Joshua 16:7

KJV

And it went down from Janohah to Ataroth, and to Naarath, and came to Jericho, and went out at Jordan.

KJV (with Strong's)

And it went down {H3381} from Janohah {H3239} to Ataroth {H5852}, and to Naarath {H5292}, and came {H6293} to Jericho {H3405}, and went out {H3318} at Jordan {H3383}.

Complete Jewish Bible

then it went down from Yanochah to 'Atarot, went to Na'arah, extended to Yericho and ended at the Yarden.

Berean Standard Bible

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

American Standard Version

and it went down from Janoah to Ataroth, and to Naarah, and reached unto Jericho, and went out at the Jordan.

Commentary

### SUMMARY
Joshua 16:7 meticulously delineates a specific segment of the southern boundary of the territory allotted to the tribe of Ephraim within the Promised Land. This verse traces the border's precise trajectory as it descends from the highland region of Janohah, passes through the significant points of Ataroth and Naarath, reaches the ancient city of Jericho, and finally extends eastward to the Jordan River, thereby defining a crucial portion of Ephraim's inheritance.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** Joshua 16:7 is embedded within the detailed account of the division of the land of Canaan among the Israelite tribes, specifically following the initial allocation to Judah and the general description of the Josephite tribes' (Ephraim and Manasseh) inheritance. Chapters 13-19 of the book of Joshua are dedicated to these precise geographical descriptions, serving as a legal and historical record of the fulfillment of God's covenant promises. This particular verse, following the broader outline of Ephraim's territory in [Joshua 16:1-3](/joshua/16-1 "Joshua 16:1-3 - Ephraim's Inheritance Begins"), offers a granular, topographical description of the southern border, distinguishing Ephraim's land from that of Benjamin to the south. It is part of a meticulous inventory, emphasizing the tangible reality of the land's distribution.
* **Historical & Cultural Context:** The division of the land occurred after the initial conquest campaigns led by Joshua, marking a pivotal transition from a nomadic, conquering people to a settled, agrarian society. The precise delineation of tribal boundaries was crucial for establishing identity, preventing disputes, and ensuring the equitable distribution of resources in an agricultural society. Culturally, land ownership was deeply tied to identity, inheritance, and covenant blessings, reflecting God's faithfulness to the patriarchal promises. Geographically, the verse describes a descent from the central highlands of Canaan (where Janohah would be located) eastward towards the Jordan Valley, a significant topographical feature that served as a natural eastern boundary for many tribes. Jericho, mentioned in the verse, was a strategically important and ancient city, famously conquered by Joshua at the beginning of the conquest narrative in [Joshua 6](/joshua/6 "Joshua 6 - The Fall of Jericho"), making its inclusion as a border marker highly significant.
* **Key Themes:** This geographical verse, though seemingly mundane, contributes to several overarching themes in the book of Joshua and the broader biblical narrative. Firstly, it powerfully underscores **Divine Faithfulness and Fulfillment**, demonstrating God's meticulous adherence to His ancient covenant promises to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob to give their descendants a specific land ([Genesis 15:18](/genesis/15-18 "Genesis 15:18 - God's Covenant with Abraham")). The detailed boundaries prove that God's word is precise and trustworthy. Secondly, it highlights **Precision and Order**, revealing the systematic and orderly way in which God's will was executed through Joshua's leadership. The exact enumeration of landmarks signifies a divinely ordained structure, not a haphazard allocation. Thirdly, it reinforces the theme of **Tribal Inheritance and Secure Possession**, emphasizing that each tribe received its designated portion, securing their identity and future within the land. This meticulous record served as a foundational document for Israel's national identity and their relationship with God, who provided for them so completely, as promised in [Deuteronomy 1:8](/deuteronomy/1-8 "Deuteronomy 1:8 - The Promised Land").

