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Joshua 16

Joshua 16:1

Ephraim’s Inheritance · Joshua 16:1–10
Read Joshua 16

Translations

Modern
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.
Traditional
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,
Literal
And the lot for the sons of Joseph went out from the Jordan by Jericho to the waters of Jericho on the east, to the wilderness that goes up from Jericho in the hill country of Bethel,
Latin
Cecidit quoque sors filiorum Joseph ab Jordane contra Jericho et aquas ejus ab oriente: solitudo quæ ascendit de Jericho ad montem Bethel:

Original

Hebrew
English
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.

Notes

Joshua 16:1

The tribe of Benjamin received Jericho as their territory (18:21).

Joshua 16:1–17:18

Joseph had two sons, Manasseh and Ephraim (Genesis 41:50–52). Half of those descended from Manasseh received their inheritance east of the Jordan River. The tribe of Ephraim and the rest of Manasseh's tribe now received their land. This made the total number of land portions twelve, fulfilling Jacob's blessing to Joseph (Genesis 49:22–26). Like Judah in the south, Joseph’s tribes led from their central position in the north.

Joshua 14:1–19:51

  • The allotment of land to the tribes on the west side of the Jordan describes what God intended for each tribe to possess.

  • The one narrating the story begins this section with Caleb receiving land and ends with Joshua receiving land (14:6–15; 19:49–51). Only Caleb and Joshua had shown faith in God that Israel could conquer the land (Numbers 13:30; 14:6–9).

Joshua 13:1–21:45

  • As he had promised, God brought Israel into the land. Joshua then focused on dividing the land among Israel's tribes.

  • The tribal allowances made the covenant of the Israelites with God real. It showed the fulfillment of God's promise to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. Since God owned the land, giving it to the tribes was a gift. God gave them the land to live in and guided its distribution.

  • In these lists of tribal allowances, the author describes some borders in great detail, allowing them to be mapped. With others, they are less plainly defined.

Theme notes and profiles

Joshua Inheriting the Land

People

Joseph: Son of Jacob, ruler in Egypt

Places

Bethel: Important city in Israel, associated with Abraham and Jacob Jericho: An ancient city in Canaan, famously conquered by Israel Jordan: A river and region, significant in Israel's history

Glossary

Allotment of the Land Bethel (Place), Bethelite Ephraim, Tribe of Gilgal Jericho Joshua (Person) Joshua, Book of Judges, Book of Manasseh, Tribe of Tribe of Dan

Topics

Canaan: Land of by Joshua, Eleazar and a Prince from Each Tribe Israel: The Land Allotted Jericho: Waters of Joshua: Also Called Jehoshua, and Jehoshuah, and Oshea: Allots the Land