Joshua 17:18

Jos 17:18 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.

Ver. 18. But the mountain shall be thine.] Since God hath promised it, thou art bound to believe it; and being armed with God, and going on in his strength, thou shalt do great exploits, and devour greatest difficulties. Faith eateth its way through the Alps of whatsoever opposition, and sticketh at nothing.

For thou shalt drive out the Canaanites.] Through the help of the Almighty, who will not fail thee, but give thee to feel and find, Quod nequaquam frustra nititur qui Deo innititur, that he laboureth not in vain who feareth God. Haec autem omnia cum suis tribulibus Iehoshuah quodammodo egit pertinacius, saith Junius. {a} Valiant Joshua seemeth here to bespeak his kinsmen, as once the Prince of Orange did his soldiers at the battle of Newport, where they had the sea on one side and the Spaniards on the other: If, said he, you will live, you must either eat up these Spaniards, or drink up this sea. {b} So here; either you must cast out these Canaanites, as you may, or still want room, as you must.

{a} Annot. in Loc.

{b} Hist. of Netherl.

John Trapp, A Commentary or Exposition upon All the Books of the Old and New Testament (1647–1656) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

So that thou shalt enlarge thy portion thereby.

Geneva Bible (1599) marginal notes — public domain. Text via Bolls.life.

Verse 18. The outgoings of it shall be thine] Clear away the wood, occupy the mountain, and you shall soon be able to command all the valleys; and, possessing all the defiles of the country, you shall drive out the Canaanites, though they have chariots of iron: your situation will be advantageous, your numbers very respectable, and the hand of God will be upon you for good.

1. FROM the whole history of the Israelites we find that it was difficult to please them; they had a dissatisfied mind, and hence were rarely contented. From the above account we learn that the children of Joseph were much inclined to quarrel with Joshua, because they had not such a lot as they wished; though they could not be ignorant that their lot, as that of the others, had been determined by the especial providence of God.

2. Joshua treats them with great firmness; he would not attempt to alter the appointment of God, and he saw no reason to reverse or change the grant already made. They were both numerous and strong, and if they put forth their strength under the direction of even the ordinary providence of God, they had every reason to expect success.

3. Slothfulness is natural to man; it requires much training to induce him to labour for his daily bread; if God should miraculously send it he will wonder and eat it, and that is the whole. Strive to enter in at the strait gate is an ungracious word to many; they profess to trust in God's mercy, but labour not to enter into that rest: God will not reverse his purpose to meet their slothfulness; they alone who overcome shall sit with Jesus upon his throne. Reader, take unto thee the whole armour of God, that thou mayest be able to stand in the evil day, and having done all - to STAND. And remember, that he only who endures to the end shall be saved.

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible (1810–1826) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword/MySword module.

18. the mountain] i.e. “the mountain of Ephraim,” shall be thine, for it is a forest. It should fall to their lot because the house of Joseph was strong and able, and could clear the woodland.

the outgoings of it] i.e. the fields and plains bordering upon the wood.

though they have] Though they have war chariots, and are so formidable, yet wilt thou who art a great people and hast great power, drive them out. None of the tribes of Israel can compete with thee in strength! Use it then, and thou wilt gain not only the mountain, but the “outgoings” beyond, and as at the waters of Merom (Jos_11:7), the iron chariots and the military strength of thy foes will avail them nothing. “The long range of mountains running from Carmel south-eastward across central Palestine appeared like a frowning rampart defended by Canaanite foes.” But this was the very reason why the great house of Joseph should prove themselves worthy of their great power by scaling that rampart. It is plain from this passage that “at the time of the Israelitish invasion the mountains of Gilboa and the country adjacent were covered with dense forests, of which not a trace now remains, and which made them a more secure asylum for those who sought protection, than open fields could be. And it seems to have been a shrewd device of the great Hebrew chieftain, the counselling the descendants of Joseph to go up into the mountain land; for it would lead to the laying bare of the whole country, and would compel the adjacent inhabitants to come out from their places of refuge, and make open resistance to the invaders.” Ritter, ii. 328. Observe in the discontent now expressed by the “house of Joseph,” the mutterings of the louder complaints we afterwards hear them making against Gideon (Jdg_8:1-3), against Jephthah (Jdg_12:1-7), and against David (2Sa_20:1-5).

The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges (gen. ed. J. J. S. Perowne; Cambridge University Press, 1878–1918) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

But the mountains shall be thine,.... Or "for" (s) it shall be thine; thou shalt get the possession of it, though attended with difficulties that seem insuperable:

for, or "if, though" (t).

it is a wood; the habitation of the Perizzites, and giants, and so dangerous to go un to it, and full of trees, and so seems unprofitable and useless:

and thou shalt cut it down; both the inhabitants of it, and the trees of it, and clear it of both, and make it both safe and commodious to dwell in, which would be a fine enlargement for them:

and the outgoings of it shall be thine; all it produces when cultivated, and all the parts adjacent to it:

for thou shall drive out the Canaanites; this Joshua assures them of, to encourage them to attempt it:

though they have iron chariots, and though they be strong; be not afraid of their chariots, though terrible, nor of their giants and mighty men, God will be on your side, and you have nothing to fear from them, see Jos 11:4; whether the tribes of Ephraim and Manasseh took this advice of Joshua is not said.

