Joshua 17
PATVer. 1; JL HERE was also a lot for the tribe of Manasseh. That half of it which had no portion on the other side Jordan. For he was the first-born of Joseph.] I cannot make any sense of this; and therefore think the particle ki should be translated though, not for. And then the meaning is plain enough> that the lot of Manasseh came up lifter that of Ephraim (not before it), though he was the first-born of Joseph; for Jacob had preferred Ephraim before him, (Gen. xlviii. 19, 20.) For Machir, the first-born of Manasseh.] And his only son, from whom sprung such a multitude, that there was no room for them all on the other side Jordan; but part of them were to be disposed of here. The father of Gilead.] Numb. xxvi. 29. Because he tvas a man ofivar.] This is generally thought to relate to Machir; who had done some famous exploits in the skirmishes they had with some neighbouring people while they wero in Egypt, (see 1 Chron. vii. 21, 22.) for he was not alive to fight when they came to Canaan. TJierefore he had Gilead and Bashan.] A share in this country; for some of it was given to the Reubenites and Gadites, xiii. 25. but the Gileadites were also planted here; (ver. 31.) for, inheriting the valour of their progenitor, they were fit to defend this frontier-country.
Joshua 17:2
And there was also a lot for the rest of the children of Manasseh by their families. A great part of the Manassites being disposed of before they passed over Jordan, now follows the lot which fell to the rest, whose several families he names. For the children of Abiezer, and for the children ofHelei, and for the children of Asriel, and for the children ofSltechem, and for the children ofllepher, and for the children of Shemida.] These six families descended from Gilead, as we read Numb. xxvi. 30, &c. Where the first of them, who is here called Abiezer, is there called Jeezer. These are the male-children ofManasseh, the son of Joseph, by their families.] He uses the expression of malechildren to introduce what follows concerning the females. And they are called the children ofManasseh, because they Microsoft® A* COMMENTARY [chap. xvn. inherited in his right; being families descended from him. (See Selden, de Sueeessionibus, cap. 22.)
Joshua 17:3
But Zelophehad the son of Hepher, the son ofGilead, the son ofMachir, the son of Manasseh. Here he recites their pedigree from the son of Joseph. Had 7io sons, but daughters.’] And so could not make a family in Manasseh; and consequently have no share in the land.; And these are the names of his daughters, Mahlah, and Noah, &c] See Numb. xxvi. 33.
Joshua 17:4
And they came near before Eleazar tJte priest, and before Joshua the son of Nun, and before the princes. To whom God had committed the care of dividing the several lots, (xiv. 1. Numb, xxxiv. 17, 18.) Saying, The Lord commanded Moses to give ns an inheritance among our brethren.’] See Numb, xxvii. G, 7. Therefore, according to the commandment of the Lord, he gave the man inheritance among the brethren of their father.] Or, an inheritance was given them, according to this commandment of God to Moses, by Eleazar and Joshua, and the rest who were appointed to divide the land. For after the lot had determined what land every tribe should have, Eleazar, Joshua, and the princes, considered how. many families there were in the tribe, and how large they were; and accordingly divided it among them. So Numb. xxvi. 55, 56. imports.
Joshua 17:5
And there fill ten portions to Manasseh. For there were six portions given to six sons: but the portion of Hepher, the last of them, being divided into five parts among his five daughters, therfe were ten portions in all. (See Selden, de Succession, cap. 23.) Which ten portions being assigned to so many families, Eleazar, Joshua, and the princes, were not concerned any further in dividing these ten portions into lesser, among several households; but that, 1 suppose, they agreed among themselves. Besides the land of Gilead and Bashan,ivhich were on the other side Jordan.] Mentioned before, ver. I.
Joshua 17:6
Because the daughters of Manasseh. That is, of Zelophehad, descended from Manasseh. Had an inheritance among his sons.] Being considered as heirs to their father. And the rest ofManasselCs sons.] Which were not of the six families beforementioried. * Had the land of Gilead.] On the other side Jordan, as hath been often said; and is again repeated, to prevent all contentions that might arise about their portions.
