Joshua 17:16
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.”
English Standard Version (ESV)
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The Joseph tribes aren't just saying the hills are too small; they're implicitly asking, "How can we possibly fight iron chariots with just our spears?" This reveals a deep fear and a reluctance to engage with the challenges ahead, rather than a simple geographical complaint.
The tribes of Ephraim and Manasseh, descendants of Joseph, are complaining to Joshua that their allotted inheritance isn't large enough for their people. Joshua had suggested they clear the forested hill country for more land, but they argue that this isn't feasible and that the Canaanites in the fertile valleys are too formidable, especially with their iron chariots, to be dislodged easily.
When faced with immense challenges, it's easy to feel overwhelmed and declare that what we have isn't sufficient.
The children of Joseph come to Joshua with a complaint: 'The hill country is not enough for us.' They're looking at their assigned territory and feeling it's inadequate for their 'great people.' This isn't just about land size; it's about a mindset that focuses on perceived limitations rather than God's provision and power.
Feeling the Squeeze
This feeling of 'not enough' can manifest in several ways:
The sons of Joseph aren't wrong that the land was challenging, but their starting point is one of complaint and perceived deficiency.
Sometimes, the obstacle isn't just difficult terrain, but formidable, technologically advanced opposition that inspires deep fear.
The second part of their complaint highlights the specific threat: 'all the Canaanites who dwell in the land of the valley have chariots of iron.' These weren't just ordinary chariots; they were war machines, likely with scythes attached, designed to terrify and mow down infantry. They represented the cutting edge of military power in that era.
Understanding the Threat
Understand the original words
kena'ani · Hebrew Noun
A collective term for the indigenous inhabitants of the land of Canaan who were idolaters and were under God's judgment; their removal was a necessary part of Israel's inheritance.
rekeb barzel · Hebrew Noun Phrase
An advanced military technology of the Bronze Age used by the Canaanites that symbolized their superior military strength and represented a significant challenge to the Israelites' faith and trust in God's promise.
The complaint of the Joseph tribes highlights the tension between God's promise of the land and the challenging reality of conquering it, especially in the fertile but heavily fortified plains where iron chariots presented a formidable military advantage.
c. 1400 BC
Israelites Enter Promised Land
Following the Exodus and 40 years in the wilderness, Joshua leads the Israelites across the Jordan River to begin the conquest of Canaan.
c. 1400-1375 BC
Conquest of Canaan Under Joshua
Joshua leads military campaigns to defeat various Canaanite kings and cities, distributing the land among the twelve tribes of Israel.
c. 1375 BC— this verse
Land Allotment Disputes Begin
After the initial conquest, the tribes begin to receive their allotted territories. The tribe of Joseph (Ephraim and Manasseh) expresses dissatisfaction with their inheritance, feeling it is insufficient.
c. 1375 BC
Joseph Tribes Complain to Joshua
The people of Joseph, specifically the tribes of Ephraim and Manasseh, complain to Joshua that their assigned territory is too small and that they cannot drive out the Canaanites in the lowlands who possess iron chariots.
This passage directly echoes the struggle described in Joshua, highlighting that Judah also could not drive out the inhabitants of the plain because they had chariots of iron, demonstrating this was a widespread challenge for the Israelites.
Judges 4:3This verse further illustrates the oppressive power of the Canaanites' iron chariots, showing how they instilled fear and enabled the Canaanites to dominate Israel for twenty years, mirroring the fears of Joseph's descendants.
1 Samuel 13:5This passage shows the Philistines' military advantage with iron chariots and weapons, a situation that caused the Israelites to fear and retreat, reinforcing the technological and military disparity faced by the Israelites in the plains.
Joshua 11:4This verse describes the vast numbers of horses and chariots of iron used by the Canaanites at Merom, providing the context for why these forces were so formidable and why the Israelites in Joshua 17 felt so outmatched in the plains.
Psalm 20:7This psalm contrasts the vanity of relying on chariots and horses with the strength found in the name of the Lord, offering a theological perspective on the situation where the Israelites were intimidated by military might, reminding them of where true power resides.
calvinJoshua 17:11-18: "And Manasseh had in Issachar and in Asher Bethshean and her towns, and Ibleam and her towns, and the inhabitants of Dor and her towns, and the inhabitants of Endor and her towns, and the inhabitants of Taanach and her towns, and the inhabitants of Megiddo and her towns, even three countries."
- And Manasseh had in Issachar and in Asher Bethshean and her towns, and Ibleam and her towns, and the inhabitants of Dor and her towns, and the inhabitants of Endor and her towns, and…
gillJoshua 17:16: "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."
And the children of Joseph said, the hill is not enough for us,.... Meaning either Mount Ephraim, and all included in it; or it may be rather the wood country on the hills and mountains they were bid to go up to; signifying, that if they could gai…
The Joseph tribes aren't just saying the hills are too small; they're implicitly asking, "How can we possibly fight iron chariots with just our spears?" This reveals a deep fear and a reluctance to engage with the challenges ahead, rather than a simple geographical complaint.
The tribes of Ephraim and Manasseh, descendants of Joseph, are complaining to Joshua that their allotted inheritance isn't large enough for their people. Joshua had suggested they clear the forested hill country for more land, but they argue that this isn't feasible and that the Canaanites in the fertile valleys are too formidable, especially with their iron chariots, to be dislodged easily.
The tribes of Ephraim and Manasseh, descendants of Joseph, are complaining to Joshua that their allotted inheritance isn't large enough for their people. Joshua had suggested they clear the forested hill country for more land, but they argue that this isn't feasible and that the Canaanites in the fertile valleys are too formidable, especially with their iron chariots, to be dislodged easily.
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This was the real fear: not just enemies, but enemies with a decisive military advantage that seemed impossible to overcome.
When we face overwhelming odds, it's easy to shift the burden of action onto others, or to excuse our own inaction.
Joshua's response to the children of Joseph, as seen in the broader context of Joshua 17:17-18, is crucial. He doesn't dismiss their concerns outright but challenges their perspective. He reminds them that they are a 'great people' with 'great power,' implying they have what it takes.
The Call to Action
Joshua's counsel was essentially: 'Go cut down the forest! Drive out the Canaanites!' He insisted that the inheritance was theirs, but possession required engagement. The 'chariots of iron' were a real threat, but God's promise and power were greater.
c. 1375 BC
Joshua's Rebuke and Counsel
Joshua rebukes their complaint, suggesting they clear the wooded hill country for themselves or engage the Canaanites in the plains despite their chariots, trusting in God's strength.
"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.”" — The Joseph tribes aren't just saying the hills are too small; they're implicitly asking, "How can we possibly fight iron chariots with just our spears?" This reveals a deep fear and a reluctance to e…