(s) "quia", Pagninus, Montanus, Junius & Tremellius, Gussetius, p. 378. (t) "si", Junius & Tremellius, "licet", Ar. vers. Lat.

Next: Joshua Chapter 18

John Gill's Exposition of the Whole Bible (1746–1763) — public domain (CC PDM 1.0). Text via the HelloAO Bible API.

Mountain, probably of Gelboe, as that of Ephraim was not sufficient, ver. 15. Gelboe extended almost as far as Bethsan, and it would afford a fine opportunity of attacking the nations below. Josue persists in his first resolution; and though of the same tribe, he is so little actuated by partiality towards his brethren, that they alone seem to have been dissatisfied with their portion. (Calmet)

George Leo Haydock (1774–1849), Haydock's Catholic Family Bible and Commentary, 1859 edition — public domain. Excludes Psalms (Douay-Rheims chapter numbering differs from Protestant) and Deuterocanonical books (Catholic canon only).

The outgoings of it; either,

1. The productions or of that land, when it is cleared from the wood, and purged; or rather,

2. The valleys and fields belonging or adjoining to it, for there the Canaanites were, Jos 17:16.

Matthew Poole's English Annotations on the Holy Bible (1683–1685) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword/MySword module.

18. The mountain — The same as the wood, Jos_17:15, and referring probably to Gilboa.

The outgoings of it — “The fields and the plains bordering upon the wood.” — Keil. “The defiles and avenues of approach.” — Bush. “Extremities.” — Furst.

[Though they have iron chariots, and though they be strong — It is altogether better to translate the word כי, here twice rendered though, by its ordinary meaning, for. This particle occurs five times in this verse, and has the same causal meaning every time. Render: For the mountain is thine; for it is a forest and thou shalt cut it down, and thine shall be its outgoings; for thou shalt drive out the Canaanite; for iron chariots are his! for strong is he! The force of Joshua’s words is in the irony they contain. The meaning is, Because the Canaanite has iron chariots and is so mighty, therefore thou — a great people — ought to glory in driving him out. He is a foeman worthy of thy steel.]

Daniel D. Whedon (gen. ed.), Commentary on the Old and New Testaments (1874–1909) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

But the mountain shall be thine, for it is a wood. This passage makes it clear that it was not the whole territory of Mount Ephraim, but only the portion habitable at present, that was too small for Ephraim and Manasseh. When cleared it would afford them more space. But Joshua also recommends them to extend their operations beyond its borders, as is clear from the mention of the "plain," and the "chariots of iron" (see next note). The outgoings. Not only the mountain itself, but the country to which the mountain passes led. Thou shalt drive out. Perhaps thou mayest drive out i.e. , it is in thy power. Though they have iron chariots, and though they be strong. "No weapon can prosper" against him who trusts in the Lord. Yet, in spite of the encouragement given by Joshua, the children of Joseph did not drive the Canaanites out, as vers. 11-13 show. The only reason of this was that they did not trust in Gad, but preferred an unworthy compromise with neighbours who, however rich in warlike material, were sunk in sensuality and sloth. Keil would render "because" for "though," and regard the very fact of the strength of the Canaanites as the reason that the sons of Joseph would subdue them. But Exo_13:17 Psa_49:17 supply us with other instances of yki in the sense of although, which certainly is the best sense here. "Let it be remembered how long it was before the Saxons were firmly established in Britain, the Islamite Arabs in Egypt. Israel could look for no reinforcements from kindred left behind. So much the worse might afterwards be the position of the nation, left alone without hope of kindred auxiliaries to meet the repeated outbreaks of the half-subdued Canaanites" (Ewald, "Hist. Israel," 2 2. c.).

Ver. 18. The lot of Joseph.

I NO COMPROMISE WITH SIN. The Israelites, as we have seen, were promised the possession of Palestine on condition that they should exterminate its inhabitants. They did not do this, either

(1) because they were indisposed to the exertion, as in the case of the Jebusites, (Jos_15:63) or

(2) because they found the process of exacting tribute more convenient.

No type of the ordinary conduct of Christians is more precisely accurate. Constantly in youth they either

(1) will not give themselves the trouble to root out evil habits, but give way to them, because the task is so difficult, or

(2) indulge themselves in sin because it is so pleasant. The consequences are a disastrous captivity to sinful habits which lasts half a lifetime, and leaves its mark upon the sinner for his whole life. Great and mighty deliverers may arise within, as they did in Israel, but there is a liability to relapse, which long asserts itself. Instances of these truths are hardly difficult to find.

