They were a strong and numerous people who needed to trust in God’s promise to claim more territory.
“Then Joshua spoke to the house of Joseph, to Ephraim and Manasseh, saying, ‘You are a numerous people and have great power; you shall not have one lot only’” (v. 17).
In this passage, Joshua addresses the tribe of Joseph, specifically Ephraim and Manasseh, who descended from Joseph, the eleventh son of Jacob. Joseph was sold into slavery in Egypt around the late 19th century BC yet rose to prominence in Egyptian society (Genesis 37-50). By Joshua’s era (approximately 1400-1370 BC), the descendants of Joseph had become very numerous. They were settled just west of the Jordan River in the land then called Canaan, which corresponded roughly to the territory that would later form part of Northern Israel (Joshua 17:14-18). Ephraim and Manasseh requested more land because of their growing population and influence.
“Then Joshua spoke to the house of Joseph… You are a numerous people and have great power” (v. 17). Joshua, seen as Moses’s successor and leader of the Israelite conquest, occupied that role in the historical timeline right after Moses’s death (Deuteronomy 34). Joshua’s mission was to guide Israelite tribes to possess and settle the Promised Land. In addressing Ephraim and Manasseh, he acknowledged their strength and population. They would not be confined to one inheritance; rather, they would conquer forested hill country and drive out inhabitants still in fortified cities (v. 18). Although there was more work to do to fully occupy and defend their own territory against remaining Canaanite opposition, Joshua urged them to trust God’s promise and use the resources and power God granted them.
“You shall not have one lot only.” This promise reminds believers today that God’s provision often involves both inheritance and responsibility. Just as the house of Joseph had to fight and clear the hill country, followers of Christ are called to step out in faith to receive and steward the blessings God gives (Romans 8:17). Joshua pointed the descendants of Joseph to an active faith: they were a powerful, numerous people, but they still had the task of driving out any remaining opposition, trusting that the LORD would be with them.
A short summary of this passage is that Joshua assured Ephraim and Manasseh that they would indeed receive the full land God had promised them, but they must seize it courageously according to God’s power and guidance.
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Joshua 17:17 meaning
“Then Joshua spoke to the house of Joseph, to Ephraim and Manasseh, saying, ‘You are a numerous people and have great power; you shall not have one lot only’” (v. 17).
In this passage, Joshua addresses the tribe of Joseph, specifically Ephraim and Manasseh, who descended from Joseph, the eleventh son of Jacob. Joseph was sold into slavery in Egypt around the late 19th century BC yet rose to prominence in Egyptian society (Genesis 37-50). By Joshua’s era (approximately 1400-1370 BC), the descendants of Joseph had become very numerous. They were settled just west of the Jordan River in the land then called Canaan, which corresponded roughly to the territory that would later form part of Northern Israel (Joshua 17:14-18). Ephraim and Manasseh requested more land because of their growing population and influence.
“Then Joshua spoke to the house of Joseph… You are a numerous people and have great power” (v. 17). Joshua, seen as Moses’s successor and leader of the Israelite conquest, occupied that role in the historical timeline right after Moses’s death (Deuteronomy 34). Joshua’s mission was to guide Israelite tribes to possess and settle the Promised Land. In addressing Ephraim and Manasseh, he acknowledged their strength and population. They would not be confined to one inheritance; rather, they would conquer forested hill country and drive out inhabitants still in fortified cities (v. 18). Although there was more work to do to fully occupy and defend their own territory against remaining Canaanite opposition, Joshua urged them to trust God’s promise and use the resources and power God granted them.
“You shall not have one lot only.” This promise reminds believers today that God’s provision often involves both inheritance and responsibility. Just as the house of Joseph had to fight and clear the hill country, followers of Christ are called to step out in faith to receive and steward the blessings God gives (Romans 8:17). Joshua pointed the descendants of Joseph to an active faith: they were a powerful, numerous people, but they still had the task of driving out any remaining opposition, trusting that the LORD would be with them.
A short summary of this passage is that Joshua assured Ephraim and Manasseh that they would indeed receive the full land God had promised them, but they must seize it courageously according to God’s power and guidance.