Joshua16

Joshua 16 details the territorial inheritance allotted to the children of Joseph, encompassing the tribes of Ephraim and Manasseh. Their lot extended from the Jordan near Jericho westward to the Mediterranean Sea. The chapter specifically outlines the boundaries for the tribe of Ephraim and notes their failure to fully dispossess the Canaanites in Gezer.

The Inheritance of the Children of Joseph

1
The border of the territory chosen by lot for the descendants of Yosef began from the Yarden at Yericho, at the spring of Yericho on the east, went up from Yericho through the hills and desert to Beit-El, ​
2
went out from Beit-El to Luz, passed on to the border with the Arki to 'Atarot, ​
3
went down westward to the border with the Yafleti, to the border of Lower Beit-Horon, on to Gezer and ending at the sea.
4
So the descendants of Yosef, M'nasheh and Efrayim took the inheritance. ​

Boundaries of the Tribe of Ephraim

5
The border of the descendants of Efrayim according to their families was as follows: the eastern border of their inheritance began at 'Atrot-Adar and went to Upper Beit-Horon; ​
6
then the border extended westward, with Mikhm'tat on the north; next the border turned eastward to Ta'anat-Shiloh and passed by it to the east of Yanochah;
7
then it went down from Yanochah to 'Atarot, went to Na'arah, extended to Yericho and ended at the Yarden.
8
From Tapuach the border went westward to Vadi Kanah and ended at the sea. This is the inheritance of the tribe of the descendants of Efrayim according to their families,
9
together with the cities set aside for the descendants of Efrayim inside the territory to be inherited by the descendants of M'nasheh, all the cities with their villages. ​
10
They did not drive out the Kena'ani living in Gezer, so the Kena'ani live together with Efrayim to this day, having become slaves to do the heavy work. ​

Study Notes for Joshua 16

Verse 1

The 'children of Joseph' refers to the tribes of Ephraim and Manasseh, who received their inheritance jointly before the specific boundaries were delineated. This territory formed the central highlands, the geographical and political heart of the later Northern Kingdom.

Verse 2

The mention of 'Bethel to Luz' suggests that Luz was the older, Canaanite name for the city, which Israel renamed Bethel ('House of God') after Jacob’s experience there (Gen. 28:19).

Verse 4

Joseph received a double portion (two tribes) through his sons, Ephraim and Manasseh, fulfilling the blessing given by Jacob (Gen. 48:5).

Verse 5

Ephraim, though the younger son, was blessed by Jacob as the greater tribe (Gen. 48:19), and its territory was highly fertile and strategically important, lying just north of Benjamin.

Verse 9

This verse shows that the borders were porous, and some cities belonging to Ephraim existed as enclaves within the territory of Manasseh, indicating a degree of shared settlement and cooperation.

Verse 10

This failure to fully drive out the Canaanites in Gezer is the first recorded instance of incomplete obedience in the conquest narrative. This compromise violated Yahweh’s command and became a major theological problem, setting the stage for the religious and military struggles documented later in the book of Judges.

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