Joshua 17:15

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.

And Joshua {H3091} answered {H559} them, If thou be a great {H7227} people {H5971}, then get thee up {H5927} to the wood {H3293} country, and cut down {H1254} for thyself there in the land {H776} of the Perizzites {H6522} and of the giants {H7497}, if mount {H2022} Ephraim {H669} be too narrow {H213} for thee.

Y'hoshua answered them, "If you are a great people, go up to the forest, and clear land for yourself there in the territory of the P'rizi and the Refa'im - since the hills of Efrayim don't give you enough space."

Joshua answered them, β€œIf 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.”

And Joshua said unto them, If thou be a great people, get thee up to the forest, and cut down for thyself there in the land of the Perizzites and of the Rephaim; since the hill-country of Ephraim is too narrow for thee.

Commentary

In Joshua 17:15, we find Joshua's sharp and challenging response to the tribes of Joseph (Ephraim and Manasseh), who had complained that their allotted territory was insufficient for their large population. Instead of offering more land directly, Joshua challenges them to demonstrate their claimed "greatness" by actively conquering and clearing the land God had already provided.

Context

Following the distribution of the Promised Land among the Israelite tribes, the descendants of Joseph expressed dissatisfaction with their inheritance, arguing that their numbers were too great for the mountainous and forested region assigned to them. This verse is Joshua's direct reply to their grievance, recorded in Joshua 17:14. Rather than simply expanding their borders, Joshua points them to the undeveloped areas within their existing territory, which were still inhabited by the formidable Canaanite tribes, including the Perizzites and remnants of the Rephaim, often referred to as "giants." His counsel implies that their perceived limitation was not a lack of land, but a lack of effort and faith to possess it fully, as God had commanded since the time of Moses (Numbers 33:53).

Key Themes

  • Divine Provision and Human Responsibility: God had promised and provided the land (Genesis 12:7), but the Israelites were responsible for actively dispossessing its inhabitants and clearing it. This verse highlights the tension between God's sovereign gift and humanity's required obedience and effort.
  • Overcoming Obstacles: The presence of the Perizzites and "giants" represented significant challenges. Joshua's challenge is for the Josephites to rise above their fears and conquer these formidable foes, rather than complaining about their difficulty. This speaks to the necessity of courage and perseverance in fulfilling God's will.
  • The Nature of True "Greatness": Joshua's ironic statement, "If thou be a great people," implies that true greatness is demonstrated not by mere numbers or status, but by the willingness to undertake difficult tasks, overcome challenges, and fulfill one's God-given mandate.

Linguistic Insights

The term "Perizzites" refers to one of the ancient Canaanite peoples who inhabited the land before the Israelites. The word for "giants" here is Rephaim (רְ׀ָאִים), which often denotes a race of powerful, large individuals, remnants of whom were found in various parts of Canaan. Their presence underscored the formidable nature of the task at hand, making Joshua's challenge even more pointed.

Practical Application

Joshua 17:15 offers a powerful lesson for believers today. When faced with challenges or perceived limitations, it calls us to examine whether our complaints stem from genuine lack or from an unwillingness to exert the necessary effort and faith. Just as the Josephites were called to "cut down" the forests and "drive out" the inhabitants, we are often called to actively engage with the challenges in our lives, whether they are spiritual battles, personal growth opportunities, or tasks requiring diligence. God provides the resources and the promise, but we must step out in faith and apply ourselves diligently to possess the inheritance He has prepared for us, trusting in His strength to overcome any "giants" or "wooded country" that stands in our way. This verse encourages a proactive, faith-filled approach to life's difficulties, rather than a passive, complaining one.

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Cross-References

  • Genesis 14:5

    And in the fourteenth year came Chedorlaomer, and the kings that [were] with him, and smote the Rephaims in Ashteroth Karnaim, and the Zuzims in Ham, and the Emims in Shaveh Kiriathaim,

  • Genesis 13:7

    And there was a strife between the herdmen of Abram's cattle and the herdmen of Lot's cattle: and the Canaanite and the Perizzite dwelled then in the land.

  • Ezra 9:1

    ΒΆ Now when these things were done, the princes came to me, saying, The people of Israel, and the priests, and the Levites, have not separated themselves from the people of the lands, [doing] according to their abominations, [even] of the Canaanites, the Hittites, the Perizzites, the Jebusites, the Ammonites, the Moabites, the Egyptians, and the Amorites.

  • 2 Samuel 5:18

    The Philistines also came and spread themselves in the valley of Rephaim.

  • Luke 12:48

    But he that knew not, and did commit things worthy of stripes, shall be beaten with few [stripes]. For unto whomsoever much is given, of him shall be much required: and to whom men have committed much, of him they will ask the more.

  • Genesis 15:20

    And the Hittites, and the Perizzites, and the Rephaims,

  • 2 Samuel 5:22

    And the Philistines came up yet again, and spread themselves in the valley of Rephaim.