Keraia
Joshua 17

Joshua 17:15

Manasseh’s Western Inheritance · Joshua 17:1–18
Read Joshua 17

Translations

Modern
Joshua answered them, “If you have so many people that the hill country of Ephraim is too small for you, go to the forest and clear for yourself an area in the land of the Perizzites and the Rephaim.”
Traditional
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, if mount Ephraim be too narrow for thee.
Literal
And Joshua answered to them, “If you are a great people, then go up to the forest and create for yourself there in the land of the Perizzite and the Rephaim, since the mountains of Ephraim are too confined for you.”
Latin
Ad quos Josue ait: Si populus multus es, ascende in silvam, et succide tibi spatia in terra Pherezæi et Raphaim: quia angusta est tibi possessio montis Ephraim.

Original

Hebrew
English
Joshua answered them, “If you have so many people that the hill country of Ephraim is too small for you, go to the forest and clear for yourself an area in the land of the Perizzites and the Rephaim.”

Notes

Joshua 17:15
Joshua 16:1–17:18

Joseph had two sons, Manasseh and Ephraim (Genesis 41:50–52). Half of those descended from Manasseh received their inheritance east of the Jordan River. The tribe of Ephraim and the rest of Manasseh's tribe now received their land. This made the total number of land portions twelve, fulfilling Jacob's blessing to Joseph (Genesis 49:22–26). Like Judah in the south, Joseph’s tribes led from their central position in the north.

Joshua 14:1–19:51

  • The allotment of land to the tribes on the west side of the Jordan describes what God intended for each tribe to possess.

  • The one narrating the story begins this section with Caleb receiving land and ends with Joshua receiving land (14:6–15; 19:49–51). Only Caleb and Joshua had shown faith in God that Israel could conquer the land (Numbers 13:30; 14:6–9).

Joshua 13:1–21:45

  • As he had promised, God brought Israel into the land. Joshua then focused on dividing the land among Israel's tribes.

  • The tribal allowances made the covenant of the Israelites with God real. It showed the fulfillment of God's promise to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. Since God owned the land, giving it to the tribes was a gift. God gave them the land to live in and guided its distribution.

  • In these lists of tribal allowances, the author describes some borders in great detail, allowing them to be mapped. With others, they are less plainly defined.

Theme notes and profiles

Joshua Inheriting the Land

People

Ephraim: Second son of Joseph, and a tribe of Israel Joshua: Moses' assistant who led Israel into Canaan Perizzites: Canaanite people group living in the land of Canaan Rephaim: A race of giants who inhabited Canaan

Glossary

Allotment of the Land Forest of Ephraim Giants Gilgal Joshua (Person) Joshua, Book of Judges, Book of Manasseh, Tribe of Perizzite Sharon Tribe of Dan

Topics

Avarice: The Descendants of Joseph Canaanites: Not Expelled Cowardice: Ephraimites and Manassehites Ephraim: A Tribe of Israel: Territory Allotted To, After the Conquest of Canaan Ephraim: Mount of a Range of Low Mountains Giants, Rephaim: The: Dwelt in Canaan Mountains: Ephraim Rephaim: An Ancient People of Palestine, of Great Stature: R. V. Sarcasm: Joshua to the Descendants of Joseph