Joshua 17 15

Joshua 17:15 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.

Joshua 17:15 nkjv

So Joshua answered them, "If you are a great people, then go up to the forest country and clear a place for yourself there in the land of the Perizzites and the giants, since the mountains of Ephraim are too confined for you."

Joshua 17:15 niv

"If you are so numerous," Joshua answered, "and if the hill country of Ephraim is too small for you, go up into the forest and clear land for yourselves there in the land of the Perizzites and Rephaites."

Joshua 17:15 esv

And Joshua said to them, "If you are a numerous people, go up by yourselves to the forest, and there clear ground for yourselves in the land of the Perizzites and the Rephaim, since the hill country of Ephraim is too narrow for you."

Joshua 17:15 nlt

Joshua replied, "If there are so many of you, and if the hill country of Ephraim is not large enough for you, clear out land for yourselves in the forest where the Perizzites and Rephaites live."

Joshua 17 verses

Joshua 17 15 Meaning

Joshua 17:15 describes Joshua's challenging response to the tribes of Ephraim and Manasseh who complained their allocated territory was insufficient. He essentially told them that if they truly were a numerous and mighty people, as they claimed, they should not seek an easier inheritance but should instead take initiative and effort. They were to go to the densely forested regions, inhabit the lands still held by formidable peoples like the Perizzites and Rephaim, and laboriously clear the land for themselves. This highlighted a demand for proactive faith and diligence, rather than entitlement, in possessing the full inheritance God had promised.

Joshua 17 15 Context

Joshua 17 details the land inheritance allotted to the half-tribe of Manasseh (west of the Jordan) and highlights their complaint. Alongside their "sister" tribe Ephraim, they formed the powerful "House of Joseph." Despite their numerous population, they lamented that the territory given to them, which included existing fortified cities with Canaanite inhabitants (17:12-13), was "too narrow" and that the native inhabitants had chariots of iron, making dispossessing them difficult. Joshua's response in verse 15, and the following verses, challenges their excuse, implying that their perceived "narrowness" stemmed from a lack of initiative and faith to conquer rather than actual insufficient space. The broader historical context is the incomplete conquest of Canaan, where various Israelite tribes failed to fully drive out the inhabitants, often leading to future problems. Joshua's challenge here directly addresses this emerging complacency.

Joshua 17 15 Word analysis

• And Joshua said to them: Implies a direct and authoritative address from the leader to the complaining tribes. It's a pastoral but firm reprimand.
• 'If you are a numerous people,' (אִם־עַם רַב, im-am rav):
  • Numerous: רַב (rav), meaning "much, great, many." This directly addresses their claim (cf. Josh 17:14), testing their sincerity. They boasted of their large population as a reason for needing more land, but Joshua turns it into a reason for taking initiative.
  • People: עַם (am). The term emphasizes their identity as a distinct, divinely blessed group, meant to fulfill a mandate.
  • This phrase hints at God's covenant blessing of multiplication to Abraham's descendants (Gen 12:2, Gen 13:16, Gen 22:17). Joshua implies that this divine blessing should empower them for conquest, not for passive reception.
• 'go up to the forest (עֲלֵה לָךְ הַיַּעֲרָה, aleh lach hay-ya'arah) and clear a place for yourselves there (וּבֵרֵאתָ לָךְ, uveretah lach):
  • Go up: עֲלֵה (aleh). Implies an ascent, an uphill struggle, not a smooth or easy path. It also suggests moving into and taking over territory.
  • Forest: הַיַּעֲרָה (hay-ya'arah), dense woods. This wasn't desirable, cleared land but required labor. It represented the "unclaimed" or "difficult" parts of their inheritance, still under dense vegetation or held by strong enemies.
  • Clear a place: וּבֵרֵאתָ (uveretah), from בָּרָה (barah), meaning "to cut down," "clear," "hew." This verb signifies physical exertion, hard work, and the removal of obstacles (trees, enemies). It's a call to active dominion over creation and conquest of their foes, echoing Gen 1:28's command to subdue the earth.
• in the land of the Perizzites and of the Rephaim:
  • Perizzites: One of the Canaanite tribes frequently mentioned, signifying the current inhabitants of the land. Their continued presence demonstrated Israel's partial obedience and lack of full faith in driving them out.
  • Rephaim: A term often associated with powerful, even gigantic, ancient peoples (e.g., Deut 2:10-11, 2 Sam 21:16-22). They were formidable adversaries, possibly perceived as unconquerable. Joshua’s directive here challenges their fear, requiring a move beyond the "comfortable" lands to confront the most threatening inhabitants, implying reliance on divine strength. This could be seen as a polemic against belief in the insurmountable strength of local giants or tribal deities associated with them, emphasizing Yahweh's supreme power.
• 'since the hill country of Ephraim is too narrow for you.':
  • Hill country: The mountainous, elevated regions. Often difficult terrain.
  • Too narrow: צַר (tsar), meaning "cramped," "restricted," "trouble." This refutes their specific complaint about lack of space. Joshua suggests their perception of "narrowness" isn't a problem of physical land area but rather a lack of willingness to dispossess the existing inhabitants and work the uncleared land. It highlights their attitude of preferring ease over strenuous effort and faithful obedience.