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS

#### Key Word Analysis
* **Went down (Hebrew, _yarad'_ יָרַד):** This verb signifies a descent in elevation, which is geographically accurate for the terrain from the central highlands of Canaan towards the Jordan Valley. The use of "went down" is not merely descriptive but implies a natural topographical flow of the boundary, following valleys and contours. It highlights the realistic, tangible nature of the land division and the careful observation of the landscape by those surveying it.
* **Jericho (Hebrew, _yericho'_ יְרִיחוֹ):** A city of immense historical and theological significance in the book of Joshua, famously the first city conquered by Israel in Canaan ([Joshua 6](/joshua/6 "Joshua 6 - The Fall of Jericho")). Its inclusion as a border marker emphasizes its strategic importance and its role as a known, fixed point in the landscape. For the Israelites, Jericho represented both a past victory and a present landmark, anchoring the boundary in a place deeply etched into their collective memory and faith narrative.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"And it went down from Janohah to Ataroth":** This phrase initiates the description of the southern border's trajectory, indicating a general eastward and downward movement from a known point, Janohah. Janohah likely refers to a location in the central hill country, serving as an initial high-point marker. Ataroth, another significant landmark, is reached as the border descends, implying a specific path through the terrain.
* **"and to Naarath":** The boundary continues its eastward descent, passing through or touching Naarath. The repeated "and to" (וְעַד, _ve'ad_) emphasizes a continuous, sequential path, meticulously listing each significant point along the border's course. This reinforces the precision with which the land was divided.
* **"and came to Jericho":** This marks a crucial point in the border's journey. Jericho, a prominent city in the Jordan Valley, serves as a major landmark, indicating that the southern boundary of Ephraim extended to or near this historically significant location. The phrase "came to" suggests the culmination of this segment of the border's path.
* **"and went out at Jordan":** The final segment of this border description indicates that the boundary extended all the way to the Jordan River, which formed the natural eastern boundary of the land of Canaan. "Went out at Jordan" implies that the border reached and terminated at the river, establishing a clear and unmistakable eastern limit for Ephraim's territory.

#### Literary Devices
Joshua 16:7 primarily employs **Topographical Description**, meticulously detailing the geographical features and landmarks that define the southern border of Ephraim. The verse functions as a precise survey record, utilizing a sequential listing of places to trace the boundary's path. The consistent use of the conjunction "and" (polysyndeton) creates a sense of **Linear Progression** and **Meticulous Detail**, emphasizing the thoroughness of the land division. The verb "went down" (יָרַד - _yarad_) also subtly introduces **Directional Movement**, guiding the reader's mental map along the descending terrain towards the Jordan Valley. The overall effect is one of **Precision** and **Order**, underscoring the careful and deliberate fulfillment of God's promises through the tangible act of land allocation.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
Joshua 16:7, while a geographical detail, is profoundly theological. It testifies to God's faithfulness and meticulousness in fulfilling His covenant promises. Just as God promised Abraham a land for his descendants, this verse demonstrates the precise, tangible reality of that promise's fulfillment. The exact delineation of boundaries reflects not only human administration but divine intention, showing that God's plans are not vague but concrete and detailed. This precision instills confidence in God's character—He is a God who keeps His word, down to the smallest detail. It reminds us that our inheritance, whether spiritual or physical, is secured by His unwavering faithfulness and meticulous provision.

* [Genesis 15:18](/genesis/15-18 "Genesis 15:18 - God's Covenant with Abraham Regarding the Land")
* [Psalm 78:55](/psalm/78-55 "Psalm 78:55 - God's Allotment of Land")
* [Deuteronomy 1:8](/deuteronomy/1-8 "Deuteronomy 1:8 - The Lord's Promise of Land")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
Joshua 16:7 invites us to marvel at the meticulous nature of God. If God is so precise in detailing geographical boundaries for an ancient tribe, how much more detailed and intentional is His plan for our lives and His kingdom? This verse calls us to trust in God's faithfulness, recognizing that His promises are not vague aspirations but concrete realities, meticulously worked out in time and space. It encourages us to find security in His sovereign design, knowing that He has established boundaries and provisions for our good. Just as Ephraim received a defined inheritance, we too have an inheritance in Christ, secured by God's precise and unwavering commitment. This passage also subtly reminds us of the importance of spiritual boundaries in our lives—those principles and commands God has given us for our protection and flourishing, ensuring we remain within the bounds of His blessing.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **How does the meticulous detail of this geographical verse deepen your understanding of God's character and His faithfulness?**
* **In what areas of your life do you need to trust more in God's precise and orderly provision, rather than relying on your own plans?**
* **What "boundaries" (spiritual, relational, ethical) has God established for your life, and how do they contribute to your flourishing and security?**

