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Joshua 16

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1And the lot came out for the children of Joseph from the Jordan at Jericho, at the waters of Jericho on the east, even the wilderness, going up from Jericho through the hill-country to Beth-el;

2and it went out from Beth-el to Luz, and passed along unto the border of the Archites to Ataroth;

3and it went down westward to the border of the Japhletites, unto the border of Beth-horon the nether, even unto Gezer; and the goings out thereof were at the sea.

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

5And the border of the children of Ephraim according to their families was [thus] : the border of their inheritance eastward was Ataroth-addar, unto Beth-horon the upper;

6and the border went out westward at Michmethath on the north; and the border turned about eastward unto Taanath-shiloh, and passed along it on the east of Janoah;

7and it went down from Janoah to Ataroth, and to Naarah, and reached unto Jericho, and went out at the Jordan.

8From Tappuah the border went along westward to the brook of Kanah; and the goings out thereof were at the sea. This is the inheritance of the tribe of the children of Ephraim according to their families;

9together with the cities which were set apart for the children of Ephraim in the midst of the inheritance of the children of Manasseh, all the cities with their villages.

10And they drove not out the Canaanites that dwelt in Gezer: but the Canaanites dwell in the midst of Ephraim unto this day, and are become servants to do taskwork.

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Matthew Henry Concise Commentary

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Joshua 16:1-999 Chapter 16

The sons of Joseph. --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.

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Commentary

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Joshua 16:1 The General Borders of the Sons of Joseph.

the lot of the children of Joseph fell--Hebrew, "went forth," referring either to the lot as drawn out of the urn, or to the tract of land thereby assigned. The first four verses describe the territory allotted to the family of Joseph in the rich domains of central Palestine. It was drawn in one lot, that the brethren might be contiguously situated; but it was afterwards divided. The southern boundary only is described here; that on the north being irregular and less defined (Jos 17:10, 11), is not mentioned. water of Jericho--(2Ki 2:19), at the joint of its junction with the Jordan. mount Beth-el--the ridge south of Beth-el. Having described the position of Joseph's family generally the historian proceeds to define the territory; first, that of Ephraim.

Joshua 16:5-9 The Borders of the Inheritance of Ephraim.

5-9. the border of their inheritance ... was Ataroth-addar--Ataroth-addar (now Atara), four miles south of Jetta [Robinson], is fixed on as a center, through which a line is drawn from Upper Beth-horon to Michmethah, showing the western limit of their actual possessions. The tract beyond that to the sea was still unconquered.

Joshua 16:6-7 The Borders of the Inheritance of Ephraim.

Michmethah on the north side--The northern boundary is traced from this point eastward to the Jordan.

Joshua 16:8 The Borders of the Inheritance of Ephraim.

from Tappuah westward unto the river Kanah--It is retraced from east to west, to describe the prospective and intended boundary, which was to reach to the sea. Kanah ("reedy") flows into the Mediterranean.

Joshua 16:9 The Borders of the Inheritance of Ephraim.

separate cities for the children of Ephraim were among the inheritance of Manasseh--(Jos 17:9), because it was found that the tract allotted to Ephraim was too small in proportion to its population and power. 10. they drave not out the Canaanites ... but the Canaanites dwell among the Ephraimites unto this day, and serve under tribute--This is the first mention of the fatal policy of the Israelites, in neglecting the divine command (De 20:16) to exterminate the idolaters.

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Archi: A City of Ephraim Joshua 16:2

It went on from Bethel (that is, Luz) and proceeded to the border of the Archites in Ataroth.

Ataroth: A City, or Possibly Two Different Cities, of Ephraim Joshua 16:2, 5, 7

It went on from Bethel (that is, Luz) and proceeded to the border of the Archites in Ataroth. / This was the territory of the descendants of Ephraim by their clans: The border of their inheritance went from Ataroth-addar in the east to Upper Beth-horon / From Janoah it went down to Ataroth and Naarah, and then reached Jericho and came out at the Jordan.

Ephraim: A Tribe of Israel: Territory Allotted To, After the Conquest of Canaan Joshua 16:5–9

This was the territory of the descendants of Ephraim by their clans: The border of their inheritance went from Ataroth-addar in the east to Upper Beth-horon / and out toward the Sea. From Michmethath on the north it turned eastward toward Taanath-shiloh and passed by it to Janoah on the east. / From Janoah it went down to Ataroth and Naarah, and then reached Jericho and came out at the Jordan.

Gezer: Allotted to the Half-Tribe of Ephraim Joshua 16:3, 10

Then it descended westward to the border of the Japhletites as far as the border of Lower Beth-horon and on to Gezer, and it ended at the Sea. / But they did not drive out the Canaanites who lived in Gezer. So the Canaanites dwell among the Ephraimites to this day, but they are forced laborers.

Israel: The Land Allotted Joshua 16:1

The allotment for the descendants of Joseph extended from the Jordan at Jericho to the waters of Jericho on the east, through the wilderness that goes up from Jericho into the hill country of Bethel.

Janohah: A City on the Border of the Tribe of Ephraim Joshua 16:6, 7

and out toward the Sea. From Michmethath on the north it turned eastward toward Taanath-shiloh and passed by it to Janoah on the east. / From Janoah it went down to Ataroth and Naarah, and then reached Jericho and came out at the Jordan.

Jericho: Waters of Joshua 16:1

The allotment for the descendants of Joseph extended from the Jordan at Jericho to the waters of Jericho on the east, through the wilderness that goes up from Jericho into the hill country of Bethel.

Rivers: Kanah Joshua 16:8

From Tappuah the border went westward to the Brook of Kanah and ended at the Sea. This was the inheritance of the clans of the tribe of Ephraim,

Tribe of Ephraim: Bounds of Its Inheritance Joshua 16:5–9

This was the territory of the descendants of Ephraim by their clans: The border of their inheritance went from Ataroth-addar in the east to Upper Beth-horon / and out toward the Sea. From Michmethath on the north it turned eastward toward Taanath-shiloh and passed by it to Janoah on the east. / From Janoah it went down to Ataroth and Naarah, and then reached Jericho and came out at the Jordan.

Tribute (Taxes): from Conquered Nations Joshua 16:10

But they did not drive out the Canaanites who lived in Gezer. So the Canaanites dwell among the Ephraimites to this day, but they are forced laborers.

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