What is the meaning of Joshua 17:18? The hill country will be yours as well “Because the hill country will be yours as well.” (Joshua 17:18a) • God’s promise is generous and expansive; He grants more than the fertile valleys already allotted to Manasseh (Joshua 17:5–6). • This echoes the wider covenant promise: “Every place on which the sole of your foot treads shall be yours” (Deuteronomy 11:24; cf. Genesis 13:14–17). • The statement affirms that divine allotment covers challenging terrain, not just easy ground—mirroring the believer’s call to trust in God’s provision in every circumstance (Romans 8:32). It is a forest; clear it “It is a forest; clear it …” (Joshua 17:18b) • The land’s current condition requires effort; blessings often arrive as opportunities that must be cultivated (Proverbs 14:23). • Clearing the forest would supply timber for homes, cities, and the tabernacle’s future needs (cf. 1 Kings 5:6–8). • Obedience is active: God grants, yet His people cooperate (Philippians 2:12–13). Its farthest limits will be yours “… and its farthest limits will be yours.” (Joshua 17:18c) • Boundaries expand as faith and obedience advance (Isaiah 54:2–3). • This forward-looking clause anticipates generations yet unborn inheriting secure borders (Psalm 115:14–15). • The phrase also foreshadows the fuller rest found later under David and Solomon (2 Samuel 8:3; 1 Kings 4:21). Although the Canaanites have iron chariots and although they are strong “Although the Canaanites have iron chariots and although they are strong …” (Joshua 17:18d) • Iron chariots were cutting-edge military technology (Judges 1:19), symbolizing overwhelming opposition. • Scripture repeatedly notes that outward might does not cancel God’s decree (Psalm 20:7; 2 Chronicles 20:15). • The statement acknowledges reality; faith never denies facts but looks beyond them to divine sovereignty (Hebrews 11:1, 27). You can drive them out “… you can drive them out.” (Joshua 17:18e) • The command is rooted in God’s prior guarantee: “No man shall be able to stand against you” (Joshua 1:5). • Victory is assured when Israel acts in faith, as seen at Jericho (Joshua 6) and later with David and Goliath (1 Samuel 17:45-47). • Practical encouragement: spiritual battles today are winnable through steadfast reliance on Christ (Ephesians 6:10-13; 1 John 4:4). summary Joshua 17:18 combines promise and responsibility. God enlarges Manasseh’s inheritance, yet calls them to clear forests and face formidable foes. The passage reassures believers that no obstacle—whether untamed terrain or iron-clad opposition—can nullify God’s pledge. Active obedience unlocks the full extent of His provision, proving that what He assigns, He equips His people to possess. |
    |