Joshua 16

KJV · Chapter 16/24

1And the lot of the children of Joseph fell from Jordan by Jericho, unto the water of Jericho on the east, to the wilderness that goeth up from Jericho throughout mount Beth–el,

2And goeth out from Beth–el to Luz, and passeth along unto the borders of Archi to Ataroth,

3And goeth down westward to the coast of Japhleti, unto the coast of Beth–horon the nether, and to Gezer: and the goings out thereof are at the sea.

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

5And the border of the children of Ephraim according to their families was thus: even the border of their inheritance on the east side was Ataroth–addar, unto Beth–horon the upper;

6And the border went out toward the sea to Michmethah on the north side; and the border went about eastward unto Taanath–shiloh, and passed by it on the east to Janohah;

7And it went down from Janohah to Ataroth, and to Naarath, and came to Jericho, and went out at Jordan.

8The border went out from Tappuah westward unto the river Kanah; and the goings out thereof were at the sea. This is the inheritance of the tribe of the children of Ephraim by their families.

9And the separate cities for the children of Ephraim were among the inheritance of the children of Manasseh, all the cities with their villages.

10And they drave not out the Canaanites that dwelt in Gezer: but the Canaanites dwell among the Ephraimites unto this day, and serve under tribute.

📖 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. Joshua 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. Joshua 16:2The border of Ephraim goes out from Bethel toward Luz, passing through the territory of the Archites to Ataroth.
  3. Joshua 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. Joshua 16:4So the descendants of Joseph, divided into Manasseh and Ephraim, receive their share of the promised land.
  5. Joshua 16:5The specific description of Ephraim's territory begins here, with the eastern border running from Ataroth-addar to Upper Beth-horon.
  6. Joshua 16:6The border continues west near Michmethah, then turns back east to Taanath-shiloh and Janohah.
  7. Joshua 16:7From Janohah the line goes down to Ataroth and Naarath, touches Jericho, and ends at the Jordan.
  8. Joshua 16:8From Tappuah the border runs west to the river Kanah, ending at the sea — this closes the outline of Ephraim.
  9. Joshua 16:9Ephraim also receives some cities that lay physically within Manasseh's territory, a common arrangement in this division.
  10. Joshua 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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