disposition and courage in Egypt
and had fought under the kings there against the common enemy of that country;
for it is highly probable he was dead before the children of Israel came out
from thence
but the same warlike spirit continued in his posterity; they had their
part assigned them on the other side Jordan
to defend that country
while the
tribes of Reuben and Gad attended to the care of their flocks and herds.
Joshua 17:2 2 And there was a lot
for the rest of the children of Manasseh according to their families: for the
children of Abiezer
[a] the
children of Helek
the children of Asriel
the children of Shechem
the
children of Hepher
and the children of Shemida; these were the male
children of Manasseh the son of Joseph according to their families.
YLT
2And there is for the sons
of Manasseh who are left
for their families; for the sons of Abiezer
and for
the sons of Helek
and for the sons of Asriel
and for the sons of Shechem
and
for the sons of Hepher
and for the sons of Shemida; these [are] the children
of Manasseh son of Joseph -- the males -- by their families.
There was also a lot for the rest of the children of
Manasseh by their families
.... For such that had no part in Gilead and
Bashan on the other side Jordan
even for the other half tribe
whose families
are particularly mentioned
as follows:
for the children of Abiezer; who is called Jeezer in Numbers 26:30; and
was a son of Gilead
the son of Machir
as the rest that follow were:
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; hence the families of the Jeezerites
Helekites
Asrielites
Shechemites
Hepherites
and Shemidaites
mentioned in Numbers 26:30; and
for which families was the lot here spoken of:
these were the male children of Manasseh the son of Joseph
by their families; which is observed for the sake of
and to lead unto what
follows
otherwise in common none but males inherited; but the following is an
excepted and remarkable case.
Joshua 17:3 3 But Zelophehad the son of
Hepher
the son of Gilead
the son of Machir
the son of Manasseh
had no sons
but only daughters. And these are the names of his daughters: Mahlah
Noah
Hoglah
Milcah
and Tirzah.
YLT
3As to Zelophehad
son of
Hepher
son of Gilead
son of Machir
son of Manasseh
he hath no children
except daughters
and these [are] the names of his daughters: Mahlah
and Noah
Hoglah
Milcah
and Tirzah
But Zelophehad
the son of Hepher
the son of Gilead
the son of
Machir
the son of Manasseh
had no sons
but daughters
.... The
descent of this man is particularly given
to show the truth and reality of it
upon which his daughters made their request
and that granted and now claimed:
and these are the names of his daughters
Mahlah
and Noah
Hoglah
Milcah
and Tirzah; by the same names
and in the same order
they are called in Numbers 26:33; the
order is a little different in Numbers 36:11.
Joshua 17:4 4 And they came near before
Eleazar the priest
before Joshua the son of Nun
and before the rulers
saying
“The Lord
commanded Moses to give us an inheritance among our brothers.” Therefore
according to the commandment of the Lord
he gave them an
inheritance among their father’s brothers.
YLT 4and they draw near before
Eleazar the priest
and before Joshua son of Nun
and before the princes
saying
`Jehovah commanded Moses to give to us an inheritance in the midst of
our brethren;' and he giveth to them
at the command of Jehovah
an inheritance
in the midst of the brethren of their father.
And they came near before Eleazar the priest
and before Joshua
the son of Nun
and before the princes
.... The ten princes
who
with Eleazar and Joshua
were appointed to divide the land
Numbers 34:17; and
were now met together for that purpose
Joshua 14:1
saying
the Lord commanded Moses to give us an inheritance among
our brethren; those of the same tribe with them; for upon their application to
Moses he inquired of the Lord
who ordered him to grant their request
Numbers 27:1
therefore according to the commandment of the Lord he gave them an
inheritance among the brethren of their fathers; that is
to the half
tribe of Manasseh.
