Joshua16
New King James Version
1The lot fell to the children of Joseph from the Jordan, by Jericho, to the waters of Jericho on the east, to the wilderness that goes up from Jericho through the mountains to Bethel,
2then went out from Bethel to Luz, passed along to the border of the Archites at Ataroth,
3and went down westward to the boundary of the Japhletites, as far as the boundary of Lower Beth Horon to Gezer; and it ended at the sea.
4So the children of Joseph, Manasseh and Ephraim, took their inheritance.
5The border of the children of Ephraim, according to their families, was thus: The border of their inheritance on the east side was Ataroth Addar as far as Upper Beth Horon.
6And the border went out toward the sea on the north side of Michmethath; then the border went around eastward to Taanath Shiloh, and passed by it on the east of Janohah.
7Then it went down from Janohah to Ataroth and Naarah, reached to Jericho, and came out at the Jordan.
8The border went out from Tappuah westward to the Brook Kanah, and it ended at the sea. This was the inheritance of the tribe of the children of Ephraim according to their families.
9The separate cities for the children of Ephraim were among the inheritance of the children of Manasseh, all the cities with their villages.
10And they did not drive out the Canaanites who dwelt in Gezer; but the Canaanites dwell among the Ephraimites to this day and have become 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.