Joshua 17:7
And the coast of Manasseh teas from Asher to Michmethah, that lieth before Shechem. This was the south border, which w T ent from a city called Asher, to another called Michmethah; which was over against a city in the tribe of Ephraim, called Shechem. And the border went along on the right hand unto the inhabitants of En-tappuah.] And so to those that lived in the land of Tappuah, leaving Tappuah itself on the right hand.
Joshua 17:8
Noiv Manasseh had the land of Tappuah. All the territory adjoining to this city belonged to the tribe of Manasseh. But Tappuah, on the border of Manasseh, belonged to the children of Ephraim.] But the city itself, which lay on the confines of their country, was one of those separated cities spoken of in the foregoing chapter, (ver. 9.) in which the children of Ephraim dwelt. Digitized by I
Joshua 17:9
And lite coast descended unto the river Kanah, southward of the river. Concerning this place, see ver. 8. of the foregoing chapter. These cities of Ephraim are among the cities of Manasseh.] That is, the cities on the coast beforementioned were inhabited by the Ephraimites, as well as Tappuah; though they were in the tribe of Manasseh. For these two tribes were nearer of kin than any other; and so greater friendship was intended to be established between them. The coast also of Manasseh was on the north side of tlie river^] By the coast of Manasseh, is meant the cities inhabited by the Manassites; which were all on the north side of this river. As all those on the /south side of it, though belonging to the Manassites, were inhabited by the children of Ephraim. And the goings out of it were at the sea.] The coast mentioned in the beginning of the verse, ended at the Mediterranean Sea.
Joshua 17:10
Southward it tvas Ephraim’s, and northward it was Manasseh’s, and the sea is his border. These words express how these two tribes lay, with respect to each other: Ephraim on the south, and Manasseh on the north; and both bounded on the west by the Mediterranean. And they met together in Asher on the north, and in Iss«- char on the east.] Though on the south the tribe of Manasseh was wholly joined to the tribe of Ephraim, yet on the north-west, towards the great sea, it had the tribe of Asher on the confines of it; and on the east (towards Jordan and the sea of Tiberias).the tribe of Issachar. So Conradus Pellicanus rightly explains" these words. For both the tribes of Ephraim and Manasseh could not touch these other tribes.. And the children of Joseph said, The hill is not enough fortes.] They still insisted, that if they could get possession of the woody mountain, and destroy all the inhabitants, and cut down all the trees, it would not be sufficient to contain them. And all t lie Canaanites that dwell in the land of the valley.] But if it would, they further allege, they had no hope to conquer it; because, before they could come at it, they must encounter those that lived in the valley below it, who were too strong for them. Have chariots of iron.] Before which they were not able to stand: for he doth not mean chariots made of iron, but armed with iron; which the ancients called currus falcati, in Greek $p£7ravo
Joshua 17:11
And Manasseh had in Issachar, and in Asher. As Ephraim had some towns in the tribe of Manasseh, so Manasseh had some in the tribes of Issachar and Asher, unto whom, in the north-west, and the east, they were near neighbours. Beth-sltean and her towns.] This was a place not far from the sea of Tiberias beforementioned, and near Jordan. And Ibleam and her towns.] It appears by 2 Kings ix. 27. that it was not far from Megiddo, mentioned in the latter end of this verse. Tlie inhabitants of Dor and her towns.] Concerning Dor, seexi. 2. whose inhabitants (as also those of the other cities following) are here mentioned; because, it seems, they possessed the people (whom they ought to havo destroyed), as well as their cities and towns, making them their slaves. And the inhabitants of Endor and her towns.] The city whither Saul went to consult with the witch. It wtis not far from Mount Tabor; which was in the confines of the tribe of Issachar. And the inhabitants of Taanach’and her towns.] This city lay not far from the other; and was one of those given to the Levites, (xxi. 25.) And the inhabitants of Megiddo and her towns.] This was near tlie former; not far from tlie brook Kishon, (Judg. v. 19.) Even three countries.] Or rather, three parts of those countries beforementioned.
