Joshua16
New American Standard
1Then the lot for the sons of Joseph went from the Jordan at Jericho to the waters of Jericho on the east into the wilderness, going up from Jericho through the hill country to Bethel.
2It went from Bethel to Luz, and continued to the border of the Archites at Ataroth.
3Then it went down westward to the territory of the Japhletites, as far as the territory of lower Beth-horon even to Gezer, and it ended at the sea.
4The sons of Joseph, Manasseh and Ephraim, received their inheritance.
5Now this was the territory of the sons of Ephraim according to their families: the border of their inheritance eastward was Ataroth-addar, as far as upper Beth-horon.
6Then the border went westward at Michmethath on the north, and the border turned eastward to Taanath-shiloh and continued beyond it to the east of Janoah.
7Then it went down from Janoah to Ataroth and to Naarah, then reached Jericho and came out at the Jordan.
8From Tappuah the border continued westward to the brook of Kanah, and it ended at the sea. This is the inheritance of the tribe of the sons of Ephraim according to their families,
9together with the cities which were set apart for the sons of Ephraim in the midst of the inheritance of the sons of Manasseh, all the cities with their villages.
10But they did not drive out the Canaanites who lived in Gezer, so the Canaanites live in the midst of Ephraim to this day, and they became forced laborers.
Study Guide
Public-domain commentary and original-language notes for Joshua 16.
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.
Key Words
גּוֹרָל: properly, a pebble, i.e. a lot (small stones being used for that purpose); figuratively, a portion or destiny (as if determined by lot)
בֵּן: a son (as a builder of the family name), in the widest sense (of literal and figurative relationship, including grandson, subject, nation, quality or condition, etc., (like father or brother), etc.)
יוֹסֵף: Joseph, the name of seven Israelites
יָצָא: to go (causatively, bring) out, in a great variety of applications, literally and figuratively, direct and proxim.
מִן: properly, a part of; hence (prepositionally), from or out of in many senses
יַרְדֵּן: Jarden, the principal river of Palestine
יְרִיחוֹ: Jericho or Jerecho, a place in Palestine
מִזְרָח: sunrise, i.e. the east
מַיִם: water; figuratively, juice; by euphemism, urine, semen
מִדְבָּר: a pasture (i.e. open field, whither cattle are driven); by implication, a desert; also speech (including its organs)
Cross References
Joshua 16Direct parallel confirming Ephraim failed to drive out the Canaanites in Gezer.
Supported by Matthew Poole
Records the historical fulfillment of Gezer's eventual capture and destruction by Pharaoh for Solomon.
Supported by Matthew Poole
Parallels the shared failure of the Joseph tribes in putting Canaanites to tribute.
Supported by Matthew Poole
Identifies the 'water of Jericho' later healed by Elisha.
Supported by Matthew Poole
Provides the historical origin of Bethel formerly being named Luz.
Supported by Matthew Poole
Identifies the wilderness on the southern border as the wilderness of Beth-aven.
Supported by Matthew Poole
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.
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.
Explains the division order, where Judah and Joseph took possessions first.
Supported by Matthew Poole
The sons of Joseph complain to Joshua about their single lot portion.
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.