Joshua chapter 16 is about the allotment of Manasseh and Ephraim. This chapter first describes the allotment of Joseph, which was a vast area of land.

Joseph’s Allotment of Land

This started from the Jordan which was towards the east of Jericho where the springs are found. From there, Joseph’s allotment went up to the hill of the region called Bethel, and through the desert land. This area crossed the land territory which was inhabited by the Arkites, which was in Ataroth.

Also crossing over the territory of the people called Japhletites. It also goes as far as the Lower Beth Horon regions past Gezer. It ends as soon as the land meets the Mediterranean Sea.

Inheritance of Manasseh and Ephraim

The descendants of Joseph, Manasseh, and Ephraim were to receive their inheritance. The land that was given to Ephraim, according to the clans, was this: The boundaries of the Ephraimites was the land that went up from Ataroth Addar, which can be found in the east side all the way up to the Upper Beth Horon and on until the Mediterranean sea.

From the land known as Mikmethath, which was found in the north, it curved towards the east side and passed Taanath Shiloh. It crossed Janoah, which was on the east side as well. From Janoah, the land given stretched to Ataroth as well as Naarah. It went through Jericoh and touched on the Jordan River. From the land known as Tappuah, the further west borders hit the Kanah Ravine and met the other border as it ended in the Mediterranean Sea.

All that land was given to the descendants of Ephraim and his clan. All of this included the towns as well as villages that were occupied. This was set aside for the Ephraimites. However, they did not dislodge any of the Canaanites who were living in Gezer. Until this day, they are in that area, but are forced to do heavy labor.

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Joshua 16 (King James Version)

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,

2 And goeth out from Bethel to Luz, and passeth along unto the borders of Archi to Ataroth,

3 And 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.

4 So 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;

6 And 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;

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 Manasseh, all the cities with their villages.

10 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.

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