### FAQ

**Why does the Bible include such detailed geographical descriptions, which seem less relevant to modern readers?**

Answer: The inclusion of detailed geographical descriptions like Joshua 16:7 serves several crucial purposes. Firstly, it provides undeniable evidence of the historical reality of the events described. These are not mythical tales but accounts rooted in a specific time and place, anchoring the biblical narrative in tangible history. Secondly, these details underscore God's faithfulness in fulfilling His promises. The land was promised, and here are the precise boundaries of its distribution, demonstrating God's meticulous attention to His word. Thirdly, for the original audience, these details were vital for establishing tribal identity, land ownership, and preventing disputes, serving as a legal and administrative record. For modern readers, they reinforce the truthfulness of Scripture and highlight God's orderliness and precision in all His dealings, even in seemingly mundane details.

**What is the spiritual significance of "boundaries" in the biblical narrative, as exemplified by this verse?**

Answer: In the biblical narrative, boundaries are more than just geographical lines; they often carry profound spiritual significance. They represent God's order, provision, and protection. For the Israelites, the boundaries of their tribal inheritances signified their secure possession of the land promised by God, a place of blessing and identity. Spiritually, boundaries can symbolize the parameters God sets for human flourishing—His commands, covenants, and the limits of our freedom. Just as the land boundaries protected the tribes from encroachment and ensured their inheritance, God's spiritual boundaries protect us from spiritual danger, define our identity in Him, and secure our spiritual inheritance. They are not restrictive for restriction's sake, but for our good, leading us into a life of blessing and purpose within God's will, as seen in the wisdom literature's emphasis on staying within wisdom's bounds ([Proverbs 4:26-27](/proverbs/4-26 "Proverbs 4:26-27 - Guard Your Path")).

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
While Joshua 16:7 describes a physical land boundary in ancient Israel, it points forward to the ultimate inheritance found in Jesus Christ. The meticulous division of the land, ensuring each tribe received its portion, foreshadows the spiritual inheritance believers receive through Christ, which is far more secure and eternal. Just as the Israelites entered a physical land of rest, believers enter into a spiritual rest and inheritance in Christ, not through conquest of physical territory but through His finished work on the cross. The "going down" to the Jordan River can symbolically point to Christ's condescension, His "going down" from heaven to earth, and even His baptism in the Jordan, initiating His public ministry that would secure our true, heavenly inheritance. Our inheritance is not a piece of land but participation in Christ's own inheritance as the Son of God ([Romans 8:17](/romans/8-17 "Romans 8:17 - Heirs with Christ")). He is our true "Promised Land," our dwelling place, and the source of all our blessings ([Ephesians 1:3](/ephesians/1-3 "Ephesians 1:3 - Blessed in Christ")). The meticulous precision of the land boundaries finds its ultimate fulfillment in the perfect and unshakeable security of our salvation and eternal life, guaranteed by Christ's faithfulness and the indwelling of the Holy Spirit, who is the down payment of our inheritance ([Ephesians 1:13-14](/ephesians/1-13 "Ephesians 1:13-14 - Sealed with the Holy Spirit")).

Note: Commentary is generated by AI with a directive for Biblical fidelity. Always rely on the Holy Spirit for discernment. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

Cross-References

1 Chronicles 7:28

And their possessions and habitations [were], Bethel and the towns thereof, and eastward Naaran, and westward Gezer, with the towns thereof; Shechem also and the towns thereof, unto Gaza and the towns thereof:

Numbers 33:48

And they departed from the mountains of Abarim, and pitched in the plains of Moab by Jordan [near] Jericho.

Joshua 3:16

That the waters which came down from above stood [and] rose up upon an heap very far from the city Adam, that [is] beside Zaretan: and those that came down toward the sea of the plain, [even] the salt sea, failed, [and] were cut off: and the people passed over right against Jericho.

Joshua 6:26

And Joshua adjured [them] at that time, saying, Cursed [be] the man before the LORD, that riseth up and buildeth this city Jericho: he shall lay the foundation thereof in his firstborn, and in his youngest [son] shall he set up the gates of it.

Joshua 6:1

¶ Now Jericho was straitly shut up because of the children of Israel: none went out, and none came in.