Joshua 16

Joshua 16:1-4

1. An account of the lot of the sons of Joseph in general, who possessed the services of Judah did the fourteen border, ver. 1-4.

2. The borders of the lot of Ephraim in particular, ver. 5-10.

AND 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, 2. And goeth out from Beth-el to Luz, and paffeth along unto the borders of Arch to Ataroth, 3. And goeth down westward to the coast of Japhelet, unto the coast of Beth-horon the nether, and to Gezer: and the goings out thereof are at the sea. 4. So the children of Joseph, Manaffeh, and Ephraim, took their inheritance.

We have a short and less distinct account of the border of Joseph, than of Judah, though sufficient, no doubt, to make it clear to them at that time.

5. And 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-adder unto Beth-horon the upper. 6. And the border went out toward the sea to Michmetah on the north-side, and the border went about eastward unto Taanath-shiloh, and passed by it on the east to Janohah: 7. And it went down from Janohah to Ataroth and to Naarath, and came to Jericho, and went out at Jordan. 8. The 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. 9. And the separate cities for the children of Ephraim were among the inheritance of the children of Manaffeh, all the cities with their villages. 10. And they drove not out the Canaanites that dwell in Gezer: but the Canaanites dwell among the Ephraim, mires unto this day, and serve under tribute.

Joshua 16:5-10

Ephraim’s border reached south to Dan and Benjamin, from east to west from Jordan to the sea, having Manaffeh on the north. In it lay Samaria, the capital afterwards of the revolted tribes. Mention is here made of separate cities and villages, which lay in the lot of Manaffeh. Being brethren, they could best be intermixed without dispute, as they would love as brethren. A reproach is here cast upon them for sparing the Gezerites, a city in their division: they preferred making them tributary to extirpating them; either softened by their submission, and becoming preselytes, to pity them, or their towns, and to protect themselves by their service. Note, Though our sins do not utterly cast out, respecting their beings, they must be broken respecting their power, and be brought into subjection by every true Israelite.