Joshua 16:1–10
1 Then the lot for the sons of Joseph went from the Jordan at Jericho to the waters of Jericho on the east into the wilderness, going up from Jericho through the hill country to Bethel.
2 It went from Bethel to Luz, and continued to the border of the Archites at Ataroth.
3 Then it went down westward to the territory of the Japhletites, as far as the territory of lower Beth-horon even to Gezer, and it ended at the sea.
4 The sons of Joseph, Manasseh and Ephraim, received their inheritance.
5 Now this was the territory of the sons of Ephraim according to their families: the border of their inheritance eastward was Ataroth-addar, as far as upper Beth-horon.
6 Then the border went westward at Michmethath on the north, and the border turned eastward to Taanath-shiloh and continued beyond it to the east of Janoah.
7 Then it went down from Janoah to Ataroth and to Naarah, then reached Jericho and came out at the Jordan.
8 From Tappuah the border continued westward to the brook of Kanah, and it ended at the sea. This is the inheritance of the tribe of the sons of Ephraim according to their families,
9 together with the cities which were set apart for the sons of Ephraim in the midst of the inheritance of the sons of Manasseh, all the cities with their villages.
10 But they did not drive out the Canaanites who lived in Gezer, so the Canaanites live in the midst of Ephraim to this day, and they became forced laborers.
Territory of the Tribe of Joseph (1)
Joseph’s allotment
Chapters 16 and 17 should be read as one chapter. Through Jacob’s prophesy on his deathbed (Gen. 49), special positions were given to the tribes of both Judah and Joseph. A prominent position was given to the tribe of Joseph (through them the Messiah will come), but the right of the firstborn was given to the tribe of Joseph. Thus, the lot was cast first for the tribe of Judah and then for the tribe of Joseph. The central hill country was given to the tribe of Joseph as their territory, from the southern boundary adjacent to Dan and Benjamin, to the northern boundary adjacent to Asher, Issachar, and Zebulun. The central area of Canaan was given to the tribes of Judah and Joseph. The remaining areas were divided amongst the seven tribes (Rueben and Gad had already received the land east of the Jordan River, and no land was given to Levi).
The tribe of Ephraim
Joseph’s firstborn was Manasseh and the second born was Ephraim. However, when Jacob blessed the two sons, he crossed his arms, giving Ephraim favor over his older brother (Gen. 48). As a result, Ephraim received his allotment first upon the distribution of the land.
Each tribe was responsible for conquering the allotted land. However, the tribe of Ephraim did not drive out the Canaanites who lived in Gezer. The Israelites took the city in the time of Solomon. Gezer was an old Canaanite city located 30 km (approx. 19 miles) northwest of Jerusalem. It was an important fort town that protected the highway along the coastline. It says in 1 Kings 9:16–17, “For Pharaoh king of Egypt had gone up and captured Gezer and burned it with fire, and killed the Canaanites who lived in the city, and had given it as a dowry to his daughter, Solomon’s wife. So Solomon rebuilt Gezer and the lower Beth-horon.” There are enemies even in our lives that we cannot remove on our own. However, in the end time, all enemies will be conquered by the Messiah. “[T]hen comes the end, when He hands over the kingdom to the God and Father, when He has abolished all rule and all authority and power … The last enemy that will be abolished is death” (1 Cor. 15:24–26).
Today's prayer
God of Israel, those who do not know Christ pass from this world in vain. Please have mercy. Use me as Your messenger. I pray in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.