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.

JOSHUA 17:16KJV
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Joshua 17:16 (KJV)

What does Joshua 17:16 mean?

Joshua 17:16 shows the descendants of Joseph telling Joshua that the hill country allotted to them is too small, and that the Canaanites living in the valleys have powerful iron chariots, making it difficult for them to take more land. They are expressing concern about both the limited space and the military strength of their neighbors.

In this verse, the "children of Joseph" (the tribes of Ephraim and Manasseh) are speaking to Joshua, the leader of Israel, during the division of the Promised Land. They point out that the land given to them is not enough for their people, and they feel threatened by the Canaanites in the valleys, especially those in Bethshean and Jezreel, who are well-armed with iron chariots. This exchange highlights both their desire for more territory and their fear of the local inhabitants' military technology.

The Hebrew behind Joshua 17:16

  • "children" (בְּנֵי, bənê): This word refers to the descendants or members of a group, here meaning the tribes that come from Joseph.
  • "hill" (הָהָר, hahar): This word means a mountainous or hilly region, emphasizing that the land given was rugged and less suitable for large settlements or agriculture.
  • "chariots" (רֶכֶב, rekhev) and "iron" (בַּרְזֶל, barzel): The mention of iron chariots points to advanced military technology for that time, underlining why the Joseph tribes felt intimidated by the Canaanites.
  • "Bethshean" (בֵּית שְׁאָן, Beit She'an) and "Jezreel" (יִזְרְעֶאל, Yizre'el): These are specific locations in the fertile valleys, known for being strategic and desirable, but also heavily defended.

Why Joshua 17:16 matters

  • Joshua 17:16 clarifies that the tribes of Joseph were not simply dissatisfied, but genuinely concerned about their ability to settle safely due to the military strength of the Canaanites.
  • The verse highlights the practical challenges the Israelites faced in taking possession of the land, especially when encountering advanced weaponry like iron chariots.
  • This moment sets up the ongoing tension in the book of Joshua between God's promises and the real obstacles the Israelites had to overcome, showing that the conquest of the land was not straightforward.

Where else these words appear

“Bethshean” Hebrew H1052 · used in 8 verses

  • Joshua 17:11 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.
  • 1 Samuel 31:10 And they put his armour in the house of Ashtaroth: and they fastened his body to the wall of Bethshan.
  • 2 Samuel 21:12 And David went and took the bones of Saul and the bones of Jonathan his son from the men of Jabeshgilead, which had stolen them from the street of Bethshan, where the Philistines had hanged them, when the Philistines had slain Saul in Gilboa:

“Jezreel” Hebrew H3157 · used in 32 verses

  • Joshua 15:56 And Jezreel, and Jokdeam, and Zanoah,
  • 1 Kings 18:46 And the hand of the LORD was on Elijah; and he girded up his loins, and ran before Ahab to the entrance of Jezreel.
  • 2 Kings 9:37 And the carcase of Jezebel shall be as dung upon the face of the field in the portion of Jezreel; so that they shall not say, This is Jezebel.

“valley” Hebrew H6010 · used in 64 verses

  • Genesis 14:3 All these were joined together in the vale of Siddim, which is the salt sea.
  • Judges 7:8 So the people took victuals in their hand, and their trumpets: and he sent all the rest of Israel every man unto his tent, and retained those three hundred men: and the host of Midian was beneath him in the valley.
  • Job 39:21 He paweth in the valley, and rejoiceth in his strength: he goeth on to meet the armed men.

“iron” Hebrew H1270 · used in 70 verses

  • Genesis 4:22 And Zillah, she also bare Tubalcain, an instructer of every artificer in brass and iron: and the sister of Tubalcain was Naamah.
  • 1 Kings 6:7 And the house, when it was in building, was built of stone made ready before it was brought thither: so that there was neither hammer nor axe nor any tool of iron heard in the house, while it was in building.
  • Psalms 107:16 For he hath broken the gates of brass, and cut the bars of iron in sunder.