Joshua 17:14-18

The Complaint of the Children of Joseph Joshua 17:14-18

14 And the children of Joseph spake unto Joshua, saying, Why hast thou given me but one lot and one portion to inherit, seeing I am a great people, forasmuch as the Lord hath blessed me hitherto?
15 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.
16 And the children of Joseph said, The hill is not enough for us: and all the Canaanites that dwell in the land of the valley have chariots of iron, both they who are of Beth-shean and her towns, and they who are of the valley of Jezreel.
17 And Joshua spake unto the house of Joseph, even to Ephraim and to Manasseh, saying, Thou art a great people, and hast great power: thou shalt not have one lot only:
18 But the mountain shall be thine; for it is a wood, and thou shalt cut it down: and the outgoings of it shall be thine: for thou shalt drive out the Canaanites, though they have iron chariots, and though they be strong.

12.

What was the request of the children of Joseph? Joshua 17:14

The children of Joseph asked for more than one lot and one portion. Ephraim must have led in this request. They were saying that since the descendants of Manasseh received two portions in two lotsone east of the Jordan and one west of the Jordanthey, too, should receive an equal amount of territory. Manasseh west may have joined in the request, since the complaint is attributed to the children of Joseph.

13.

What was Joshua's answer? Joshua 17:15-18

In effect, Joshua told them to make full use of what they had. The territory which they possessed was very mountainous, but it would be possible for them to terrace the hillsides and grow crops on the slopes. The Perizzites were Canaanite villagers; and if the children of Joseph had driven out all these people from their villages and taken possession of them, they would have had plenty of room.

14.

Why mention the chariots of iron? Joshua 17:18

No record is made prior to this time of the Israelites having any chariots for warfare. Their battles were fought by men with swords and spears. Her soldiers were on foot and at a disadvantage when going against those who had these chariots. Jabin, king of Hazor, the leader of the northern coalition, had used these chariots against the children of Israel (Joshua 11:6). The people of Israel had defeated these Canaanites in this engagement. The children of Joseph were fainthearted in feeling that they would not be able to possess the land since their enemies had these chariots, They were evidently looking for an excuse,