Verse-by-Verse Commentary
The Book of Joshua
Chapter 17: Though They Have Iron Chariots
Manasseh receives its portion, and among the heirs are the five daughters of Zelophehad, who come and claim the inheritance God had promised them, and receive it. But the tribe of Joseph is not content: they complain that one lot is too little for so great a people. Joshua's answer is a call to faith and effort: if you are great, go up and clear the forest, and drive out the Canaanites, 'though they have iron chariots, and though they be strong.' Here is faith that claims the promise, and faith that refuses to be stopped by the strength of the enemy.
About This Commentary
This is a verse-by-verse study of Joshua chapter 17. For each section you will find the KJV text, the Hebrew words that sharpen the meaning, plain explanation, and a Gospel Focus. Here Manasseh receives its inheritance, the daughters of Zelophehad claim their promised portion, and Joseph's complaint is answered with a summons to conquer the iron-chariot Canaanites by faith. Every Scripture quotation is from the King James Version.
Setting the Stage
They Claimed the Promise
Zelophehad's five daughters ask for, and receive, their inheritance.
Not Utterly Driven Out
Manasseh puts the Canaanites to tribute instead of driving them out.
But One Lot?
Joseph grumbles that their portion is too small.
Iron Chariots
Joshua: drive them out, though they be strong.
They Came Near and Claimed the Promise (Joshua 17:1-13)
Manasseh receives its inheritance, and the five daughters of Zelophehad come to claim the portion God had promised them; yet the tribe fails to drive out the Canaanites, putting them to tribute instead.
An Inheritance Among Their Brethren
"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. 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. 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. 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. And there fell ten portions to Manasseh, beside the land of Gilead and Bashan, which were on the other side Jordan; Because the daughters of Manasseh had an inheritance among his sons: and the rest of Manasseh's sons had the land of Gilead. 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. Now Manasseh had the land of Tappuah: but Tappuah on the border of Manasseh belonged to the children of Ephraim; 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: 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 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. Yet the children of Manasseh could not drive out the inhabitants of those cities; but the Canaanites would dwell in that land. 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."
Word Study
"came near," Hebrew qarab (קָרַב). The verb means to draw near, to approach, to come before; "they came near before Eleazar the priest, and before Joshua... saying, The LORD commanded Moses to give us an inheritance." The five daughters of Zelophehad, whose father had died leaving no sons, might have been left with nothing, for inheritance normally passed to sons. But God had already provided for them: years earlier they had brought their case to Moses, and God Himself ruled, "The daughters of Zelophehad speak right: thou shalt surely give them a possession of an inheritance among their father's brethren" (Numbers 27:7). Now they come and claim what God had promised. Notice what they did: they "came near," and they said, "The LORD commanded." They approached with confidence, on the ground of God's own word, and pleaded the promise. And they received: "according to the commandment of the LORD he gave them an inheritance." This is a beautiful picture of laying hold of God's promises. God had spoken; they believed it, came near, and claimed it, and God honored it. So it is with all His promises: they are given, but they are received by those who come and claim them by faith. "Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need" (Hebrews 4:16). The daughters did not stay back in timidity, thinking their case hopeless; they came near and asked, and God gave. So qarab encourages us to draw near and claim what God has promised. His promises are not for the passive but for those who believe them and come, pleading His own word, to receive the inheritance He has given.
Explanation
The chapter pairs a kept promise with an incomplete conquest. On one hand, the daughters of Zelophehad — Mahlah, Noah, Hoglah, Milcah, and Tirzah — come and receive the inheritance God had guaranteed them years before (Numbers 27), so that "he gave them... an inheritance among the brethren of their father." Faith and justice are honored to the letter. On the other hand, Manasseh "could not drive out" the Canaanites of the strong valley cities. The same chapter shows God faithfully keeping His word and Israel falling short of theirs.
