Joshua 16

Ephraim’s Inheritance

1 The allotment for the descendants of Joseph extended from the Jordan at Jericho to the waters of Jericho on the east, through the wilderness that goes up from Jericho into the hill country of Bethel.

2 It went on from Bethel (that is, Luz) ^[a] and proceeded to the border of the Archites in Ataroth.

3 Then it descended westward to the border of the Japhletites as far as the border of Lower Beth-horon and on to Gezer, and it ended at the Sea. ^[b]

4 So Ephraim and Manasseh, the sons of Joseph, received their inheritance.

5 This was the territory of the descendants of Ephraim by their clans:

6 and out toward the Sea. From Michmethath on the north it turned eastward toward Taanath-shiloh and passed by it to Janoah on the east.

7 From Janoah it went down to Ataroth and Naarah, and then reached Jericho and came out at the Jordan.

8 From Tappuah the border went westward to the Brook of Kanah and ended at the Sea.

9 along with all the cities and villages set apart for the descendants of Ephraim within the inheritance of Manasseh.

10 But they did not drive out the Canaanites who lived in Gezer. So the Canaanites dwell among the Ephraimites to this day, but they are forced laborers.

Joshua 16 Commentary

Chapter 16

The sons of Joseph.

- This and the following chapter should not be separated. They give the lots of Ephraim and Manasseh, the children of Joseph, who, next to Judah, were to have the post of honour, and therefore had the first and best portion in the northern part of Canaan, as Judah in the southern part. God's people now, as of old, suffer his enemies to remain. Blessed Lord, when will all ( 1 Corinthians. 15:26 ) thou alone canst do it. These settled boundaries may remind us, that our situation and provision in this life, as well as our future inheritance, are appointed by the only wise and righteous God, and we should be content with our portion, since he knows what is best for us, and all we have is more than we deserve.

Footnotes

• [a]. LXX (See also Joshua 18:13); Hebrew from Bethel to Luz
• [b]. That is, the Mediterranean Sea, also called the Great Sea; also in verses 6 and 8

Chapter Summary

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.