Joshua 17:12
Yet tlie children of Manasseh could not drive out the inJiabitants of those cities. Through want of faith in III wl w^w^^* I CHAP. XVII.] UPON JOSHUA. God, and of zeal to perform his commands; which made them. slack in their attempts to expel the inhabitants of this country. R»/ the Canaanites tvould dwell in that land.] Finding themselves strong enough to mammm n, «gu.u U v J — ^ ^ ° ble endeavours as they used to conqueT it.
Joshua 17:13
Yet it came to pass, when the children of Israel tvere waxen strong, that they put tlie Canaanites to tribute. When they were more numerous and expert in war, not only the Manassites, but they of other tribes also, brought the Canaanites to be tributaries to them. But did not utterly drive them out J] In which they grievously offended against God’s command, (Deut. xx. 16 — 18.)
Joshua 17:14
And the children qf Joseph spake unto Joshua. Both they of Ephraim, and they of Manasseh, (ver. 17.) Saying, Why hast thou given me but one lot and one portion to inherit; seeing lama great people.] They were discontented with their Jot, which they thought too strait for them; because they were so very numerous, that the country which was assigned them was little enough for one of them. Forasmuch as the Lord hath blessed me hitherto.] Multiplied them exceedingly, as appears from Numb. xxvi.
Joshua 17:15
And Joshua answered them, If thou be a great people. Though he was their flesh arid blood, yet Joshua would not humour them; but returns their argument upon them, that since they were so great a people, they should do as here follows. Then get thee up to the whole country.] Which was in the highlands, (ver. 18.) which is full of trees; for Aba, as Bocbart observes, signifies very thick woods, (lib. ii. Canaan, cap. 9.) And cut down for thyself there.] Make it habitable. In the land of the Perizzites.’] Who were a rough uncivilized people, living in these mountainous forests, as Bochart gathers from this place; and thinks they had their name from thence. Because they did not live in cities and towns, but in those Pagi that were in the woods; which the Hebrews call Phcrazoth; from whence the Pagani, the people who lived in those places, were called Pherazim: lib. iv. Phaleg. cap. 3G. And of the giants.] There were some of the Rephaim (as the Hebrew word is) still remaining here; or it was a place where they had been wont to dwell. Jf Mount Ephraim be too narrow for thee!] If that noble mount which was given them for their portion, with the refit of the land beforcmentioned (which is included in the name of Mount Ephraim, the principal part being put for the whole) did not afford them room enough, he exhorts them to enlarge their bounds, by taking in those woodlands beforementioned.
Joshua 17:17
And Joshua spake unto the house of Joseph, even. unto Ephraim and Manasseh. He was not moved, by their objections, from his resolution; but told them,. * * Tliou art a great people, and hast great power.] That, by their own confession, they were very numerous; and consequently, of great power. Tliou shalt not have one lot only.] And therefore neednot be straitened in their habitation; which they said was not sufficient for one tribe..
Joshua 17:18
But the mountain shall be thine. For they should have the mountain added to their portion; which he could not enlarge any other way, it being settled by a " -Divine decree. For it is a wood, and thou shalt cut it down.] Or, though it be a wood, yet they could cut it down, and grub it up; and then it would afford a commodious habitation. And the goings out of it shall be thine.] They should have the product of it: or, all the country below in the valley (ver. 1G.) should be theirs also. And thou shall drive out the Canaanites, though they have iron chariots, and though they be strong.] He answers all their objections (ver. 1G.) with an assurance that they should be able, with God’s help, to dispossess the present inhabitants, notwithstanding their great force and power.: for so God had commanded them to believe, and not to be • afraid of their chariots, which now seemed so terrible to them. (See Deut. xx. 1.).