Gospel Focus
The inheritance of Manasseh is recorded, and within it a striking scene: the five daughters of Zelophehad, "Mahlah, and Noah, Hoglah, Milcah, and Tirzah," come to claim their portion. In a world where inheritance passed to sons, these women might have been overlooked, but God had made special provision for them (Numbers 27), and they came and claimed it. Their example is one of quiet, believing boldness: they knew God's word, they came near, and they said, "The LORD commanded," and they received "an inheritance among their brethren." God's justice reaches those the world might pass over, and He honors those who lay hold of His promises. But the section ends, like the chapters before it, on the note of incomplete obedience: "the children of Manasseh could not drive out the inhabitants of those cities... they put the Canaanites to tribute; but did not utterly drive them out." Even when Israel "waxen strong" and could have driven them out, they chose the profitable compromise of tribute over full obedience, the same failure as Ephraim at Gezer. For the Apostolic reader the contrast is instructive. The daughters of Zelophehad show faith that claims the promise; Manasseh shows compromise that spares the enemy. On one hand, God's promises are received by those who believe them and come to claim them, we should draw near boldly and take hold of all God has given. On the other hand, the inheritance is spoiled when we tolerate what God said to remove, keeping the Canaanite for gain rather than driving him out. So we learn both lessons together: to come near and claim God's promises like the daughters, and to refuse the profitable compromise that leaves the enemy in the land. Faith both takes hold of the promise and drives out the foe.
Thou Shalt Drive Out the Canaanites (Joshua 17:14-18)
The tribe of Joseph complains that one lot is too small, and Joshua answers with a call to faith and effort: clear the forest, and drive out the Canaanites, though they have iron chariots and are strong.
Though They Be Strong
"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 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. 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 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: But the mountain shall be thine; for it is a wood, and thou shalt cut it down: and the outgoings of it shall be thine: for thou shalt drive out the Canaanites, though they have iron chariots, and though they be strong."
Word Study
"chariots of iron," Hebrew rekeb barzel (רֶכֶב בַּרְזֶל). The children of Joseph offer their excuse: the good land in the valley is held by "Canaanites... have chariots of iron," the tanks of the ancient world, dreaded and seemingly unbeatable by foot soldiers. Iron chariots became a byword for the intimidating strength of the enemy, and more than once fear of them held Israel back (Judges 1:19; 4:3). But Joshua's answer sweeps the excuse aside: "thou shalt drive out the Canaanites, though they have iron chariots, and though they be strong." The enemy's iron chariots are no obstacle to the God who parted the sea and stopped the sun. Joshua does not deny the difficulty; he denies that it is decisive. The tribe of Joseph had complained of too little room while eyeing the hard ground with fear; Joshua tells them plainly, you are great and strong, so go up, clear the forest, and take the valley, iron chariots and all. This is the language of faith over excuse. God's people are prone to two errors at once: to complain of what we lack, and to shrink from the effort and the enemy required to gain more. Joshua's reply confronts both: stop grumbling, start working, and do not fear the strong. "If God be for us, who can be against us?" (Romans 8:31); "the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God" (2 Corinthians 10:4). So rekeb barzel preaches against the excuse of the enemy's strength. The obstacles that look unbeatable, the iron chariots of our fears, are nothing to God; and He calls us not to complain and shrink, but to go up in faith and take the ground He has given, however strong the foe. What God has promised, faith takes hold of, iron chariots and all.
Explanation
Joseph's tribe complains, "Why hast thou given me but one lot... seeing I am a great people?" Joshua's answer refuses the self-pity and hands the complaint back as a challenge: if you are indeed a great and mighty people, then "get thee up to the wood" and clear the forested hills for yourself, and drive out the Canaanites of the valley — "though they have iron chariots, and though they be strong." Their size was an argument for more work, not more grievance. Faith answers a complaint about small portions by rolling up its sleeves and trusting God against the chariots.
Gospel Focus
The tribe of Joseph comes to Joshua with a complaint that mixes pride and self-pity: "Why hast thou given me but one lot and one portion... seeing I am a great people?" They feel entitled to more, yet the tone is grumbling, not faith. Joshua's answer is bracing and wise: "If thou be a great people, then get thee up to the wood country, and cut down for thyself." In effect: if you are as great as you claim, then act like it, go up, work, clear the forest, take more ground. He does not simply hand them a larger lot; he calls them to earn it by effort and faith. Then Joseph reveals the real problem, fear: "all the Canaanites that dwell in the land of the valley have chariots of iron." The good land was held by a strong enemy, and they were afraid. But Joshua will not accept the excuse: "thou shalt drive out the Canaanites, though they have iron chariots, and though they be strong." He affirms their greatness and their power, "thou art a great people, and hast great power," but tells them to use it in faith. For the Apostolic reader this exchange is full of practical wisdom. God's people often want more, more blessing, more fruitfulness, more ground, but want it without the effort and the warfare required to gain it. We complain of our small portion while shrinking from the labor of clearing the forest and the battle against the strong. Joshua's reply is God's word to us: stop grumbling, start working, and do not fear the enemy's strength. The iron chariots that intimidate us are nothing to God. If we would have more of our inheritance, we must go up, labor, and drive out the foe by faith, trusting that the God who promised the land will give it, "though they have iron chariots." The greatness God gives is not for complaining but for conquering; He calls us to take, in His strength, the very ground we are tempted to think is beyond us.
