Joshua 17:17

17 Yehoshua spoke to the house of Yosef, even to Efrayim and to Menashsheh, saying, You are a great people, and have great power; you shall not have one lot only:

Joshua 17:17 Meaning and Commentary

Joshua 17:17

And Joshua spake unto the house of Joseph, [even] to Ephraim
and to Manasseh
From whence it is clear that some of both were present; and they being brethren, and their interests united, and their cities intermixed, it would be to their mutual advantage to have an enlargement; which the tribe of Manasseh wanted more especially, more of their cities that fell to their lot being in the hands of the Canaanites, than of any other:

saying, thou [art] a great people, and hast great power;
were very numerous, and so able to contend with the Canaanites, and make themselves more room:

thou shalt not have one lot [only];
or only have what they were possessed of, but should have more; and, as they wanted more, they were able enough to get more; and if they exerted their power, relying on the providence of God, through his blessing on their endeavours, they would certainly have an increase of their portion.

Joshua 17:17 In-Context

15 Yehoshua said to them, If you are a great people, go up to the forest, and cut down for yourself there in the land of the Perizzi and of the Refa'im; since the hill-country of Efrayim is too narrow for you.

16 The children of Yosef said, The hill-country is not enough for us: and all the Kana`anim who dwell in the land of the valley have chariots of iron, both they who are in Beit-She'an and its towns, and they who are in the valley of Yizre`el.

17 Yehoshua spoke to the house of Yosef, even to Efrayim and to Menashsheh, saying, You are a great people, and have great power; you shall not have one lot only:

18 but the hill-country shall be yours; for though it is a forest, you shall cut it down, and the goings out of it shall be your; for you shall drive out the Kana`anim, though they have chariots of iron, and though they are strong.