Joseph's favored descendants receive the largest territorial inheritance yet repeatedly fail to expel the Canaanites, creating an ironic reversal where blessing becomes compromise.
Joshua 16
The Territory of Ephraim and Manasseh
1The lot came out for the children of Joseph from the Jordan at Jericho, at the waters of Jericho on the east, even the wilderness, going up from Jericho through the hill country to Bethel.
2It went out from Bethel to Luz, and passed along to the border of the Archites to Ataroth;
3and it went down westward to the border of the Japhletites, to the border of Beth Horon the lower, and on to Gezer; and ended at the sea.
4The children of Joseph, Manasseh and Ephraim, took their inheritance.
5This was the border of the children of Ephraim according to their families. The border of their inheritance eastward was Ataroth Addar, to Beth Horon the upper.
6The border went out westward at Michmethath on the north. The border turned about eastward to Taanath Shiloh, and passed along it on the east of Janoah.
7It went down from Janoah to Ataroth, to Naarah, reached to Jericho, and went out at the Jordan.
8From Tappuah the border went along westward to the brook of Kanah; and ended at the sea. This is the inheritance of the tribe of the children of Ephraim according to their families;
9together with the cities which were set apart for the children of Ephraim in the middle of the inheritance of the children of Manasseh, all the cities with their villages.
10They didn’t drive out the Canaanites who lived in Gezer; but the Canaanites dwell in the territory of Ephraim to this day, and have become servants to do forced labor.
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Theme
Joshua 16 details the territorial inheritance allocated to the tribes of Ephraim and Manasseh, the descendants of Joseph, in the central hill country of Canaan. The chapter provides specific geographical boundaries for Ephraim's territory, describing borders that extend from the Jordan River westward to the Mediterranean Sea, including key cities like Bethel, Gezer, and Jericho. However, the chapter concludes with a troubling note that Ephraim failed to completely drive out the Canaanites from Gezer, allowing them to remain as forced laborers, which foreshadows future spiritual compromise.
Context
This chapter continues the systematic distribution of tribal inheritances that began in chapter 14, following Judah's allocation and preceding the completion of territorial assignments.
Key Themes
Outline
- 1-4 General Territory for Joseph's Descendants The overall territorial boundaries are established for both Manasseh and Ephraim from Jordan to the Mediterranean.
- 5-8 Ephraim's Specific Boundaries Detailed description of Ephraim's tribal territory with specific cities and geographical markers.
- 9 Cities Within Manasseh's Territory Some cities were designated specifically for Ephraim even though located within Manasseh's borders.
- 10 Incomplete Conquest at Gezer Ephraim's failure to fully drive out the Canaanites, settling instead for forced labor arrangements.
The Territory of Ephraim and Manasseh
16:1–17:18 narrative narration solemn
Description of the territorial inheritance given to the tribes of Ephraim and Manasseh, the sons of Joseph. The passage notes that the Canaanites were not completely driven out but remained as forced laborers.
person_contrast
Joseph's favored descendants receive the largest territorial inheritance yet repeatedly fail to expel the Canaanites, creating an ironic reversal where blessing becomes compromise.
Insights
Cross-References
Connected passages across Scripture
Joshua 16:1 5 references
Lexicals 5
Joshua 20:8 Lexical
Beyond the Jordan at Jericho eastward, they assigned Bezer in the wilderness in the plain out of the tribe of Reuben, Ra…
Numbers 34:15 Lexical
The two tribes and the half-tribe have received their inheritance beyond the Jordan at Jericho eastward, toward the sunr…
Joshua 13:32 Lexical
These are the inheritances which Moses distributed in the plains of Moab, beyond the Jordan at Jericho, eastward.
Joshua 4:19 Lexical
The people came up out of the Jordan on the tenth day of the first month, and encamped in Gilgal, on the east border of…
Joshua 18:12 Lexical
Their border on the north quarter was from the Jordan. The border went up to the side of Jericho on the north, and went…
Joshua 16:2 1 reference
Joshua 16:3 5 references
Lexicals 5
Joshua 18:13 Lexical
The border passed along from there to Luz, to the side of Luz (also called Bethel), southward. The border went down to A…
1 Kings 9:17 Lexical
Solomon built in the land Gezer, Beth Horon the lower,
Joshua 18:14 Lexical
The border extended, and turned around on the west quarter southward, from the mountain that lies before Beth Horon sout…
2 Chronicles 8:5 Lexical
Also he built Beth Horon the upper and Beth Horon the lower, fortified cities with walls, gates, and bars;
1 Chronicles 7:24 Lexical
His daughter was Sheerah, who built Beth Horon the lower and the upper, and Uzzen Sheerah.
