And Joshua answered them, If thou be a great people, then get thee up to the wood country, and cut down for thyself there in the land of the Perizzites and of the giants, if mount Ephraim be too narrow for thee.
Joshua replied to them, 'If you are such a large group of people, then go up into the forested hill country and clear the land for yourselves there in the territory of the Perizzites and the giants, since the hill country of Ephraim is too small for you.'
Joshua is challenging the tribe of Ephraim to stop complaining about their small territory and instead work hard to expand it by clearing more land from their enemies.
📚 Historical Context
In the book of Joshua, the Israelites were dividing the Promised Land among the tribes after their military conquests, as God had commanded. The tribe of Ephraim, descendants of Joseph, complained that their allotted territory in the hill country of Ephraim was too cramped for their growing numbers. Joshua responded by challenging them to take initiative and clear forested areas occupied by the Perizzites and the Rephaites, known as giants, to expand their holdings.
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