Trapp's Complete Commentary · Joshua 第17章

There was also a lot for the tribe of Manasseh; for he [was] the firstborn of Joseph; [to wit], for Machir the firstborn of Manasseh, the father of Gilead: because he was a man of war, therefore he had Gilead and Bashan.

For he was the firstborn of Joseph. — And so had right to a double portion. Deuteronomy 21:17

For Machir the firstborn of Manasseh. — Indeed, his only son. See the like expression in Matthew 1:25 .

Because he was a man of war. — Machir was: or if he was dead by this time, - as he was, or else he was very old, - by Machir is meant his posterity the Machirites (Numbers 26:29 ; compare Judges 5:14 ).

Therefore he had Gilead, — i.e., Half Gilead; for Reuben had the other half.

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There was also [a lot] for the rest of the children of Manasseh by their families; for the children of Abiezer, and for the children of Helek, and for the children of Asriel, and for the children of Shechem, and for the children of Hepher, and for the children of Shemida: these [were] the male children of Manasseh the son of Joseph by their families.

For the rest of the children of Manasseh. — That is, for his grand-children by Gilead, Numbers 26:29 who were yet unprovided of a portion, and were to receive it beyond Jordan in the land of Canaan.

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But Zelophehad, the son of Hepher, the son of Gilead, the son of Machir, the son of Manasseh, had no sons, but daughters: and these [are] the names of his daughters, Mahlah, and Noah, Hoglah, Milcah, and Tirzah.

But Zelophehad. — These daughters of his are commended by their names, by their masculine faith, and by their modesty in suing for their portion. See their plea and success in Numbers 27:1-3 , …

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And they came near before Eleazar the priest, and before Joshua the son of Nun, and before the princes, saying, The LORD commanded Moses to give us an inheritance among our brethren. Therefore according to the commandment of the LORD he gave them an inheritance among the brethren of their father.

He gave them an inheritance. — But with this caution, that they should not marry out of their own tribe. Numbers 36:6

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And there fell ten portions to Manasseh, beside the land of Gilead and Bashan, which [were] on the other side Jordan;

And there fell ten portions to Manasseh. — Six to his six sons, Joshua 17:2 and the rest to Zelophehad’s daughters.

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Because the daughters of Manasseh had an inheritance among his sons: and the rest of Manasseh’s sons had the land of Gilead.

Because the daughters of Manasseh. — Here was no Salic law to exclude them. In many women, besides their sex, there is nothing womanlike, or weak souls have no sexes; and women’s bodies are of a more exact composition, …

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And the coast of Manasseh was from Asher to Michmethah, that [lieth] before Shechem; and the border went along on the right hand unto the inhabitants of Entappuah.

And the coast of Manasseh was from Asher. — Which was a town, say some, seated at the south-east end of Manasseh’s lot.

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[Now] Manasseh had the land of Tappuah: but Tappuah on the border of Manasseh [belonged] to the children of Ephraim;

Belonged to the children of Ephraim. — These two tribes were one within another, yet did not well agree.

“ Fratrum concordia rara est. ”

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And the coast descended unto the river Kanah, southward of the river: these cities of Ephraim [are] among the cities of Manasseh: the coast of Manasseh also [was] on the north side of the river, and the outgoings of it were at the sea:

See Joshua 17:8 ; and take heed of unnatural wars and bickerings.

“ Nullos habitura triumphos. ”

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Southward [it was] Ephraim’s, and northward [it was] Manasseh’s, and the sea is his border; and they met together in Asher on the north, and in Issachar on the east.

And the sea is his border. — The Syrian or Midland Sea.

And they met together in Asher on the north, and in Issachar on the east. — And yet their spirits lay sometimes like that haven in Acts 27:12 , "toward the south-west and north-west," two opposite points.

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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.

Bethshean. — Afterwards called Scythopolis. 2 Maccabees 12:29

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Yet the children of Manasseh could not drive out [the inhabitants of] those cities; but the Canaanites would dwell in that land.

Could not drive out. — As their fathers could not enter the promised land, so neither could they possess it, "because of unbelief."

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Yet it came to pass, when the children of Israel were waxen strong, that they put the Canaanites to tribute; but did not utterly drive them out.

They did not utterly. — This was their covetousness; they kept them and squeezed them, as the Papists do at this day deal by the Jews that live amongst them.

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And the children of Joseph spake unto Joshua, saying, Why hast thou given me [but] one lot and one portion to inherit, seeing I [am] a great people, forasmuch as the LORD hath blessed me hitherto?

And the children of Joseph spake unto Joshua. — Presuming, it may be, on his nearness unto them in blood and kindred, as being of the same tribe. But this did nothing sway him from a course of justice: the sun might sooner be turned out of his track, as it was once said of Fabricius. Joshua will not be partial, or gratify his kinsmen by scanting others, but putteth them upon labour.

Why hast thou given me but one lot? — Two they had, but they reckon it but for one, through discontent. The world is full of such μεμψιμοιροι , who know not when they are pleased, but are ready to complain both full and fasting.

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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.

If thou be a great people. — Thus he retorteth their arguments upon themselves, that if they were so numerous, they were the better able to enlarge their borders by their own endeavours, though it might be to their pains and peril.

Get thee up to the wood. — Where many hands may make light work, and soon lay all level, fit for thy use.

If mount Ephraim be too narrow for thee. — And so thou want room, as bees do, that for like cause, do hang out of the hive’s mouth on heaps.

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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 Canaanites … have chariots of iron. — Which were first a terror, and then a scorn, as was before noted out of Vegetius. But where there wanteth a heart, there is never wanting some lion in the way, Proverbs 22:13 ; Proverbs 26:13 yea, two lions for failing, one in the fields, and another in the streets: so here. The hill is not enough for us, and the Canaanites are too hard for us.

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And Joshua spake unto the house of Joseph, [even] to Ephraim and to Manasseh, saying, Thou [art] a great people, and hast great power: thou shalt not have one lot [only]:

Thou art a great people, and hast great power. — And therefore it were a shame for thee to want room, to despair of victory, having God’s promise for thine encouragement, and being so well able to deal with the enemy: η ταν η επι ταν , said she to her son, when she gave him a shield, and sent him forth to the battle: Either bring this back with thee, or be thou brought back dead upon it. Either vanquish or die, said the Black Prince’s father to him at the battle of Cressy, where he was in great distress. So saith Joshua here to his contribules: If you want room, cut your way through a wood of men, through a forest of wood; cast not perils, but venture and prosper.

“ "Audaces Deus ipse iuvat. ”

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