Joshua 17:15
WEB
Joshua said to them, “If you are a numerous people, go up to the forest, and clear land for yourself there in the land of the Perizzites and of the Rephaim, since the hill country of Ephraim is too narrow for you.”
BSB
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.”
KJV
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.
Matthew Henry
Hebrew interlinear
H559
v — say
Derivation: a primitive root;
to say (used with great latitude)
KJV: answer, appoint, avouch, bid, boast self, call, certify, challenge, charge, (at the, give) command(-ment), commune, consider, declare, demand, × desire, determine, × expressly, × indeed, × intend, name, × plainly, promise, publish, report, require, say, speak (against, of), × still, × suppose, talk, tell, term, × that is, × think, use (speech), utter, × verily, × yet.
vb — utter
אָמַר 5287 vb. utter, say
Qal
1. Say
2. Say in the heart (= think)
3. Promise
4. Command (esp. late)
Niph. be said, told
Hiph. avow, avouch (lit. cause to declare)
Hithp. act proudly, boast
H413
prep — near, with, among, to
Derivation: (but only used in the shortened constructive form אֶל ); a primitive particle; properly, denoting motion towards, but occasionally used of a quiescent position, i.e.
near, with or among; often in general, to
KJV: about, according to, after, against, among, as for, at, because(-fore, -side), both...and, by, concerning, for, from, × hath, in(-to), near, (out) of, over, through, to(-ward), under, unto, upon, whether, with(-in).
prep — motion to
אֶל (nearly always followed by Makkeph), prep. denoting motion to or direction towards (whether physical or mental).
1. of motion to or unto a person or place
2. Where the limit is actually entered, into
3. Of direction towards anything
4. Where the motion or direction implied appears from the context to be of a hostile character, אֶל = against
5. Unto sometimes acquires from the context the sense of in addition to
6. Metaph. in regard to, concerning, on account of
7. Of rule or standard according to (rare)
8. Expressing presence at a spot, against, at, by, not merely after verbs implying motion
9. Prefixed to other preps. it combines with them the idea of motion or direction to
H3091
n-pr-m — Jehoshua
Derivation: or יְהוֹשֻׁעַ; from 3068 and 3467; Jehovah-saved;
Jehoshua (i.e. Joshua), the Jewish leader
KJV: Jehoshua, Jehoshuah, Joshua. Compare 1954, 3442.
n.pr.m — Jehoshua
יְהוֹשׁוּעַ, יְהוֹשֻׁעַ, and (later) יֵשׁוּעַ, n.pr.m. (& loc., v. 9 infr.) (י׳ is salvation or י׳ is opulence)
1. Moses’ successor, son of Nun
2. a Bethshemite
3. h.p. after the restoration, son of Jehozadak
4. governor of Jerusalem under Josiah
5. head of one of the classes of priests
6. a Levitical family-name of frequent occurrence
7. father of a builder at the wall
8. a Judaite family-name
9. n.pr.loc. in south of Judah
H518
prt — lo!, whether?, if, although, Oh that!, when, not
Derivation: a primitive particle;
used very widely as demonstrative, lo!; interrogative, whether?; or conditional, if, although; also Oh that!, when; hence, as a negative, not
KJV: (and, can-, doubtless, if, that) (not), + but, either, + except, + more(-over if, than), neither, nevertheless, nor, oh that, or, + save (only, -ing), seeing, since, sith, + surely (no more, none, not), though, + of a truth, + unless, + verily, when, whereas, whether, while, + yet.
conj — if
אִם conj.
