Joshua 16

Allotment for Ephraim and Manasseh

1 The allotment for Joseph began at the Jordan, east of the springs of Jericho, and went up from there through the desert into the hill country of Bethel. 

2 It went on from Bethel (that is, Luz),[a] crossed over to the territory of the Arkites in Ataroth, 

3 descended westward to the territory of the Japhletites as far as the region of Lower Beth Horon and on to Gezer, ending at the Mediterranean Sea.

4 So Manasseh and Ephraim, the descendants of Joseph, received their inheritance.

5 This was the territory of Ephraim, according to its clans:

The boundary of their inheritance went from Ataroth Addar in the east to Upper Beth Horon

 6 and continued to the Mediterranean Sea. From Mikmethath on the north it curved eastward to Taanath Shiloh, passing by it to Janoah on the east.

7 Then it went down from Janoah to Ataroth and Naarah, touched Jericho and came out at the Jordan. 

8 From Tappuah the border went west to the Kanah Ravine and ended at the Mediterranean Sea. This was the inheritance of the tribe of the Ephraimites, according to its clans. 

9 It also included all the towns and their villages that were set aside for the Ephraimites within the inheritance of the Manassites.

10 They did not dislodge the Canaanites living in Gezer; to this day the Canaanites live among the people of Ephraim but are required to do forced labor.

Footnotes:

1. Joshua 16:2 Septuagint; Hebrew Bethel to Luz

Observation Questions

What was the allotment for Joseph? (verse 1-3)

Who received their inheritance? (verse 4)

Who was not dislodged in Gezer? (verse 10)

Thoughts

Then they grabbed him and threw him into the cistern. Now the cistern was empty; there was no water in it.  - Genesis 37:24

Joseph named his second son Ephraim, for he said, “God has made me fruitful in this land of my grief.” - Genesis 41:52

So Jacob blessed the boys that day with this blessing: “The people of Israel will use your names when they give a blessing. They will say, ‘May God make you as prosperous as Ephraim and Manasseh.’” In this way, Jacob put Ephraim ahead of Manasseh. - Genesis 48:20

Ephraim son of Joseph 40,500 - Numbers 1:32-33

These were the clans of Manasseh; those numbered were 52,700. - Numbers 26:34

These were the clans of Ephraim. Their registered troops numbered 32,500. These clans of Manasseh and Ephraim were all descendants of Joseph. - Numbers 26:37