Joshua 17 15 Bonus section

The concept of "clearing the forest" can be seen as a metaphorical instruction for all generations of God's people. It's not enough to be given a blessing; one must labor to fully realize and occupy it. The land wasn't to be given on a silver platter in its pristine state, but it required arduous human labor. This echoes God's command to Adam to "work and keep" the Garden (Gen 2:15).

Furthermore, the mention of the Rephaim, often linked to giants or formidable warrior peoples, implicitly tests their faith in the God who delivered Goliath into David's hands (1 Sam 17). It subtly reinforces the lesson that God's people are to conquer formidable foes through His strength, not retreat due to human limitations or fear of opposition. This sets a precedent for understanding future failures of conquest not as God's weakness, but as Israel's lack of faith and obedience. The "narrow" land was an internal problem of spirit and courage, not an external problem of physical dimensions.

Joshua 17 15 Commentary

Joshua 17:15 is a pivotal response from Joshua that underscores several key spiritual and practical truths. The tribes of Ephraim and Manasseh, part of the powerful House of Joseph, possessed a valid promise of abundant land. Their complaint of "narrow" territory, however, revealed a deeper issue: an unwillingness to put forth the necessary effort and faith to claim their full inheritance. They sought a path of least resistance, desiring easily occupied lands rather than confronting the formidable challenges posed by dense forests and strong, iron-chariot-wielding inhabitants like the Perizzites and Rephaim.

Joshua's answer is not dismissive but challenging. He takes their claim of being a "numerous people"—a fulfillment of God's covenant blessing—and turns it into an exhortation. Being numerous implies power and potential; thus, they should leverage this strength to clear the forest and drive out the existing, powerful inhabitants. The "forest" represents unworked potential and obstacles that require labor and resolve. The "Perizzites and Rephaim" signify difficult, seemingly unconquerable spiritual or physical strongholds. Joshua effectively tells them: "Your perceived problem isn't lack of space, but lack of effort and faith to possess what God has already given you access to."

This verse highlights the co-working relationship between divine provision and human responsibility. God promised and provided the land, but Israel had the responsibility to actively clear and conquer it. It's a call to move beyond complacency and entitlement, embracing diligent work and faith-filled confrontation of challenges. In the life of a believer, spiritual inheritance in Christ is vast (Eph 1:3), but realizing its full scope often requires effort, perseverance, and facing spiritual battles with faith, rather than shrinking from difficult assignments or looking for an easier way out. It implies that true growth often lies in confronting and clearing the "forests" and "giants" in our lives, empowered by God.