Joshua 17:18

the mountain i.e. "the mountain of Ephraim," shall be thine, for it is a forest. It should fall to their lot because the house of Joseph was strong and able, and could clear the woodland.

the outgoings of it i.e. the fields and plains bordering upon the wood.

though they have Though they have war chariots, and are so formidable, yet wilt thou who art a great people and hast great power, drive them out. None of the tribes of Israel can compete with thee in strength! Use it then, and thou wilt gain not only the mountain, but the "outgoings" beyond, and as at the waters of Merom (Joshua 11:7), the iron chariots and the military strength of thy foes will avail them nothing. "The long range of mountains running from Carmel south-eastward across central Palestine appeared like a frowning rampart defended by Canaanite foes." But this was the very reason why the great house of Joseph should prove themselves worthy of their great power by scaling that rampart. It is plain from this passage that "at the time of the Israelitish invasion the mountains of Gilboa and the country adjacent were covered with dense forests, of which not a trace now remains, and which made them a more secure asylum for those who sought protection, than open fields could be. And it seems to have been a shrewd device of the great Hebrew chieftain, the counselling the descendants of Joseph to go up into the mountain land; for it would lead to the laying bare of the whole country, and would compel the adjacent inhabitants to come out from their places of refuge, and make open resistance to the invaders." Ritter, ii. 328. Observe in the discontent now expressed by the "house of Joseph," the mutterings of the louder complaints we afterwards hear them making against Gideon (Judges 8:1-3), against Jephthah (Judges 12:1-7), and against David (2 Samuel 20:1-5).