Commentary on the Old Testament Volume 2-4, Biblical commentary 1 · Joshua · Chapter 17
CHAP. XVII.
HEre is set forth the part of the halfe Tribe of Manasseh, in which, although it were lesse, more is written: 1. Because the lot of the other halfe on the other side of Jordan is again re-counted. 2 The families comming of Manasseh, V. 2.which had possessions on this side Jordan are numbred, first the males who were six; then the females, the daughters of Zelophehad, who had no sons, V. 3.and they were five. 3. Their request, according to the order made by Moses, is recited from Numb. 27. 4. Their lot is described, v. 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13. together with the Lands of Ephraim, where they lay within it. 5. Both these Tribes doe jointly complaine that their lot was too little for them, and Joshua V. 14, 15.alloweth them to take in the woods of the Canaanites and Perizzites, and to cut them downe, adding words of incouragement against the feare of the Enemies power. For the first of these, Manasseh is said to be the first born of Joseph, V. 1.to intimate the reason why he being none of the sons of Jacob, yet had the lot of a Tribe, as also Ephraim his other son, for Jacob had made both these Gen. 48.as his owne sons, two Tribes, as was touched before, Ch. 14. 4. And although Ephraim was by Jacob preferred before Manasseh, the younger before the elder; yet because Manasseh was the first borne, he had an inheritance in part first on the other side Jordan. Moreover, it is added, For Machir the first borne of Manasseh, but Ch. 13. 31. he is mentioned as the onelyonly sonne of Manasseh, and halfe his children are put for the halfe Tribe of Manasseh, of which see upon that place. And Machir is called the father of Gilead, whose children onelyonly are recited, v. 2. as the children of Manasseh; whereby it seemeth, that as Manasseh had onelyonly Machir to his sonne, that had issue living till now, so Machir had onelyonly Gilead. Touching Jair said to be the son of Manasseh, Numb. 32. 41. it is to be understood, that he came of a daughter of Machir by Ezrom, of the tribe of Judah, 1 Chron. 2 21. and thus onelyonly hee is called his son, as all that come of a mans children, are called his children.
But it is added, Because Machir was a man of Warre, therefore hee had Gilead Qu. and Bashan. In what Warre could he shew his valour, seeing hee must needs bee dead long before that the children of Israel came to make any Warres? Answ. It is most probable, that he fought manfully against the men of Gath, who are said to have come downe to take away their cattell whilst they lived in Eg. pt, 1 Chron. 7 21. and for that he had this commendation. Or by Machir we may understand the Machirites comming of him, who had done worthy service in the Warres on the other side of Jordan: for thus Machir is spoken of, Numb. 32. 40. when the Machirites are meant. Touching Gilead, the sonne of Machir, although all the other families reckoned up, v. 2. came of him; yet those on the other side of Iordan were peculiarly called Gileadites, because they inhabited Gilead, and were the children of Gilead also; wherein the Divine providence is to be noted, as directing it so, that Gilead should have the land of Gilead.
Touching the second and third, enough hath been said already, upon Numb. 26. 30, 31. and Numb. 27. onelyonly, v. 5. because it is said, there fell ten portions V. 5.to the sonnes of Manasseh: it may bee demanded how this could bee, seeing Qu. they were but six families? Answ. They had but six greater portions onelyonly, for each family one: but of that part which fell to the family of Hepher, whose son Zelophehad, had no sons, but five daughters, five lesser parts being made, they were all together ten. If it be said, thus by subdivisions in other families also these portions were not ten onelyonly, but twenty or thirty. It is answered, the Princes that were over the divisions, made not subdivisions for others, but onelyonly for these women who were not so able to manage such a businesse, others, that came of other families, who were men, being left to agree amongst themselves in their subdivisions, because God had set downe a speciall order for those women in the time of Moses. And therefore these portions, although but parts of a portion, are numbred here together with the whole portions, set out by Joshua, Eleazar; &c. and not any other afterwards divided by others.