Chapter 17 in Review
Joshua 17 records the inheritance of Manasseh. Among the heirs are the five daughters of Zelophehad, who "came near" and claimed the portion God had promised them, saying, "The LORD commanded Moses to give us an inheritance," and they received it. Yet Manasseh "could not drive out" the Canaanites of the strong cities, and, when strong enough to do so, "put the Canaanites to tribute; but did not utterly drive them out." Then the tribe of Joseph complained of too small a portion, and Joshua answered with a call to faith and effort: go up, clear the forest, and "drive out the Canaanites, though they have iron chariots, and though they be strong."
For the Apostolic reader this chapter sets faith against both timidity and excuse. The daughters of Zelophehad model faith that claims the promise: they knew God's word, drew near boldly, and received their inheritance, teaching us to come and lay hold of what God has given, for His promises are received by those who believe and claim them. Manasseh, by contrast, shows the familiar compromise, sparing the Canaanite for gain rather than driving him out. And the complaint of Joseph exposes a subtler failure: wanting more blessing while shrinking from the effort and the warfare to gain it. Joshua's answer is God's answer to us: stop grumbling, start working, and do not fear the strong, for the enemy's iron chariots are no obstacle to the God who fights for His people. The greatness God gives is not for complaining but for conquering. So we draw near and claim His promises like the daughters; we refuse the profitable compromise that spares the enemy; and we go up in faith to take the ground He has given, laboring hard and fearing no foe, confident that we shall drive out the Canaanite, "though they have iron chariots," because the LORD our God is with us.
- The daughters of Zelophehad "came near" and claimed the promise God had made (17:4; Numbers 27:7).
- God's promises are received by those who believe and boldly claim them (17:4; Hebrews 4:16).
- Manasseh spared the Canaanites for tribute rather than driving them out (17:12-13).
- Joseph wanted more blessing without the effort and warfare to gain it (17:14-16).
- Joshua: stop grumbling, go up, work, and take more ground (17:15, 17-18).
- "Thou shalt drive out the Canaanites, though they have iron chariots" (17:18).
Questions for Reflection
- Do you draw near and claim God's promises, or hang back in timidity?
- Are you sparing a "Canaanite" for gain that God has told you to drive out?
- Do you complain of your small portion while shrinking from the effort to gain more?
- What "iron chariots" of fear are keeping you from the ground God has given you?
References & Sources
Scripture is quoted from the King James Version (KJV). Supporting passages are listed so every claim can be verified in its own setting. Manasseh's inheritance; the daughters of Zelophehad claim the promise: Joshua 17:1-6; Numbers 26:33; 27:1-11; 36:1-12; Hebrews 4:16; 6:12. The Canaanites not utterly driven out: Joshua 17:12-13; Judges 1:27-28; Exodus 23:33; Joshua 16:10. Joseph's complaint; the call to faith over excuse: Joshua 17:14-18; Judges 1:19; 4:3, 13-16; Romans 8:31, 37; 2 Corinthians 10:3-5; Philippians 4:13. If anything here does not look right, a verse, a reference, or a wording, please tell us at info@FruitBearers.net. Thank you for helping us keep Bible Learning error free.
- The daughters of Zelophehad "came near" and claimed the promise: Joshua 17:1-6; Numbers 27:1-11; Hebrews 4:16.
- Manasseh did not utterly drive out the Canaanites, but put them to tribute: Joshua 17:12-13; Judges 1:27-28.
- Joseph's complaint answered with a call to work and faith: Joshua 17:14-17; Romans 8:31.
- "Thou shalt drive out the Canaanites, though they have iron chariots": Joshua 17:18; Judges 1:19; Philippians 4:13.