ALPHA MAAMA (A.M.)

Tu’apulelulu ‘Okatopa 7, 2021

you are a numerous people, go up …clear ground for yourselves

kakai lahi koe, pea ‘alu hake ‘e koe ki he vao, ‘o huo ma‘au ‘i ai

Siosiua 17 (Joshua 17)

(v. 14-18) Then the people of Joseph spoke to Joshua, saying, “Why have you given me but one lot and one portion as an inheritance, although I am a numerous people, since all along the Lord has blessed me?” And Joshua said to them, “If you are a numerous people, go up by yourselves to the forest, and there clear ground for yourselves in the land of the Perizzites and the Rephaim, since the hill country of Ephraim is too narrow for you.” The people of Joseph said, “The hill country is not enough for us. Yet all the Canaanites who dwell in the plain have chariots of iron, both those in Beth-shean and its villages and those in the Valley of Jezreel.” Then Joshua said to the house of Joseph, to Ephraim and Manasseh, “You are a numerous people and have great power. You shall not have one allotment only, but the hill country shall be yours, for though it is a forest, you shall clear it and possess it to its farthest borders. For you shall drive out the Canaanites, though they have chariots of iron, and though they are strong.”

(v. 14-17) Pea fakalea ange ‘e he hako ‘o Siosifa kia Siosiua, ‘o pehē, Ko e hā kuo ke vahe mei ai ha ‘inasi pē taha mo ha tofi‘a pē taha? Ka ko e kakai lahi au: he kuo tu‘ulāhoko mai hoku tāpuaki ‘e he ‘Eiki! Pea tali ‘e Siosiua kiate kinautolu, Kapau ko e kakai lahi koe, pea ‘alu hake ‘e koe ki he vao, ‘o huo ma‘au ‘i ai, ‘i he fonua ‘o ha‘a Pēlisi, mo ha‘a Lifaimi, ‘o kapau ‘oku ke ‘efihia ‘i Mo‘unga-‘Ifalemi. Pea lea mai ‘a e hako ‘o Siosifa. ‘Oku ‘ikai te mau hao ‘i he mo‘unga, pea ko e ngaahi ha‘a Kēnani ‘oku nofo ‘i he talalo ‘oku nau ma‘u sāliote ukamea, ‘e kinautolu ‘oku nofo ‘i Petesani mo hono ngaahi kolo fakaongo, mo kinautolu ‘i he talalo ‘o Sisilili. Pea lea ‘a Siosiua ki he hako ‘o Siosifa, ‘a ‘Ifalemi mo Manase, ‘o pehē, Ko e kakai lahi koe, pea, ‘oku lahi ‘a e ivi ‘oku ke ma‘u: ‘e ‘ikai taha pē ho vahe, kae ‘o‘ou ‘a e fonua mo‘unga: pea neongo ko e vao ia, ka te ke huo, pea ‘e ‘o‘ou hono ngaahi tele‘a: he te ke kapusi ‘a e ha‘a Kēnani neongo ‘oku nau fakasāliote ukamea, pea neongo ‘enau mālohi.

 

G. Campbell Morgan's Exposition on the Whole Bible

It is interesting to note that in the territory allotted to Manasseh, some of the cities of Ephraim are included; and, moreover, that some of the cities of Manasseh are within the territory of Asher and Issachar. The reason for this may be, in the first case, to mark the unity between Ephraim and Manasseh as the sons of Joseph; and, in the second case, because Asher and Issachar, especially the latter, were not strong enough to subdue the territory committed to them.

Ephraim was discontented with the portion allotted to it and complained to Joshua. The newer he gave was characteristic of him and a revelation of the greatness of his statesmanship. He manifested an understanding of the weakness of these tribes and of the principles on which alone they might become strong. He did not deny their declaration that they were a great people, but with what would seem to have been a touch of irony, he charged them to demonstrate their greatness by taking possession of what they had. He instructed them to go up to the mountains and cut down the trees and drive out their foes. The principle thus revealed is of perpetual application. If the Church of God would possess its possessions it would be far more powerful.

David Guzik :: Study Guide for Joshua 17

Manasseh and Ephraim were somewhat large tribes.  Their combined number was greater than any other single tribe.  Here, they complain that they have not been allotted adequate land.

He tells them, "if you are a great people, then go and get the land for yourself; fully occupy what the LORD has given you."  These tribes had not completely taken the mountain country in their midst, because it would be hard and dangerous work.

How different is their attitude than Caleb's attitude (Joshua 14:11-12)!  They want "easy land" given to them, instead of taking God's promises and going out and taking what God has given them.  The principle applies just as strongly for us today; if we desire more of something, the first thing to do is to be a faithful as we can where we are.

Perhaps they appealed to Joshua as a fellow Ephraimite, because he was a descendent of Joseph himself.