Joshua 17:5 5 Ten shares fell to Manasseh
besides the land of Gilead and Bashan
which were on the other side of
the Jordan
YLT
5And ten portions fall [to]
Manasseh
apart from the land of Gilead and Bashan
which [are] beyond the
Jordan;
And there fell ten portions to Manasseh
beside the land of Gilead
and Bashan
which were on the other side Jordan
.... The lot
which fell to the half tribe of Manasseh was divided into ten parts: according
to the Jewish writers
the six families before mentioned had six parts
and the
daughters of Zelophehad had four parts; one on the account of Zelophehad their
father
two on the account of their grandfather Hepher
who they say was the
firstborn
and one on account of their uncle
their father's brother
who died
in the wilderness without children; so Jarchi and Kimchi relate from the TalmudF11T.
Bab. Bava Bathra
fol. 118. 2. & 119. 1. ; but the true case seems to be
this
there were six portions for the six families
but there being no sons in
Hepher's family
his part was divided into five
and given to the five
daughters of Zelophehad:
beside the land of Gilead and Bashan
which were on the
other side Jordan: which were given to the other half tribe
as before observed
Joshua 13:29.
Joshua 17:6 6 because the daughters of
Manasseh received an inheritance among his sons; and the rest of Manasseh’s
sons had the land of Gilead.
YLT
6for the daughters of
Manasseh have inherited an inheritance in the midst of his sons
and the land
of Gilead hath been to the sons of Manasseh who are left.
Because the daughters of Manasseh had an inheritance among his
sons
.... Which occasioned such a number of portions; the daughters of
Zelophehad are meant
who descended from Manasseh:
and the rest of Manasseh
some had the land of Gilead; that is
those besides the six families before expressed
namely
the two families of
the Machirites and Gileadites
Numbers 26:29.
Joshua 17:7 7 And the territory of
Manasseh was from Asher to Michmethath
that lies east of Shechem; and
the border went along south to the inhabitants of En Tappuah.
YLT
7And the border of Manasseh
is from Asher to Michmethah
which [is] on the front of Shechem
and the border
hath gone on unto the right
unto the inhabitants of En-Tappuah.
And the coast of Manasseh was from Asher
.... Not from
the border of the tribe of Asher
as Kimchi
in which he is followed by
Vatablus; for that was at too great a distance; but a city of the tribe of
Manasseh; and in Jerom'sF12De loc. Heb. fol. 88. G. time a village
of this name was shown fifteen miles from Neapolis or Shechem
as you go from
thence to Scythopolis
near the public road:
to Michmethah
that lieth before Shechem; the same
place mentioned in the description of the border of Ephraim; see Gill on Joshua 16:6
and the border went along on the right hand
unto the inhabitants
of Entappuah; that is
leaving this place
and its inhabitants to the right
which was a place in the land of that name
next mentioned; and seems to be so
called from a fountain in it
or near it
as well as from a multitude of apples
growing there
and with which perhaps the country abounded
of which in Joshua 17:8.
Joshua 17:8 8 Manasseh had the land of
Tappuah
but Tappuah on the border of Manasseh belonged to the children
of Ephraim.
YLT
8To Manasseh hath been the
land of Tappuah
and Tappuah unto the border of Manasseh is to the sons of
Ephraim.
Now Manasseh had the land of
Tappuah
.... The whole territory that went by that name
from a city of
note in it
next mentioned; all the fields and villages in it belonged to the
tribe of Manasseh:
but Tappuah on the border of Manasseh belonged to the
children of Ephraim; and was one of those separate cities they had among the
inheritance of the children of Manasseh; though it seems they had only the
city
not the territory adjacent to it
and which was named from it.
Joshua 17:9 9 And the border descended
to the Brook Kanah
southward to the brook. These cities of Ephraim are
among the cities of Manasseh. The border of Manasseh was on the north
side of the brook; and it ended at the sea.
YLT
9And the border hath come
down [to] the brook of Kanah
southward of the brook; these cities of Ephraim
[are] in the midst of the cities of Manasseh
and the border of Manasseh [is]
on the north of the brook
and its outgoings are at the sea.
And the coast descended unto the river Kanah
southward of the
river
.... The same mentioned in the account of the coast of Ephraim
Joshua 16:8; which
was north of that river
as Manasseh was to the south of it:
these cities of Ephraim are among the cities of Manasseh; that is
the cities
before mentioned
Asher
Michmethah
Entappuah
and Tappuah; though they were
in the tribe of Manasseh
yet they were inhabited by the Ephraimites:
the coast of Manasseh also was on the north side of the
river; of the river Kanah
as well as on the south of it; it had cities
there
though possessed by the tribe of Ephraim:
and the outgoings of it were at the sea; the
Mediterranean sea.
