Keraia
Joshua 16

Joshua 16:10

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

Translations

Modern
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.
Traditional
And they drave not out the Canaanites that dwelt in Gezer: but the Canaanites dwell among the Ephraimites unto this day, and serve under tribute.
Literal
And they did not drive out the Canaanite dwelling in Gezer, and the Canaanite dwelt in the midst of Ephraim to this day, and he came to be for forced labor, serving.
Latin
Et non interfecerunt filii Ephraim Chananæum, qui habitabat in Gazer: habitavitque Chananæus in medio Ephraim usque in diem hanc tributarius.

Original

Hebrew
English
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.

Notes

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

Ephraim: Second son of Joseph, and a tribe of Israel

Places

Canaan: Ancient region; descendants of Ham; promised to Abraham's descendants Gezer: A Canaanite city, conquered by Joshua and later by David

Glossary

Allotment of the Land Ephraim, Tribe of Gilgal Joshua (Person) Joshua, Book of Judges, Book of Tribe of Dan

Topics

Ephraim: A Tribe of Israel: Failed to Expel the Canaanites Gezer: Allotted to the Half-Tribe of Ephraim Gezer: Canaanites not all Expelled From, but Made to Pay Tribute (Taxes) Tribe of Ephraim: Could not Drive out the Canaanites but Made Them Tributary Tribute (Taxes): from Conquered Nations Tribute: Exacted from all Conquered Nations