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Josué 16

ARC · Chapter 16/24

1Saiu depois a sorte dos filhos de José, desde o Jordão de Jericó ás aguas de Jericó, para o oriente, subindo ao deserto de Jericó pelas montanhas de Beth-el;

2E de Beth-el sae a Luza, e passa ao termo dos archeos, até Ataroth;

3E desce da banda do occidente ao termo de Japhleti, até ao termo de Beth-horon de baixo, e até Gazer, sendo as suas saidas para o mar.

4Assim alcançaram a sua herança os filhos de José, Manasseh e Ephraim.

5E foi o termo dos filhos de Ephraim, segundo as suas familias, a saber: o termo da sua herança para o oriente era Atharoth-addar até Beth-horon de cima:

6E sae este termo para o occidente junto a Mikametath, desde o norte, e torna este termo para o oriente a Thaanat-silo, e passa por ella desde o oriente a Janoha;

7E desce desde Janoha a Atharoth e a Naharath, e toca em Jericó, e vae sair ao Jordão.

8De Tappuah vae este termo para o occidente ao ribeiro de Cana, e as suas saidas no mar: esta é a herança da tribu dos filhos de Ephraim, segundo as suas familias.

9E as cidades que se separaram para os filhos de Ephraim estavam no meio da herança dos filhos de Manasseh: todas aquellas cidades e as suas aldeias.

10E não expelliram aos cananeos que habitavam em Gazer: e os cananeos habitaram no meio dos ephraimitas até ao dia de hoje; porém serviam-n'os, sendo-lhes tributarios.

📖 Chapter study

Summary

A description of the territory given to the sons of Joseph: the tribes of Ephraim and Manasseh, with a note that the Canaanites of Gezer were not driven out.

Explanation

Ephraim and Manasseh were the two sons of Joseph, and so 'the tribe of Joseph' received a double portion of land - reflecting the special blessing Jacob gave Joseph in Genesis 48. The note that the Canaanites remained in Gezer, though subjected as forced laborers, is a small but significant warning sign: the conquest was not total, and these remaining communities would later become a source of idolatrous influence in the book of Judges. It is a reminder that leaving 'small' acts of disobedience or incomplete commitments tends to grow over time.

Fun facts

  • Ephraim would become so influential that its name came to be used as a synonym for the northern kingdom of Israel in later prophetic texts, such as in Hosea.
  • Gezer, the city not conquered here, would only be taken centuries later by Pharaoh of Egypt, who gave it as a dowry to his daughter when she married Solomon (1 Kings 9:16).

Verse-by-verse explanation

  1. Josué 16:1The border of the tribe of Joseph begins at the Jordan and points like the wilderness of Jericho and the hill country of Bethel — again natural landmarks that served as a living reference for those who lived there, with no need for drawn maps.
  2. Josué 16:2The border of Ephraim goes out from Bethel toward Luz, passing through the territory of the Archites to Ataroth.
  3. Josué 16:3On the west side, the line goes down to the territory of the Japhletites, passes by Lower Beth-horon and Gezer, and ends at the sea.
  4. Josué 16:4So the descendants of Joseph, divided into Manasseh and Ephraim, receive their share of the promised land.
  5. Josué 16:5The specific description of Ephraim's territory begins here, with the eastern border running from Ataroth-addar to Upper Beth-horon.
  6. Josué 16:6The border continues west near Michmethah, then turns back east to Taanath-shiloh and Janohah.
  7. Josué 16:7From Janohah the line goes down to Ataroth and Naarath, touches Jericho, and ends at the Jordan.
  8. Josué 16:8From Tappuah the border runs west to the river Kanah, ending at the sea — this closes the outline of Ephraim.
  9. Josué 16:9Ephraim also receives some cities that lay physically within Manasseh's territory, a common arrangement in this division.
  10. Josué 16:10The Canaanites living in Gezer were not driven out, but became forced labor, paying tribute to the Ephraimites. It's another example of how holding land by lot didn't necessarily mean total expulsion of the previous residents.

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