Joshua 17 16

Joshua 17:16 kjv

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 Bethshean and her towns, and they who are of the valley of Jezreel.

Joshua 17:16 nkjv

But the children of Joseph said, "The mountain country is not enough for us; and all the Canaanites who dwell in the land of the valley have chariots of iron, both those who are of Beth Shean and its towns and those who are of the Valley of Jezreel."

Joshua 17:16 niv

The people of Joseph replied, "The hill country is not enough for us, and all the Canaanites who live in the plain have chariots fitted with iron, both those in Beth Shan and its settlements and those in the Valley of Jezreel."

Joshua 17:16 esv

The people of Joseph said, "The hill country is not enough for us. Yet all the Canaanites who dwell in the plain have chariots of iron, both those in Beth-shean and its villages and those in the Valley of Jezreel."

Joshua 17:16 nlt

The descendants of Joseph responded, "It's true that the hill country is not large enough for us. But all the Canaanites in the lowlands have iron chariots, both those in Beth-shan and its surrounding settlements and those in the valley of Jezreel. They are too strong for us."

Joshua 17 verses

Joshua 17 16 Meaning

Joshua 17:16 records the complaint of the tribes of Ephraim and Manasseh, the "children of Joseph," concerning their inherited land. They claimed the allotted mountainous territory was insufficient, implicitly because of its rugged nature or limited productivity. Their primary concern was the presence of the indigenous Canaanites who possessed technologically superior "chariots of iron" and resided in the fertile valley lands, specifically mentioning Beth Shan and the Valley of Jezreel. This highlights their fear and perceived inability to dislodge these well-equipped adversaries, suggesting a lack of faith in God's power to grant them complete victory and possession of the promised land.

Joshua 17 16 Context

Joshua chapter 17 details the land allocation for the tribe of Manasseh, the half-tribe of Joseph, west of the Jordan River, and how their portion, together with Ephraim's (from Josh 16), bordered challenging areas. Despite receiving a significant inheritance and being numerically large (Josh 17:17), the "children of Joseph" (representing both Ephraim and Manasseh) felt their assigned mountainous territory was inadequate for their expanding population. They also highlighted the strategic strength of the Canaanites who held the fertile valley lands with advanced "chariots of iron," making those areas seem unconquerable. This verse reveals the human tendency to focus on visible obstacles rather than relying on God's prior promises and past victories in possessing the land. This fear contrasts sharply with God's directive to drive out all inhabitants.

Joshua 17 16 Word analysis

• The children of Joseph (בְּנֵי יוֹסֵף - B'nei Yosef): Refers collectively to the tribes of Ephraim and Manasseh, descendants of Joseph. This unified complaint implies a shared sense of grievance or entitlement despite their privileged status and double inheritance among the tribes.
• said (וַיֹּאמְרוּ - vayyomru): Indicates a direct verbal complaint, expressing their discontent and challenge to Joshua's allocation.
• The mountain country (הַהַר - hahar): Refers to the highland or mountainous region allotted to them. While less fertile or accessible than valleys, it provided defensive advantages. Their complaint suggests perceived limitation or difficulty rather than appreciation for the given land.
• is not enough for us (לֹא יִמָּצֵא לָנוּ - lo yimmatse lanu): Literally "is not found for us" or "does not suffice for us." It expresses a sense of inadequacy or insufficient space, a direct challenge to the divinely guided land distribution and a demonstration of a lack of initiative in developing their allocated share.
• and all the Canaanites (וְכָל הַכְּנַעֲנִי - vekhol haKna'ani): The indigenous inhabitants of the land. The complaint highlights their presence as an insurmountable barrier, signifying a focus on the enemy's strength over God's.
• who live in the valley land (יֹשְׁבֵי הָעֵמֶק - yoshevei ha'emeq): Indicates the inhabitants of the fertile lowlands. These valleys were generally more desirable for agriculture and access, yet heavily fortified.
• have chariots of iron (רֶכֶב בַּרְזֶל - rekhev barzel): Refers to advanced military technology of the era. Iron was superior to bronze and its use for chariots gave a significant tactical advantage, especially in open, flat terrain. This detail reveals the Israelite fear and their perception of a technologically superior foe, diminishing their faith.
• both those in Beth Shan (בֵּית שְׁאָן - Beit She'an): A significant Canaanite stronghold, strategically located at the eastern end of the Jezreel Valley, controlling important trade routes. Its mention underscores the strength and location of the enemy.
• and its towns (וּבְנֹתֶיהָ - u'venoteyha): Refers to surrounding settlements or dependent villages.
• and those in the Valley of Jezreel (וּבְעֵמֶק יִזְרְעֶאל - u've'emek Yizre'el): A highly fertile and strategically vital plain extending southeast from Mount Carmel, crucial for agriculture and movement between regions. It was a well-defended Canaanite heartland.

Words-group by words-group analysis:

• "The children of Joseph said, 'The mountain country is not enough for us'": This phrase expresses the initial human perspective of discontent with what has been given, coupled with a lack of understanding or desire to fully work and inhabit the challenging but potentially fruitful highland territories. It also betrays a shortsighted view, possibly desiring the easier, more fertile, but occupied valleys.
• "and all the Canaanites who live in the valley land have chariots of iron": This segment articulates the root of their fear and inaction. The military might of the Canaanites, especially their "chariots of iron," symbolizes an unassailable obstacle in the eyes of the Israelites. This shows a focus on external obstacles rather than on the power of God, who promised to give them the land regardless of the enemies' strength. It reflects a tactical disadvantage leading to spiritual paralysis.
• "both those in Beth Shan and its towns and those in the Valley of Jezreel": The specific geographical references pinpoint areas of dense and militarily formidable Canaanite presence. These locations represent strongholds that appear impregnable, grounding the complaint in the observable reality of the day, yet ignoring the spiritual reality of God's covenant power.

Joshua 17 16 Bonus section

The complaint in Joshua 17:16, while rooted in physical and technological disparities, implicitly sets the stage for a spiritual lesson. The mention of iron chariots is not just about military technology; it often symbolizes formidable obstacles that appear insurmountable from a human perspective. Throughout Scripture, such "chariots" represent any human- or demon-devised stronghold that defies God's will and power. The immediate context shows Joshua challenging their complaint, implying that their "insufficient" mountain country could be expanded if they simply exerted the effort and courage promised to them by God (Josh 17:17-18). This demonstrates that God's blessings often require cooperative human effort guided by faith. This verse also foreshadows a pattern of partial obedience and incomplete conquest that would plague Israel throughout the period of the Judges, highlighting the danger of fear over faith in pursuing God's promises.

Joshua 17 16 Commentary

Joshua 17:16 is a revealing snapshot of the early challenges of the Israelite conquest and settlement. Despite being promised the land and witnessing God's powerful interventions, the "children of Joseph"—representing the most populous and influential tribes—displayed a distinct lack of faith and initiative. Their complaint rests on two main pillars: a perceived scarcity of land in the assigned mountainous region and a palpable fear of the "chariots of iron" possessed by the Canaanites in the coveted valley lands. This verse highlights the enduring human tendency to grumble and shrink from challenges, even when divine promises stand firm. The "chariots of iron" serve as a potent symbol of worldly power and perceived invincibility that threatened to derail their God-given mission. However, God had already promised to deliver nations far mightier, and true strength lay not in weaponry, but in faithful obedience. This instance subtly sets the stage for future failures when tribes like Judah (Judg 1:19) would also struggle to dislodge enemies with iron chariots, showing that faith, not technology, was the crucial factor for success.