II THEY THAT TOUCH PITCH SHALL BE DEFILED THEREWITH. The command to exterminate the Israelites was not an arbitrary one. It was given because of the terrible depravity of the Phoenician people, and because of the equally terrible attractiveness of their sins. God well knew (and the narrative in Nu 26 is sufficient to prove it to us) that the Israelites could not resist the contamination of this evil influence if they allowed themselves to be exposed to it. But they did not, or would not, believe this. And consequently, till the Babylonish captivity, with its stern lessons, taught them better, they continued to fall lower and lower into the abominations of the abominable, revolting, and unfeeling worship of their neighbours; nor was it surprising, when we find that Solomon, with all his wisdom, could not escape the contagion. We may learn thus that neither intellect, nor prudence, nor even the sanctifying influences of a holy calling, will enable us to resist the allurements of bad company, when we voluntarily surrender ourselves to them. The only safe way for the Israelites to meet the Canaanites was in battle array, with arms in their hands. So the Christian"s only safeguard against evil company is never to enter it, save on the path of duty, and never to part with his weapons of faith and prayer. "Surely," then, "in vain is the net spread in the sight of any bird". (Pro_1:17)

III WE MUST MAKE THE MOST OF THE OPPORTUNITIES WE HAVE. Ephraim complained of the narrowness of his lot, instead of cutting down the woods and thus finding room in what had been assigned to him. He is the type of many Christians who complain of the scantiness of their opportunities, while they are leaving one half of them unemployed. God will not vouchsafe us more opportunities if we neglect those He gives us. He did not give five more talents to the man who kept the one he had wrapped in a napkin.

IV WE MUST NOT MAKE CIRCUMSTANCES A REASON FOR NOT DOING OUR DUTY. The Ephraimites wanted an increase of territory, no doubt at some one else"s expense, while they did not make the most of their own. They not only did not cut down the wood, but they assigned as a reason for not driving out the Canaanites that they had chariots of iron, in spite of the promise God had given them that these should not be a hindrance to their success. So men assign circumstances now

(1) as a reason why they succumb to temptation,

(2) as a reason why they do not combat evil habits,

(3) as a reason why they leave work undone which they ought to have undertaken and carried out.

V GOD"S BLESSINGS WILL NOT BE GIVEN TO THOSE WHO NEGLECT THE CONDITIONS UNDER WHICH THEY WERE PROMISED. Ephraim had inherited blessings, and was fully conscious of the fact. Yet he makes this a reason why God should prosper him without any effort on his own part. So Christians very often expect God to work out their salvation for them without any labour or effort of their own. They permit evil tempers to take root in their hearts, and to grow and flourish there. They make no effort to cast them out, because "God hath blessed them hitherto." They are called to inherit God"s blessings, and so they think they will have them without any trouble. They are "called to be saints," and expect to be so without the self discipline saintliness requires. God will not fulfil such expectations. He has promised "His Holy Spirit to them that ask it," but He expects them to "work out their own salvation" with His aid. Those who would appropriate the promises of Christianity without the endeavour necessary to give them effect, either become self-deceiving professors, who "have a form of godliness but deny the power thereof," or if more sincere in heart and less capable of hypocrisy, fall back into a state of indifference because their Christian calling has failed to realise all the hopes that they had formed,

Let such remember Joshua"s words, "Thou shalt drive out the Canaanites, though they have iron chariots, and though they be strong."

The Pulpit Commentary (1880–1919), ed. H.D.M. Spence-Jones & Joseph S. Exell — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

The out-goings of it - The valleys and fields belonging or adjoining to it, for there the Canaanites were, ver. 16.

John Wesley, Explanatory Notes Upon the Whole Bible (1754–1765) — public domain. Text via the GEBible commentary corpus.

For the mountain will be yours. The mountain of which I said to you “Go up to the forest.”

For it is a forest and you will cut it down. For it is a forest and it is only fitting for a multitude of people, that will cut it down and clear it.

And you will cut it down. You who are a multitude of people.

And as far as it extends will be yours. For you will drive out the Canaanites. Because you are a multitude of people.

Even though they possess iron chariots. None of the other tribes have sufficient man power to fight them.

Even though they are stong. You have the ability and will drive them out. Our Rabbis explained [the meaning of] ‘Go up to the forest— Hide yourselves in the forest and the “evil eye” will have no power over you.’

Rashi on the Tanakh — English translations: “The Judaica Press complete Tanach with Rashi, translated by A. J. Rosenberg” (CC BY 4.0); “Pentateuch with Rashi's commentary by M. Rosenbaum and A.M. Silbermann, 1929-1934” (public domain); “The Metsudah Tanach series, Lakewood, N.J” (CC BY 4.0); and “The Book of Joshua, Metsudah Publications, 1997” (CC BY 4.0). Text via Sefaria.