1. hypoth. part. if
2. Interrog. part.
relative conjunction
כִּי אם־
1. each part. retaining its independent force, and relating to a different clause:
a. that if
b. for if
2. (About 140 t.) the two particles being closely conjoined, and relating to the same clause—
a. limiting the prec. clause, except
b. the if being neglected, and treated as pleonastic, so that the clause is no longer a limitation of the preceding clause but a contradiction of it: but rather, but
c. after an oath, surely
H5971
n-m — people, tribe, troops, attendants, flock
Derivation: from 6004;
a people (as a congregated unit); specifically, a tribe (as those of Israel); hence (collectively) troops or attendants; figuratively, a flock
KJV: folk, men, nation, people.
n.[m.] — kinsman
[עַם] n.[m.] kinsman (on father's side)
n.m — people
עַם, עָם 1810 n.m. people
1. a people, nation
2. = smaller units
3. = common people
4. people in gen., persons
5. phrases
H7227
a n-m — abundant
Derivation: by contracted from 7231;
abundant (in quantity, size, age, number, rank, quality)
KJV: (in) abound(-undance, -ant, -antly), captain, elder, enough, exceedingly, full, great(-ly, man, one), increase, long (enough, (time)), (do, have) many(-ifold, things, a time), (ship-)master, mighty, more, (too, very) much, multiply(-tude), officer, often(-times), plenteous, populous, prince, process (of time), suffice(-lent).
n.m — chief
רַב 49 n.m. chief
adj — much
רַב 429 adj. much, many, great
1. (oft. opp. מְעַט)
a.
(1). much: of substances
(2). esp. of collectives, numerous
b. pl. many
c. רַב as subst. coll. pers.
d. cstr. = abounding in
e. מִן comp. = more numerous than
f. רַב = abundant, enough
g. as adv. much, exceedingly
2. less oft. great
H859
p — thou, thee, ye, you
Derivation: or (shortened); אַתָּ; or אַת; feminine (irregular) sometimes אַתִּי; plural masculine אַתֶּם; feminine אַתֶּן; or אַתֵּנָה; or אַתֵּנָּה; a primitive pronoun of the second person;
thou and thee, or (plural) ye and you
KJV: thee, thou, ye, you.
pron. 2 s. f — thou
אַתְּ, אָ֑תְּ pron. 2 s. f. thou (fem.)
pron. 2 s. m — thou
אַתָּ֫ה, אָ֑תָּה pron. 2 s. m. thou
thou
אתי, i.e. אתִּי, the older & more original form of אַתְּ thou (fem.)
pron. 2 m. pl — you
אַתֶּם pron. 2 m. pl. you (masc.)
pron. 2 f. pl — you
אַתֵּן pron. 2 f. pl. you (fem.)
H5927
v — ascend, high, mount
Derivation: a primitive root;
to ascend, intransitively (be high) or actively (mount); used in a great variety of senses, primary and secondary, literal and figurative
KJV: arise (up), (cause to) ascend up, at once, break (the day) (up), bring (up), (cause to) burn, carry up, cast up, shew, climb (up), (cause to, make to) come (up), cut off, dawn, depart, exalt, excel, fall, fetch up, get up, (make to) go (away, up); grow (over) increase, lay, leap, levy, lift (self) up, light, (make) up, × mention, mount up, offer, make to pay, perfect, prefer, put (on), raise, recover, restore, (make to) rise (up), scale, set (up), shoot forth (up), (begin to) spring (up), stir up, take away (up), work.
vb — go up
עָלָה 890 vb. go up, ascend, climb
Qal
1. of persons, go up, ascend, in local relations
2. go up, in personal relations
3. of animals, go or come up
4. of vegetation, spring up, grow, shoot forth
5. of natural phenom., go up, rise
6. of inanimate things, instead of passive construction
7. of thoughts
8. come up before God, arrogance
9. go up, extend, of boundary
10. excel
Niph.
1.
a. be brought up
b. be taken up
c.
(1). pass., be taken up, away
(2). reflex., take oneself away from, get up from
2. reflex.: take oneself away
3. be exalted, of God
Hiph.
1. bring up persons
2. in personal relations
3. bring up animals
4. cause to ascend
5. mentally
6. offer a present; bring up tithe to
7. exalt
8. cause to ascend (in flame), offer sacrifice
Hoph.
