Joshua 16

The portion of Ephraim

he allotment for Joseph began at the Jordan, east of the springs of Jericho, and went up from there through the desert into the hill country of Bethel. 2It went on from Bethel (that is, Luz), crossed over to the territory of the Arkites in Ataroth, 3descended westward to the territory of the Japhletites as far as the region of Lower Beth Horon and on to Gezer, ending at the Mediterranean Sea.

4So Manasseh and Ephraim, the descendants of Joseph, received their inheritance. 5This was the territory of Ephraim, according to its clans: The boundary of their inheritance went from Ataroth Addar in the east to Upper Beth Horon 6and continued to the Mediterranean Sea. From Mikmethath on the north it curved eastward to Taanath Shiloh, passing by it to Janoah on the east.

7Then it went down from Janoah to Ataroth and Naarah, touched Jericho and came out at the Jordan. 8From Tappuah the border went west to the Kanah Ravine and ended at the Mediterranean Sea. This was the inheritance of the tribe of the Ephraimites, according to its clans. 9It also included all the towns and their villages that were set aside for the Ephraimites within the inheritance of the Manassites.

10They did not dislodge the Canaanites living in Gezer; to this day the Canaanites live among the people of Ephraim but are required to do forced labor.

Commentary
Joshua 16 details the allocation of territory to the tribes of Ephraim and Manasseh, the descendants of Joseph. It describes the northern boundary of Ephraim's inheritance, extending from Jericho to Bethel and then westward. The chapter also notes the failure of the Ephraimites to drive out the Canaanites living in Gezer, a significant detail that foreshadows future struggles and highlights the incomplete obedience of Israel in possessing the land God had promised.
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Bible Dictionary· Joshua 16(6)

Bible Characters· Joshua 16(2)

New International Version (NIV) © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.

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