Joshua 17

1 to wit. Rather (beginning a new sentence), as R.V.: “To Machir was [given] Gilead,” etc.

a man of war. Machir and Gilead seem to be used as tribal names for their descendants in Joshua’s time.

7. Asher.** This “Asher” was a town on the east of Shechem, and must not be confounded with the territory of the tribes of Asher, which lay far to the north.

9 these cities of Ephraim, etc. Rather, these cities [belonged] to Ephraim among," etc., i.e., the cities south of the river Kanah.

15 if thou be a great people, etc. This incident illustrates the impartiality of Joshua, who was himself an Ephraimite.

18 the outgoings. “You shall hold and clear it to its full extent” (Moffatt).