1. be carried away
2. be taken up into, inserted in
3. be offered
Hithp. lift oneself
H3293
n-m — copse of bushes, forest, honey in the comb
Derivation: from an unused root probably meaning to thicken with verdure;
a copse of bushes; hence, a forest; hence, honey in the comb (as hived in trees)
KJV: (honey-) comb, forest, wood.
n.[m.] — honeycomb
יַ֫עַר n.[m.] honeycomb
n.m — wood
יַ֫עַר n.m. wood, forest, thicket
H1254
v — create, cut down, select, feed
Derivation: a primitive root;
(absolutely) to create; (qualified) to cut down (a wood), select, feed (as formative processes)
KJV: choose, create (creator), cut down, dispatch, do, make (fat).
vb — shape
בָּרָא 53 vb. shape, create
Qal Pf.—shape, fashion, create
Niph.—Pass.
1. be created
2. with reference to birth
3. of something new, astonishing
Pi.
1. cut down
2. cut out
H8033
adv — there, then, thither, thence
Derivation: a primitive particle (rather from the relative pronoun, 834);
there (transferring to time) then; often thither, or thence
KJV: in it, thence, there (-in, of, out), thither, whither.
adv — there
שָׁם adv. there, thither
H776
n-f — earth, land
Derivation: from an unused root probably meaning to be firm;
the earth (at large, or partitively a land)
KJV: × common, country, earth, field, ground, land, × natins, way, + wilderness, world.
n. f — earth
אֶ֫רֶץ n. f. & (seld.) m. earth, land
1.
a. earth, whole earth (opp. to a part)
b. earth, opp. to heaven, sky
c. earth = inhabitants of earth
2. land =
a. country, territory
b. district, region
c. trial territory
d. piece of ground
e. specif. land of Canaan, or Israel
f. = inhabitants of land
g. used even of Shᵉʼôl
3.
a. ground, surface of ground
b. soil, as productive
4. אֶרֶץ in phrases
a. people of the land
b. in measurements of distance
c. the country of the plain, level or plain country
d. land of the living
e. end(s) of the earth
5. pl. אֲרָצוֹת is almost wholly late; it denotes lands, countries, often in contrast to Canaan, lands of the nations, etc.
H6522
a — Perizzite
Derivation: for 6521; inhabitant of the open country;
a Perizzite, one of the Canaanitish tribes
KJV: Perizzite.
adj.gent — Perizzite
פְּרִזִּי 23 adj.gent. Perizzite
H7497
n-pr-m — giant
Derivation: or רָפָה; from 7495 in the sense of invigorating;
a giant
KJV: giant, Rapha, Rephaim(-s). See also 1051.
n.pr.gent — Rephaim
רְפָאִים n.pr.gent. old race of giants
n.pr.m — giant
רָפָה, רָפָא as n.pr.m. Hā-Rāphā
H3588
conj — relative conjunction
Derivation: a primitive particle (the full form of the prepositional prefix) indicating causal relations of all kinds, antecedent or consequent;
(by implication) very widely used as a relative conjunction or adverb (as below); often largely modified by other particles annexed
KJV: and, (forasmuch, inasmuch, where-) as, assured(-ly), but, certainly, doubtless, else, even, except, for, how, (because, in, so, than) that, nevertheless, now, rightly, seeing, since, surely, then, therefore, (al-) though, till, truly, until, when, whether, while, whom, yea, yet.
conj — that
כִּי conj. that, for, when
1. that
2.
a. Of time, when, of the past
b. elsewhere כִּי has a force approximating to if, though it usu. represents a case as more likely to occur than אִם
c. when or if, with a concessive force, i.e. though
3. Because, since
relative conjunction
כִּי אם־
1. each part. retaining its independent force, and relating to a different clause:
a. that if
b. for if
2. (About 140 t.) the two particles being closely conjoined, and relating to the same clause—
a. limiting the prec. clause, except
b. the if being neglected, and treated as pleonastic, so that the clause is no longer a limitation of the preceding clause but a contradiction of it: but rather, but
c. after an oath, surely
forasmuch as
כִּי עַל כֵּן forasmuch as
H213
v — press, be close, hurry, withdraw
Derivation: a primitive root;
to press; (by implication) to be close, hurry, withdraw
KJV: (make) haste(-n, -y), labor, be narrow.
vb — press
[אוּץ] vb. press, be pressed, make haste
Qal
1. press, hasten
2. (intr.) be pressed, confined, narrow
3. hasten, make haste
Hiph. hasten
H2022
n-m — mountain, range
Derivation: a shortened form of 2042;
a mountain or range of hills (sometimes used figuratively)
KJV: hill (country), mount(-ain), × promotion.
