约书亚记 17:15

Chinese NCV (Simplified)

約書亞對他們說：“如果你們族大人多，又嫌以法蓮山地過於窄小，就可以上森林區去，在比利洗人和利乏音人之地那裡自己砍伐樹木。”

Parallel Translations

Chinese Union (Simplified)
约 书 亚 说 ： 你 们 如 果 族 大 人 多 ， 嫌 以 法 莲 山 地 窄 小 ， 就 可 以 上 比 利 洗 人 、 利 乏 音 人 之 地 ， 在 树 林 中 砍 伐 树 木 。

Contextual Overview

¹⁴ The people from the tribes of Joseph said to Joshua, "You gave us only one area of land, but we are many people. Why did you give us only one part of all the land the Lord gave his people?" ¹⁵ And Joshua answered them, "If you have too many people, go up to the forest and make a place for yourselves to live there in the land of the Perizzites and the Rephaites. The mountain country of Ephraim is too small for you." ¹⁶ The people of Joseph said, "It is true. The mountain country of Ephraim is not enough for us, but the land where the Canaanites live is dangerous. They are skilled fighters. They have powerful weapons in Beth Shan and all the small towns in that area, and they are also in the Valley of Jezreel." ¹⁷ Then Joshua said to the people of Joseph—to Ephraim and Manasseh, "There are many of you, and you have great power. You should be given more than one share of land. ¹⁸ You also will have the mountain country. It is a forest, but you can cut down the trees and make it a good place to live. You will own all of it because you will force the Canaanites to leave the land even though they have powerful weapons and are strong."

Bible Verse Review
  from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge

If thou be: Luke 12:48

the Perizzites: Genesis 13:7, Exodus 33:2, Ezra 9:1

giants: or, Rephaims, Genesis 14:5, Genesis 15:20, 2 Samuel 5:18, 2 Samuel 5:22

Reciprocal: Joshua 17:18 - the mountain Judges 3:27 - mountain Judges 18:2 - mount 2 Samuel 18:6 - wood of Ephraim 2 Chronicles 19:4 - mount Jeremiah 4:15 - mount Ephraim Jeremiah 50:19 - mount

Cross-References

Genesis 17:5
I am changing your name from Abram to Abraham because I am making you a father of many nations.

Genesis 32:28
Then the man said, "Your name will no longer be Jacob. Your name will now be Israel, because you have wrestled with God and with people, and you have won."

2 Samuel 12:25
The Lord sent word through Nathan the prophet to name the baby Jedidiah, because the Lord loved the child.

Gill's Notes on the Bible

And Joshua answered them,.... By retorting their own argument upon them:

if thou [be] a great people; which he does not deny, as they were for numbers and power:

[then] get thee up to the wood [country]; which was near them, and within their borders, and lay on hills and mountains, perhaps the mountains of Gilboa, and therefore are bid to go up:

and cut down for thyself there; cut down the trees of the wood, clear the ground of them, and so make it habitable, and by that means enlarge the places of their habitation:

in the land of the Perizzites, and of the giants; or Rephaim; the former of these were one of the seven nations of the Canaanites, who from their name seem to have dwelt not in the cities, and walled towns, but in villages, and scattered houses, in desert places, and among the woods, where also the giants had retired and dwelt after Joshua had driven them out of the cities; and by driving these out of their present habitations, they would gain more room to dwell in, and would find their lot sufficient for them:

if Mount Ephraim be too narrow for thee; either meaning all Ephraim, and even the whole lot of the sons of Joseph, or rattler the mount particularly so called; for the words may be rendered, "for Mount Ephraim hastens for thee" q; was clear or open for thee; ready to be delivered to thee, and thou mayest possess it at once.

q Vid Gusset. Ebr. Comment, p. 21.

Barnes' Notes on the Bible

Joshua was himself of the tribe of Ephraim, but far from supporting the demands of his kinsmen he reproves them, and calls upon them to make good their great words by corresponding deeds of valor. He bids them clear the country of its woods and thus make room for settling their people. The “wood country” means probably the range which runs along the northern border of Manasseh, and which connects the mountains of Gilboa with Carmel. Mount Ephraim, (a name perhaps used by anticipation) called “the hill” Joshua 17:16, and “the mountain of Israel” Joshua 11:16, is the eastern portion of the territory of Ephraim and Manasseh extending toward the Jordan. This was a hilly, though by no means barren, district.

Clarke's Notes on the Bible

Verse Joshua 17:15. If thou be a great people — Joshua takes them at their own word; they said, Joshua 17:14, that they were a great people; then said he, If thou be a great people or seeing thou art a great people, go to the wood country, and clear away for thyself. Joshua would not reverse the decision of the lot; but as there was much woodland country, he gave them permission to clear away as much of it as they found necessary to extend themselves as far as they pleased.