Joshua 17:15

13 However, when the Israelites grew stronger, they put the Canaanites to forced labor; but they failed to drive them out completely.

14 Then the sons of Joseph said to Joshua, “Why have you given us only one portion as an inheritance? We have many people, because the LORD has blessed us abundantly.”

Joshua answered them, “If you have so many people that the hill country of Ephraim is too small for you, go to the forest and clear for yourself an area in the land of the Perizzites and the Rephaim.”

16 “The hill country is not enough for us,” they replied, “and all the Canaanites who live in the valley have iron chariots, both in Beth-shean with its towns and in the Valley of Jezreel.”

17 So Joshua said to the house of Joseph—to Ephraim and Manasseh—“You have many people and great strength. You shall not have just one allotment,

Here the Bible tells a story about someone else. Ask yourself what it can say to us today. Do read the surrounding verses too, because the context often says more than a single verse.

Compare

BSB
Joshua answered them, “If you have so many people that the hill country of Ephraim is too small for you, go to the forest and clear for yourself an area in the land of the Perizzites and the Rephaim.”
KJV
And Joshua answered them, If thou be a great people, then get thee up to the wood country, and cut down for thyself there in the land of the Perizzites and of the giants, if mount Ephraim be too narrow for thee.
WEB
Joshua said to them, “If you are a numerous people, go up to the forest, and clear land for yourself there in the land of the Perizzites and of the Rephaim, since the hill country of Ephraim is too narrow for you.”
ASV
And Joshua said unto them, If thou be a great people, get thee up to the forest, and cut down for thyself there in the land of the Perizzites and of the Rephaim; since the hill-country of Ephraim is too narrow for thee.
DARBY
And Joshua said unto them, If thou art a great people, then get thee up to the wood, and cut down for thyself there in the land of the Perizzites and of the giants, if the hill-country of Ephraim is too narrow for thee.
BLB
And Joshua answered to them, “If you [are] a great people, [then] go up to the forest and create for yourself there in the land of the Perizzite and the Rephaim, since the mountains of Ephraim are too confined for you.”
ÅB
Da sa Josva til dem: Er du så stort et folk, så gå opp i skogen og rydd deg jord der i ferisittenes og refa'ittenes land, siden Efra'ims fjellbygd er for trang for deg.
OTB
Josva svarte: "Hvis dere er så tallrike, og fjellandet Efraim er for lite for dere, gå opp i skogen og rydd land for dere der i perisittenes og refaimenes område."
B1930
Da sa Josva til dem: Er du så stort et folk, så gå op i skogen og rydd dig jord der i ferisittenes og refa'ittenes land, siden Efra'ims fjellbygd er for trang for dig.

Study notes (Tyndale)

Original text and word study

Cross references

  • Genesis 14:5

    In the fourteenth year, Chedorlaomer and the kings allied with him went out and defeated the Rephaites in Ashteroth-karnaim, the Zuzites in Ham, the Emites in Shaveh-kiriathaim,

    Read in context
  • Genesis 13:7

    And there was discord between the herdsmen of Abram and the herdsmen of Lot. At that time the Canaanites and the Perizzites were also living in the land.

    Read in context
  • Ezra 9:1

    After these things had been accomplished, the leaders approached me and said, “The people of Israel, including the priests and Levites, have not kept themselves separate from the surrounding peoples whose abominations are like those of the Canaanites, Hittites, Perizzites, Jebusites, Ammonites, Moabites, Egyptians, and Amorites.

    Read in context
  • 2 Samuel 5:22

    Once again the Philistines came up and spread out in the Valley of Rephaim.

    Read in context
  • Exodus 33:2

    And I will send an angel before you, and I will drive out the Canaanites, Amorites, Hittites, Perizzites, Hivites, and Jebusites.

    Read in context
  • Luke 12:48

    But the one who unknowingly does things worthy of punishment will be beaten with few blows. From everyone who has been given much, much will be required; and from him who has been entrusted with much, even more will be demanded.

    Read in context
  • 2 Samuel 5:18

    Now the Philistines had come and spread out in the Valley of Rephaim.

    Read in context
  • Genesis 15:20

    Hittites, Perizzites, Rephaites,

    Read in context