Joshua 17:18

because the hill country will be yours as well. It is a forest; clear it, and its farthest limits will be yours. Although the Canaanites have iron chariots and although they are strong, you can drive them out.”

Berean Standard Bible

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Study note

Setting — Joshua addresses the house of Joseph, specifically the tribes of Ephraim and Manasseh, after promising them an expanded inheritance beyond their initial allotment. He speaks to them regarding the assignment of the hill country despite their initial hesitation about Canaanite military strength.

The words — The text highlights יַ֣עַר (Ya'ar, forest) and וּ/בֵ֣רֵאת֔/וֹ (u./Ve.re.T/o, and you will cut it down) to command the clearing of wooded terrain for settlement. It also uses כִּ֣י (ki, for) to introduce the divine guarantee that the land will become theirs.

The thread — The promise of overcoming superior military forces echoes the confidence found in Romans 8:31 and Hebrews 13:6 regarding divine support. The instruction to face chariots and strong armies parallels the warning in Deuteronomy 20:1 not to fear when confronting larger opposing forces.

Why it lands — The verse demands active obedience to clear difficult terrain while trusting divine provision against formidable opponents. It requires the reader to pursue assigned territory through labor and courage rather than retreating because of enemy strength.

Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.

The Hebrew words

כִּ֣יkifor הַ֤רhar[the] hill country יִֽהְיֶה־yih.yeh-it will belongלָּךְ֙lo/Khto <the>/ youכִּֽי־ki-for יַ֣עַרYa.'ar[is] forest ה֔וּאHu'it וּבֵ֣רֵאת֔וֹu./Ve.re.T/oand/ you will cut down/ it וְהָיָ֥הve./ha.Yahand/ it will belongלְךָ֖le./Khato <the>/ youתֹּֽצְאֹתָ֑יוto.tze.'o.Ta/vextremities/ its כִּֽי־ki-for תוֹרִ֣ישׁto.Rishyou will dispossess אֶת־'et-<obj.>הַֽכְּנַעֲנִ֗יha./ke.na.'a.Nithe/ Canaanite[s]כִּ֣יkifor רֶ֤כֶבRe.khevchariotry of בַּרְזֶל֙bar.Zelironל֔וֹl/o[belongs] to <the>/ himכִּ֥יkithat חָזָ֖קcha.Zak[is] strong הֽוּא׃ פHu'he

King James Version

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.

Cross-references

Hebrews 13:6 So we say with confidence: “The Lord is my helper; I will not be afraid. What can man do to me?”
Romans 8:31 What then shall we say in response to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us?
Deuteronomy 20:1 When you go out to war against your enemies and see horses, chariots, and an army larger than yours, do not be afraid of them; for the LORD your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, is with you.
Numbers 14:6 Joshua son of Nun and Caleb son of Jephunneh, who were among those who had spied out the land, tore their clothes
Isaiah 41:10 Do not fear, for I am with you; do not be afraid, for I am your God. I will strengthen you; I will surely help you; I will uphold you with My righteous right hand.
Romans 8:37 No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us.
Joshua 15:9 From the hilltop the border curved to the spring of the Waters of Nephtoah, proceeded to the cities of Mount Ephron, and then bent around toward Baalah (that is, Kiriath-jearim).
Joshua 17:15 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.”
Psalms 27:1 Of David. The LORD is my light and my salvation—whom shall I fear? The LORD is the stronghold of my life—whom shall I dread?
Isaiah 51:12 “I, even I, am He who comforts you. Why should you be afraid of mortal man, of a son of man who withers like grass?