Joshua 16:4-10

4 The descendants of Joseph, the tribes of Ephraim and West Manasseh, received this land as their possession.

5 This was the territory of the Ephraimite families: their border ran from Ataroth Addar eastward to Upper Beth Horon,

6 and from there to the Mediterranean Sea. Michmethath was on their north. East of there the border bent toward Taanath Shiloh and went past it on the east to Janoah.

7 Then it went down from Janoah to Ataroth and Naarah, reaching Jericho and ending at the Jordan.

8 The border went west from Tappuah to the stream Kanah and ended at the Mediterranean Sea. This was the land given to the families of the tribe of Ephraim as their possession,

9 along with some towns and villages that were within the borders of Manasseh, but given to the Ephraimites.

10 But they did not drive out the Canaanites who lived in Gezer, so the Canaanites have lived among the Ephraimites to this day, but they have been forced to work as slaves. ¹

Joshua 16:4-10 Meaning and Commentary

INTRODUCTION TO JOSHUA 16

This chapter gives us an account of the lot of the children of Joseph, Ephraim, and the half tribe of Manasseh, one half having settled on the other side Jordan; and first the borders of the whole lot in general are given, Jos 16:1-4; and then the borders of the tribe of Ephraim in particular, Jos 16:4-8; and it is observed, that this tribe had besides separate cities among the children of Manasseh, and that there were some Canaanites, particularly in Gezer, not driven out by the Ephraimites, Jos 16:9,10.

Cross References

• 1. 16.10Judges 1.29.