Joshua 17:10 10 Southward it was
Ephraim’s
northward it was Manasseh’s
and the sea was its border.
Manasseh’s territory was adjoining Asher on the north and Issachar on the east.
YLT
10Southward [is] to Ephraim
and northward to Manasseh
and the sea is his border
and in Asher they meet on
the north
and in Issachar on the east.
Southward it was Ephraim's
and northward it was
Manasseh's
.... As Ephraim lay to the south of Manasseh
Manasseh lay to the
north of Ephraim:
and the sea is his border; the Mediterranean sea
was their boundary on the west:
and they met together in Asher on the north; that is
on
the northwest towards the Mediterranean sea
as
at Mount Carmel:
and in Issachar on the east; towards Jordan.
Joshua 17:11 11 And in Issachar and in
Asher
Manasseh had Beth Shean and its towns
Ibleam and its towns
the
inhabitants of Dor and its towns
the inhabitants of En Dor and its towns
the
inhabitants of Taanach and its towns
and the inhabitants of Megiddo and its
towns—three hilly regions.
YLT
11And Manasseh hath in
Issachar and in Asher
Beth-Shean and its towns
and Ibleam and its towns
and
the inhabitants of Dor and its towns
and the inhabitants of En-Dor and its
towns
and the inhabitants of Taanach and its towns
and the inhabitants of
Megiddo and its towns
three counties.
And Manasseh had in Issachar
and in Asher
Bethshean
and her
towns
.... As Ephraim had cities in Manasseh
so had Manasseh cities in
these two tribes
which in some parts bordered on it
before described
even
the cities following
and the first that is named is Bethshean: this lay in the
tribe of Issachar
and was the uttermost border of Manasseh that way; it was
as JosephusF13Antiqu l. 12. c. 8. sect. 5. says
called Scythopolis;
but not from the Scythians
as PlinyF14Nat. Hist. l. 5. c. 18.
suggests
but from Succoth
a place where Jacob resided
and which was not far
from it
Genesis 33:17; it
lay before the great plain of Jezreel
and was at the entrance into
it
"After this went they over Jordan into the great plain before Bethsan.'
(1 Maccabees 5:52)and was
six hundred furlongs
or seventy five miles
from Jerusalem
according
to:"From thence they departed to Scythopolis
which lieth six hundred
furlongs from Jerusalem
' (2 Maccabees 12:29)and was
one of the cities of Decapolis
from whence our Lord had hearers
Matthew 4:25. It
was such a pleasant place
that it is said in the TalmudF15T. Bab.
Eruvin
fol. 19. 1.
that if the garden of Eden was in the land of Israel
Bethshean was the gate of it; on which the gloss says
that its fruits were the
sweetest in the land of Israel:
and Ibleam and her towns; it seems to be the same
with Bileam
by a transposition of the two first letters
1 Chronicles 6:70;
and was a place not far from Megiddo
after mentioned
as appears from 2 Kings 9:27
and the inhabitants of Dor and her towns; this had been
a royal city; see Gill on Joshua 11:2 and See
Gill on Joshua 12:23
and the inhabitants of Endor and her towns; this place
became famous for a witch there in the times of Saul
1 Samuel 28:7; in
the times of JeromF16De loc. Heb. fol. 88. L. it was a large village
near Mount Tabor
four miles to the south
which he calls Aeudor
of or in
Jezreel; and elsewhereF17lbid. fol. 91. E. he speaks of Endor
as
near the town of Nain
where our Lord raised the widow's son the dead
and is
about: Scythopolis:
and the inhabitants of Taanach and her towns; this had been
a royal city; see Gill on Joshua 12:22
and the inhabitants of Megiddo and her towns: this was
another royal city mentioned with the former; See Gill on Joshua 12:21; there
even three
countries; the three last cities
with their towns
that are mentioned
Endor
Taanach
and Megiddo; all which perhaps belonged to Dor
and may be the
Naphothdor spoken of Joshua 11:2; where
the same word is used as here; so Jarchi interprets it.
