Joshua 16

King James Version

Full text for Joshua Chapter 16

1¶ 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 Bethel,

2And goeth out from Bethel 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 Bethhoron 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.

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 Atarothaddar, unto Bethhoron the upper;

6And the border went out toward the sea to Michmethah on the north side; and the border went about eastward unto Taanathshiloh, 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.

AI Analysis

AI Summaries

Short Summary

Joshua 16 details the territorial inheritance allotted to the children of Joseph, encompassing the tribes of Ephraim and Manasseh. Their lot extended from the Jordan near Jericho westward to the Mediterranean Sea. The chapter specifically outlines the boundaries for the tribe of Ephraim and notes their failure to fully dispossess the Canaanites in Gezer.

Medium Summary

Joshua chapter 16 delineates the land inheritance granted by lot to the children of Joseph, comprising the tribes of Ephraim and Manasseh. This territory stretched from the Jordan River near Jericho on the east, extending westward through areas like Bethel, Luz, and Bethhoron, ultimately reaching the Mediterranean Sea. The chapter then provides a more precise description of the boundaries for the tribe of Ephraim. Their eastern border ran from Atarothaddar to Bethhoron the upper, moving north to Michmethah, then eastward to Taanathshiloh and Janohah, before descending to Ataroth, Naarath, Jericho, and the Jordan. Westward, their land extended from Tappuah to the river Kanah, concluding at the sea. Additionally, Ephraim received cities within the territory of Manasseh. A notable point is that the Ephraimites did not expel the Canaanites residing in Gezer, who continued to dwell among them, albeit serving under tribute.

Long Summary

Joshua chapter 16 commences by describing the general allocation of land by lot to the children of Joseph, which includes the tribes of Ephraim and Manasseh. This initial description outlines a broad geographical expanse for their inheritance, beginning from the Jordan River by Jericho on the east. The boundary extended westward through the wilderness that ascends from Jericho towards Mount Bethel, then from Bethel to Luz, and along the borders of Archi to Ataroth. It continued westward to the coast of Japhleti, encompassing Bethhoron the nether and Gezer, with its westernmost point reaching the sea. Following this general overview, the chapter provides a detailed delineation of the specific borders for the tribe of Ephraim according to their families. Their eastern inheritance line was marked by Atarothaddar, extending to Bethhoron the upper. The border then proceeded toward the sea to Michmethah on the north side, before turning eastward to Taanathshiloh and passing by it to Janohah. From Janohah, the boundary descended to Ataroth and Naarath, eventually reaching Jericho and concluding at the Jordan River on the east. On the western side, Ephraim's border extended from Tappuah unto the river Kanah, with its termination point at the sea. This comprehensive description defines the full extent of Ephraim's tribal inheritance. Furthermore, the chapter notes that the children of Ephraim were also allotted separate cities and their villages within the inheritance of the children of Manasseh, indicating a degree of intermingling or shared administrative areas. A significant detail recorded in the final verse is that the Ephraimites did not succeed in driving out the Canaanites who resided in Gezer. Consequently, these Canaanites continued to dwell among the Ephraimites "unto this day," serving under a system of tribute.

Core Concepts

  • Inheritance by LotThe method used to distribute the land among the tribes, specifically for the children of Joseph (Ephraim and Manasseh), signifying a divinely guided allocation of territory.
  • Children of JosephA collective term referring to the tribes descended from Joseph's sons, Ephraim and Manasseh, who received a significant and contiguous portion of the promised land.
  • Tribal BordersDetailed geographical descriptions outlining the specific boundaries of the land allotted to the tribe of Ephraim, using landmarks such as rivers, cities, and mountains to define their territory.
  • GezerA specific city within Ephraim's designated territory where the Canaanite inhabitants were not fully expelled, but remained among the Ephraimites and served under tribute.
  • Incomplete ConquestThe failure of the Ephraimites to fully dispossess the Canaanites from Gezer, illustrating a recurring theme in the book of Joshua where indigenous inhabitants were not entirely driven out.
  • TributeThe system by which the remaining Canaanites in Gezer were subjected to the Ephraimites, indicating their subjugation and service rather than complete expulsion from the land.