And the rest of Manassehs sonnes had the Land of Gilead: that is, on the other V. 6.side of Jordan. For the fourth, viz. the description of the lot of this halfe tribe of Manasseh. First, it is shewed, how it went on the right hand, V. 7, 8.that is, south to Entappuah, that is, the fountaine of Tappuah, but the City of Tappuah went to Ephraim, being taken out of the lot of Iudah, as was noted upon Ch. 14. 34. But before this, it is said, the coast of Manasseh was from Asher to Michmetha, where by Asher the tribe is not to be understood, but a City so called, as Bonfrerius saith: but because, v. 10. Manasseh and Ephraim are Bonfrerius.said to meet together in Asher on the north, and in Issachar on the east; it is rather to bee held, that by Asher here the tribe is meant, for the measure proceeded to the south, and therefore began at the north, towards the lot of Asher. Yet Asher is put downe here by anticipation, because he had no lot, till afterwards in Shiloh, Ch. 19. Next the River dividing Manasseh from the Cities of Ephraim, is spoken of, the River Kana, on the south of which lay the separate V. 6.Cities of Ephraim before spoken of, Ch. 16. and Manasseh on the north, both being bounded by the Sea and by Asher and Issachar, north and east. Lastly, it is shewed that Manasseh had Cities within the lot of both those Tribes, Bethshean, V. 11.Ibleam, Dor, Endor, Taanach, and Megiddo, that is, being contiguous to both these Tribes, his lot extended in divers places into them, so Lyra. Whereas in Lyra.concluding, it is added, after this capitulation of six Cities, even three Countreys; the Vulgar Latine hath, and the third part of the City Nopheth: so also the Sept. and Hebr. it is foreign being rendred verbatim, the third of a Province; and it seemeth to me, that the meaning is, these six Cities were the third part of a Countrey, and not three Countreys; nor, that Manasseh had besides them the third part of another City or Countrey, because in the Hebr. it is not, and the third part, but the third, &c These words being added for further explication, how much the foresaid Cities and their Villages amounted to, being considered together. And it agreeth not, when six Cities have been mentioned, to adde, even three Countreys, for why should the three last be summed up more then the former?
Touching the fifth, the children of Joseph complaine that their lot was too V. 14, 15.little for them, saying to Joshua, That hee had given them but one part, and yet they were so increased by Gods blessing, that one would not suffice them. The meaning is, that they had too small a part, considering their multitude, for even the halfe Tribe of Manasseh alone, is said to have ten parts, v. 5. And this part containing many more by subdivisions; it is not meant, was too little for quantity of ground, but because much of it was Woody, and held by the Canaanites. Wherefore Ioshua biddeth them, according to the power that they had through their multitude, to take courage to them, and to cut downe the Woods, and to expell the Canaanites, Perizzites, &c. and so to inlarge their habitations, not meaning yet, that they should cleare the ground, and take in possession any more then that allotted unto them. Some think that there is an Allegory in the word Woods, the Canaanites, Perizzites, and Gyants possessing Bonfrerius.those parts, being meant hereby, who as woods overgrowne, made them horrid and unhabitable for them: and that by cutting downe, is meant the cutting of them off by little: But I see no reason to goe from the literall sense. He addeth, If mount Ephraim be too little for thee: that is, the Countrey assigned now to Ephraim, and already possessed, which was full of mountaines; whereby it should seeme, that the tribe of Ephraim was the chiefe in this complaint: but both tribes are spoken of, as comming together, and complaining of a wrong, as if they had been unjustly dealt withall; saying, that they had but one part, that is, as Calvin hath it, the lot but of one Tribe, when as they were Calvin.one and an halfe. But this complaint was unjust; for although their parts lay together, yet by the descriptions going before it appeareth, that they had two, onelyonly they made account, that the Land yet possessed by the enemy was nothing to them; whereas in the dividing of it to them, it was meant, that they should by military prowesse subdue the enemies, and take in that also, as others of their brethren did. Wherefore Joshua shapeth them an answer accordingly, to stir them up from this sloath and pusillanimity, taking advantage of their own words, that they were much people.
They reply, that mount Ephraim was not sufficient, and that the Canaanites V. 16.dwelling in the valleys, had Chariots of iron, both in Bethshean and Jezreel. Bethshean was within the lot of Manasseh, v. 11. but Iezreel a valley inhabited by the Canaanites, in the lot of Issachar, Ch. 19. 18. and because Bethshean lay into Issachar; it may be conceived, that the valley of Iezreel was upon the border, and so neare at hand to oppose and fight against them, if they should goe up to the woods, for these valleys lay about in their passage, and here were the iron Chariots which they so much feared. These Chariots were thus called, because they had sharp irons fixed to them before, and on the sides, upward and downward like speares, and swords, and hookes; so that the horses running with them, all that stood or lay in the way were cut in pieces and slaughtered hereby: Thus Q. Curtius and Livie and others describe the iron Chariots of Antiochus and Darius, which they used in their Warres; and it is most probable, that these of the Canaanites were like unto them; so that one man driving such a Chariot, could fight herewith, and destroy many. But against these Joshua V. 17, 18.encourageth them, promising that they should have power to drive them out, and possesse their mountaines, and the out goings thereof, that is, the plaine places in the way, notwithstanding their power and preparations.