Joshua 17:12 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.
YLT
12And the sons of Manasseh
have not been able to occupy these cities
and the Canaanite is desirous to
dwell in this land
Yet the children of Manasseh could not drive out the
inhabitants of these cities
.... Mentioned in Joshua 17:11; they
had not strength at first to do it
or either were negligent and slothful
and
suffered them to dwell among them
and did not take the advantage they might
have done; and afterwards it was too late
they became too strong and numerous
for them
at least for a time:
but the Canaanites would dwell in the land; whether they
would or not.
Joshua 17:13 13 And it happened
when the
children of Israel grew strong
that they put the Canaanites to forced labor
but did not utterly drive them out.
YLT
13and it cometh to pass when
the sons of Israel have been strong
that they put the Canaanite to tribute
and have not utterly dispossessed him.
Yet it came to pass
when the children of Israel were waxed strong
.... Increased
in numbers
and became superior to the Canaanites
not only those of the tribe
of Manasseh
but of the other tribes also:
that they put the Canaanites to tribute; they did not
take away their lives
as they were commanded to do
but made them tributaries
to them
which seems to arise from a covetous disposition
and done for the
sake of gain:
but did not utterly drive them out; which they were ordered
to do
and could now have done; for if they were able to make them pay tribute
to them
they had power sufficient to drive them out
or destroy them
and
therefore broke the commandment of God
Deuteronomy 7:1.
Joshua 17:14 14 Then the children of
Joseph spoke to Joshua
saying
“Why have you given us only one lot and
one share to inherit
since we are a great people
inasmuch as the Lord has blessed us
until now?”
YLT
14And the sons of Joseph
speak with Joshua
saying
`Wherefore hast thou given to me an inheritance --
one lot and one portion
and I a numerous people? hitherto hath Jehovah blessed
me.'
And the children of Joseph spake unto Joshua
.... Which
some understand of the children of Manasseh only; and
indeed
the complaint
and arguments used
as well as some circumstances in the account
best agree
with them; yet certain it is
that the children of Ephraim accompanied the
children of Manasseh
and were present at this interview
as appears from Joshua 17:17; and
if they did not join with them in the request and complaint expressly
they
countenanced and encouraged the same by their presence:
saying
why hast thou given me but one lot and one portion to
inherit: this seems to suit better with one than both; for there was a
lot for the tribe of Manasseh also
as well as for Ephraim
Joshua 17:1; by
which it should seem that there were two
and if both made this expostulation
it was not fact; but it may be
that the inheritance which came to them by lot
was not as yet divided
and so they called it one lot and one portion
and then
it might with propriety be said by them both; and their sense be
that the lot
or portion assigned them was only sufficient for one of them
and not for both:
seeing I am a great people; as especially both
tribes put together were:
forasmuch as the Lord hath blessed me hitherto? this best
agrees with the tribe of Manasseh
which
since their coming out of Egypt
was
increased twenty thousand five hundred
whereas the tribe of Ephraim was
decreased; compare Numbers 1:33 with Numbers 26:34. Now
it might have been expected by them
that as Joshua was of the tribe of
Ephraim
that he would have favoured their cause on that account
and that they
should have obtained the grant of an addition by that means; but Joshua was
impartial in his administration
and showed no favour and affection on that
score
as appears by what follows.
Joshua 17:15 15 So Joshua answered them
“If you are a great people
then go up to the forest country
and clear a place for yourself there in the land of the Perizzites and the
giants
since the mountains of Ephraim are too confined for you.”
YLT
15And Joshua saith unto them
`If thou [art] a numerous people
go up for thee to the forest
then thou hast
prepared for thee there
in the land of the Perizzite
and of the Rephaim
when
mount Ephraim hath been narrow for thee.'
