Joshua 16ASV
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Joshua16

American Standard Version · Public Domain

1And the 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 Beth-el;

2and it went out from Beth-el to Luz, and passed along unto the border of the Archites to Ataroth;

3and it went down westward to the border of the Japhletites, unto the border of Beth-horon the nether, even unto Gezer; and the goings out thereof were at the sea.

4And the children of Joseph, Manasseh and Ephraim, took their inheritance.

5And the border of the children of Ephraim according to their families was thus: the border of their inheritance eastward was Ataroth-addar, unto Beth-horon the upper;

6and the border went out westward at Michmethath on the north; and the border turned about eastward unto Taanath-shiloh, and passed along it on the east of Janoah;

7and it went down from Janoah to Ataroth, and to Naarah, and reached unto Jericho, and went out at the Jordan.

8From Tappuah the border went along westward to the brook of Kanah; and the goings out thereof were 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 midst of the inheritance of the children of Manasseh, all the cities with their villages.

10And they drove not out the Canaanites that dwelt in Gezer: but the Canaanites dwell in the midst of Ephraim unto this day, and are become servants to do taskwork.

Study Guide

Public-domain commentary and original-language notes for Joshua 16.

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Chapter Summary

In this chapter: The sons of Joseph. (1-31).

vv1-31

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 our enemies be subdued? 1Co 15:26. Do thou drive them all out; 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.

Cross References

Joshua 16
v10Judges 1:29thematic

Direct parallel confirming Ephraim failed to drive out the Canaanites in Gezer.

Supported by Matthew Poole

v101 Kings 9:16thematic

Records the historical fulfillment of Gezer's eventual capture and destruction by Pharaoh for Solomon.

Supported by Matthew Poole

v10Joshua 17:13thematic

Parallels the shared failure of the Joseph tribes in putting Canaanites to tribute.

Supported by Matthew Poole

v12 Kings 2:19-21thematic

Identifies the 'water of Jericho' later healed by Elisha.

Supported by Matthew Poole

v2Genesis 28:19thematic

Provides the historical origin of Bethel formerly being named Luz.

Supported by Matthew Poole

v1Joshua 18:12thematic

Identifies the wilderness on the southern border as the wilderness of Beth-aven.

Supported by Matthew Poole

v9Joshua 17:9thematic

Documents the complex overlapping boundary and shared cities between Ephraim and Manasseh.

Supported by JFB

Lists the possessions and habitations of Ephraim, including Bethel and Naaran.

v3Joshua 10:10thematic

Mentions Beth-horon, a key boundary point and previous battle site.

Supported by Matthew Poole

Records that Sheerah, an Ephraimite woman, built Beth-horon the nether and the upper.

v1Joshua 18:5thematic

Explains the division order, where Judah and Joseph took possessions first.

Supported by Matthew Poole

v4Joshua 17:14thematic

The sons of Joseph complain to Joshua about their single lot portion.

v10Joshua 15:63contrast

Contrasts Ephraim's failure in Gezer with Judah's failure to expel Jebusites from Jerusalem.

Law regarding tributary service, though God commanded total driving out in Canaan.