find it impossible to emancipate themselves said of the fact by the historian ; the more from such bondage. Fora.smuch a.s the especially_as David (see 2 Sam. xix. 15-17, Lord ha.th blessed me hitherto. Or, halh 31) remamed on the other side Jordan, blessed me lo this extent (but see Exod. vii. while yet it was possible for the Ethiopian 16). There is doubtless here an a.llusion to attendant, as well as ,Jonathan to run to Jacob's blessing (Gen. xlviii. 20; xlix. 22- him with tidings of the defeat ;nd death of 26), the fulfilment of which would naturally Absalom. For the wood country in thi,s make a deep impression on the minds of neighbourhood cf. Psa. cxxxii. 6. Ewald the children of Joseph. Blessing was the would regard the language here as fi gura- w0rd reiterated over and over again by the tive, and the wood as referring to the power- dying patriarch as he gazed upon the chil- ful Phcenician tribes in the neighbourhood. dren of his best-beloved aon. Here, age.in, He regards this answer as a sign of ,Joshua's we have one of those delicate touches, im- "wit." But the interpretation seems far- possible to a writer of fiction, which show fetched and improbable. Cut down. Or, that we have here a.n authentic record of make a clearin[J, just as emigrants do now facts. No doubt the consciousness of the in the primeval forest. This wood, or forest, enthusiastic language of Ja.cob, reiterated has now disappeared, though sufficient wood upon an almost equally solemn occasion by still remains to testify to the correctness of: Moses (Deut. xxxiii. 13-17), coupled with the history. Peri2zltes and of the giants. the obvious fulfilment of these predictions, The Rephaim (see n"es on eh. iii. 10; xii. led the tribe of Joseph to demand as a right 4). If Mount Ephraim be too narrow for the lea.dership in Israel, and no doubt pre- thee. This fastness in the heart of the disposed the other tribes to concede it. 'fhe land, the refuge of Ehud, the dwelling- rivalry of Judah, to which reference has place of Deborah, the early home of a.lree.dy been me.de, e.nd which culminated Samuel, was well adapted to purposes of in the sovereignty of David, was ce.lcule.ted secrecy e.nd defence, but not so well suited to produce a breach which it required the for a place of habitation. utmost tact to heal. Pity it was that the Ver. 16.-And the children of Joseph Ephre.i.mites and Manassites forgot the fact said. This reply justifies Joshua's sarcasm. tha.t the blessing was conditional, and The Ephraimitea and Manassites bl:tme neglected to lay to heart the terrible warn- Joshua when they ought to be blaming ings in Deut. xxviii. But it is too often so themselves. They excuse themselves from with men. They expect the fulfilment of a task which they are' too idle to execute, prop'hecies which predict their aggrandise- and wish Joshua to make arrangements for ment, and too often strive themselves to them which are wholly unnecessary. The hasten the hand of God, while the warnings hill is not enough for us, Literally, the of God's Word, since they a.re less pleasant hill is not /01.md for us-that is, is not suf- to the ne.tural man, are permitted to pass ficient (see Num. xi. 22; Zech. :<. 10). Of by unheeded (see vers. 12, 13, which was the valley of JezreeL Rather, in the valley the first step on the downward road). of Jezreel. The word for valley in this verse Ver. 15.-If thou be a gTeat people. As is PP.l!. (see note on eh. viii.13). Jezreel abut- though Joshua would say, "You are ready ted ~:ri the great pie.in of Esdraelon, a name enough to boast, but unwilling to act. If which is but a corruption of Jezreel (see note your tribe be as large as you say it is, it is on eh. xix. 18), where the chariots of iron capable of taking care of itself. There is could be used with effect, e. thing impossible the vast forest of Central Palestine before you. in the mountain districts. Hence the fact Do not complain to me, but go and te.ke that the hill country of Palestine was more possession of it." Get thee up into the wood rapidly e.nd permanently occupied than the country. The word " country " is not in plains (see Ewald, 'History,' ii. 2 C., and the original, which is, strictly speaking, in Ritter's 'Geography of Palestine,' ii. 328. the direction of the wood. Whether this be Of. Judg. i. 19, cmd note on eh. xi. 6). Here, the "wood of Ephraim'' mentioned in 2 once more, we have a proof that we have Sam. xviii. 6 has been much disputed. real history before us, and not a collection For not only David is related to lrnve of poetic myths. crossed the Jordan, but Absalom also, in Ver. 18. -But the mountain shall be bot pursuit of his father (see 2 Sam. xvii. thine, for it 1s a. wood. This passage 22, 24). Neither e.rmy is mentioned as makes it clear the.t it was not the whole having recrossed the river; e.nd it 1s a ques- territory of Mount Ephraim, but only the tion whether it is more probable tho.t there portion habitable e.t present, that was too happened to be Cl " wood of. Ephraim " on smo.ll for Ephraim e.nd Manasseh. When the other side of Jordan, or that Joab cleared it would afford them more spo.ce, and Absalom with their respective n11nies, But Joshua also recommends them to extend recrnased J ~rd11n without e. word being their operations be.yond its borders, as is cleo.r 264 THE BOOK OF JOSHl' A. (en. XVII. 1--18.
from the mention of the "plain," and the " because " for " though," 11nd regard the " clrnriot.s of iron " (see next note). The very fa.et o! tho strength of the Canaanites outgoings. Not only the mountain itself, as the reason that the sons of Joseph would but the country to which the mountain subdue them. But Exod. xiii. 17; Ps. xlix. passes le,l. Thou shalt drive out. Perhaps 17 supply us with other inste.noes of 1::) thou mayest drive 011,t-i.e., it is in thy in the sense of although, which certainly power. Though they have iron charlots, is the best sense here. " Let it be remem- and though they be m;rong. "No weapon bered how long it was before the Saxons can prosper,. against him who trusts in the were firmly established in Britain, the Is- Lord. Yet, in spite of the encouragement la.mite Arabs in Egypt. Israel could look given by Joshua, the children of Joseph did for uo reinforcements from kindred left be- not di~ve the Ce.ne.anites out, as vers. 11- hind. So much the worse might afterwards 18 show. The only reason of this was that be the position of the nation, left a.lone they did not trust in God, but preferred e.n without hope of kindred auxiliaries to meet unworthy compromise with neighbours who, the repeated outbreaks of the half-subdued however rich in warlike material, were sunk Ce.ne.tmites" (Ewald, 'Hist. Israel,' ii. 2. o, ). in sensuality and sloth. Keil would render