And Joshua answered them
.... By retorting their
own argument upon them:
if thou be a great people; which he does not deny
as they were for numbers and power:
then get thee up to
the wood country; which was near them
and within their borders
and lay on hills
and mountains
perhaps the mountains of Gilboa
and therefore are bid to go up:
and cut down for thyself there; cut down the trees of
the wood
clear the ground of them
and so make it habitable
and by that means
enlarge the places of their habitation:
in the land of the Perizzites
and of the giants; or Rephaim;
the former of these were one of the seven nations of the Canaanites
who from
their name seem to have dwelt not in the cities
and walled towns
but in
villages
and scattered houses
in desert places
and among the woods
where
also the giants had retired and dwelt after Joshua had driven them out of the
cities; and by driving these out of their present habitations
they would gain
more room to dwell in
and would find their lot sufficient for them:
if Mount Ephraim be too narrow for thee; either
meaning all Ephraim
and even the whole lot of the sons of Joseph
or rattler
the mount particularly so called; for the words may be rendered
"for
Mount Ephraim hastens for thee"F17Vid Gusset. Ebr. Comment
p.
21. ; was clear or open for thee; ready to be delivered to thee
and thou
mayest possess it at once.
Joshua 17:16 16 But the children of Joseph
said
“The mountain country is not enough for us; and all the Canaanites who
dwell in the land of the valley have chariots of iron
both those who are
of Beth Shean and its towns and those who are of the Valley of
Jezreel.”
YLT
16And the sons of Joseph say
`The hill is not found to us
and a chariot of iron [is] with every Canaanite
who is dwelling in the land of the valley -- to him who [is] in Beth-Shean and
its towns
and to him who [is] in the valley of Jezreel.'
And the children of Joseph said
the hill is not enough for us
.... Meaning
either Mount Ephraim
and all included in it; or it may be rather the wood
country on the hills and mountains they were bid to go up to; signifying
that
if they could gain that out of the hands of the Perizzites and giants
and
clear it of the wood
and make it habitable
even that would not be sufficient
for them; or that hill and mountain cannot be "found by us"F18לא ימצא לנו
"non invenietur nobis"
Montanus; "non possumus montem istum
assequi"
Tigurine version; "non obtinebitur a nobis"
Masius.
or obtained and possessed by us; we are not able to get it into our hands;
there being a valley between us and that:
and all the Canaanites that dwell in the land of the valley have
chariots of iron; not chariots made of iron
but chariots with iron scythes
fastened to the sides
or axle trees of them
which when driven with great
force and fury
would cut down the infantry in battle
as grass is cut down
with scythes
see Judges 4:2
both they who are
of Bethshean and her towns
and they who are of the valley of
Jezreel; both which belonged to the tribe of Manasseh
or were on the
borders of it
though as yet they had not got possession
see Joshua 17:11; and
this circumstance seems to favour the notion
that tribe of Manasseh were at
least chiefly concerned in this address.
Joshua 17:17 17 And Joshua spoke to the
house of Joseph—to Ephraim and Manasseh—saying
“You are a great people
and have great power; you shall not have only one lot
YLT
17And Joshua speaketh unto
the house of Joseph
to Ephraim and to Manasseh
saying
`Thou [art] a numerous
people
and hast great power; thou hast not one lot [only]
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.
Joshua 17:18 18 but the mountain country
shall be yours. Although it is wooded
you shall cut it down
and its
farthest extent shall be yours; for you shall drive out the Canaanites
though
they have iron chariots and are strong.”
YLT
18because the mountain is
thine; because it [is] a forest -- thou hast prepared it
and its outgoings
have been thine; because thou dost dispossess the Canaanite
though it hath
chariots of iron -- though it [is] strong.'
But the mountains shall be thine
.... Or "for"F19כי "quia"
Pagninus
Montanus
Junius &
Tremellius
Gussetius
p. 378. it shall be thine; thou shalt get the possession
of it
though attended with difficulties that seem insuperable:
for
or "if
though"F20כי
"si"
Junius & Tremellius
"licet"
Ar. vers. Lat. .
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 Joshua 11:4;
whether the tribes of Ephraim and Manasseh took this advice of Joshua is not
said.
──《John Gill’s
Exposition of the Bible》
New King James
Version (NKJV)