n.m — mountain
הַר 568 n.m. mountain, hill, hill-country
1. mountain, hill
2. hill-country, mountain-region
H669
n-pr-m — Ephrajim
Derivation: dual of masculine form of 672; double fruit;
Ephrajim, a son of Joseph; also the tribe descended from him, and its territory
KJV: Ephraim, Ephraimites.
n.pr.m — Ephraim
אֶפְרַ֫יִם n.pr.m. Ephraim
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Verses 14–18
Joshua 17:14–18
Here, I. The children of Joseph quarrel with their lot; if they had had any just cause to quarrel with it, we have reason to think Joshua would have relieved them, by adding to it, or altering it, which it does not appear he did. It is probable, because Joshua was himself of the tribe of Ephraim, they promised themselves that they should have some particular favour shown them, and should not be confined to the decision of the lot so closely as the other tribes; but Joshua makes them know that in the discharge of his office, as a public person, he had no more regard to his own tribe than to any other, but would administer impartially, without favour or affection, wherein he has left an excellent example to all in public trusts. It was a very competent provision that was made for them, as much, for aught that appears, as they were able to manage, and yet they call it in disdain but one lot, as if that which was assigned to them both was scarcely sufficient for one. The word for complainers (Jde 1:16) is mempsimoiroi, blamers of their lot: - 1. That they were very numerous, through the blessing of God upon them (Jos 17:14): I am a great people, for the Lord has blessed me; and we have reason to hope that he that hath sent mouths will send meat. "I am a great people, and in so small a lot shall not have room to thrive." Yet observe, when they speak thankfully of their present increase, they do not speak confidently of the continuance of it. "The Lord has blessed me hitherto, however he may see fit to deal with me for the future." The uncertainty of what may be must not make us unthankful for what has been and is done in kindness to us. 2. That a good part of that country which had now fallen to their lot was in the hands of the Canaanites, and that they were formidable enemies, who brought into the field of battle chariots of iron (Jos 17:16), that is, chariots with long scythes fastened to the sides of them, or the axle-tree, which made great destruction of all that came in their way, mowing them down like corn. They urge that though they had a good portion assigned them, yet it was in bad hands, and they could not come to the possession of it, wishing to have their lot in those countries that were more thoroughly reduced than this was.
II. Joshua endeavours to reconcile them to their lot. He owns they were a great people, and being two tribes ought to have more than one lot only (Jos 17:17), but tells them that what had fallen to their share would be a sufficient lot for them both, if they would but work and fight. They desired a lot in which they might indulge themselves in ease and luxury. "No," says Joshua, "you must not count upon that; in the sweat of thy face shalt thou eat bread is a sentence in force even in Canaan itself." He retorts their own argument, that they were a great people. "If so, you are the better able to help yourselves, and have the less reason to expect help from others. If thou hast many mouths to be filled, thou hast twice as many hands to be employed; earn, and then eat." 1. He bids them work for more (Jos 17:15): "Get thee up to the wood-country, which is within thy own border, and let all hands be set to work to cut down the trees, rid the rough lands, and make them, with art and industry, good arable ground." Note, Many wish for larger possessions who do not cultivate and make the best of what they have, think they should have more talents given them who do not trade with those with which they are entrusted. Most people's poverty is the effect of their idleness; would they dig, they need not beg. 2. He bids them fight for more (Jos 17:17, Jos 17:18), when they pleaded that they could not come at the wood-lands he spoke of because in the valley between them and it were Canaanites whom they durst not enter the lists with. "Never fear them," said Joshua, "thou hast God on thy side, and thou shalt drive out the Canaanites, if thou wilt set about it in good earnest, though they have iron chariots." We straiten ourselves by apprehending the difficulties in the way of our enlargement to be greater than really they are. What can be insuperable to faith and holy resolution?
Cross-references: Jude 1:16 · Josh 17:14 · Josh 17:16 · Josh 17:17 · Josh 17:15 · Josh 17:18