Joshua 16:4 5 references
Lexicals 5
Numbers 26:28 Lexical
The sons of Joseph after their families: Manasseh and Ephraim.
Numbers 1:10 Lexical
Of the children of Joseph: of Ephraim: Elishama the son of Ammihud; of Manasseh: Gamaliel the son of Pedahzur.
Genesis 48:1 Lexical
After these things, someone said to Joseph, “Behold, your father is sick.” He took with him his two sons, Manasseh and E…
Joshua 17:17 Lexical
Joshua spoke to the house of Joseph, that is, to Ephraim and to Manasseh, saying, “You are a numerous people, and have g…
Genesis 48:13 Lexical
Joseph took them both, Ephraim in his right hand toward Israel’s left hand, and Manasseh in his left hand toward Israel’…
Joshua 16:5 4 references
Lexicals 4
Joshua 18:13 Lexical
The border passed along from there to Luz, to the side of Luz (also called Bethel), southward. The border went down to A…
Joshua 17:10 Lexical
Southward it was Ephraim’s, and northward it was Manasseh’s, and the sea was his border. They reached to Asher on the no…
Judges 2:9 Lexical
They buried him in the border of his inheritance in Timnath Heres, in the hill country of Ephraim, on the north of the m…
Joshua 24:30 Lexical
They buried him in the border of his inheritance in Timnathserah, which is in the hill country of Ephraim, on the north…
Joshua 16:6 5 references
Lexicals 5
Joshua 17:10 Lexical
Southward it was Ephraim’s, and northward it was Manasseh’s, and the sea was his border. They reached to Asher on the no…
Joshua 15:10 Lexical
and the border turned about from Baalah westward to Mount Seir, and passed along to the side of Mount Jearim (also calle…
Judges 11:18 Lexical
Then they went through the wilderness, and went around the land of Edom, and the land of Moab, and came by the east side…
1 Kings 7:25 Lexical
It stood on twelve oxen, three looking toward the north, and three looking toward the west, and three looking toward the…
Deuteronomy 3:27 Lexical
Go up to the top of Pisgah, and lift up your eyes westward, and northward, and southward, and eastward, and see with you…
Joshua 16:8 5 references
Lexicals 5
Joshua 17:9 Lexical
The border went down to the brook of Kanah, southward of the brook. These cities belonged to Ephraim among the cities of…
Numbers 34:5 Lexical
The border shall turn about from Azmon to the brook of Egypt, and it shall end at the sea.
Joshua 15:4 Lexical
and it passed along to Azmon, went out at the brook of Egypt; and the border ended at the sea. This shall be your south…
Joshua 17:8 Lexical
The land of Tappuah belonged to Manasseh; but Tappuah on the border of Manasseh belonged to the children of Ephraim.
Joshua 15:7 Lexical
The border went up to Debir from the valley of Achor, and so northward, looking toward Gilgal, that faces the ascent of…
Joshua 16:9 2 references
Joshua 16:10 5 references
Lexicals 5
Judges 1:29 Lexical
Ephraim didn’t drive out the Canaanites who lived in Gezer, but the Canaanites lived in Gezer among them.
Judges 1:30 Lexical
Zebulun didn’t drive out the inhabitants of Kitron, nor the inhabitants of Nahalol; but the Canaanites lived among them,…
Judges 1:33 Lexical
Naphtali didn’t drive out the inhabitants of Beth Shemesh, nor the inhabitants of Beth Anath; but he lived among the Can…
Judges 1:28 Lexical
When Israel had grown strong, they put the Canaanites to forced labor, and didn’t utterly drive them out.
Joshua 17:13 Lexical
When the children of Israel had grown strong, they put the Canaanites to forced labor, and didn’t utterly drive them out…
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