UNROLL
The hill country of Ephraim on a spring morning: green rounded hills with oak woods and new terraces, a spring-fed valley of small fields, and a village of flat-roofed houses on a far slope.

The Book of

Joshua 16

Joseph’s sons receive their land: a line from Jericho to the sea, and one town left standing.

10 verses≈ 3 minBSB

Images are artistic interpretations.

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Where we are

  1. 1–5Crossing overInto the land
  2. 6–12Taking the landThe LORD fights for Israel
  3. 13–21Dividing the landAn inheritance for each tribeChapter 16
  4. 22–24Choose this dayServe the LORD

Ephraim’s Inheritance

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

Joshua 16:4

The valley of Shechem between two great hills in morning light, with fields and a spring in the valley floor.
A steep slope in the hill country of Ephraim stepped with new dry-stone terraces of young olive trees and vines, oak woods on the ridge above and a small village below.

The borders

Ephraim’s border

  1. South

    Ataroth-addar to Upper Beth-horon

    This was the territory of the descendants of Ephraim by their clans: The border of their inheritance went from Ataroth-addar in the east to Upper Beth-horon

  2. On out toward the Sea

    and out toward the Sea.

  3. North, going east

    From Michmethath around to Janoah

    From Michmethath on the north it turned eastward toward Taanath-shiloh and passed by it to Janoah on the east.

  4. Down to Jericho and the Jordan

    From Janoah it went down to Ataroth and Naarah, and then reached Jericho and came out at the Jordan.

  5. North, going west

    Tappuah to the Brook of Kanah

    From Tappuah the border went westward to the Brook of Kanah and ended at the Sea.

  6. The towns

    With towns inside Manasseh

    This was the inheritance of the clans of the tribe of Ephraim,

    along with all the cities and villages set apart for the descendants of Ephraim within the inheritance of Manasseh.

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.

EphraimManassehBrook of KanahJerichoBethelBeth-horonGezerShechemMegiddoBeth-shean

Stylised map · locations approximate

On the map

Joseph’s tribes

Joseph’s lot ran from the Jordan at Jericho up through the wilderness to Bethel, then down past Beth-horon to Gezer and the sea. Ephraim held the southern hills, with the Brook of Kanah between it and Manasseh. Manasseh held the hills around Shechem and to the north, and was given Megiddo and Beth-shean in the valleys, which it could not take (17:11–12). The sites of many smaller border towns, such as Michmethath, Janoah and Tappuah, are uncertain.

Reflect

Almost all the way

Ephraim received good hills, a strong border and a long list of towns. Then comes one quiet line: “But they did not drive out the Canaanites who lived in Gezer.” They kept them as workers instead, which looked useful and cost them nothing at the time. Where are you content with obeying God most of the way? Write down the one thing you have made peace with that He has asked you to deal with. Then pray: Lord, I don’t want to settle for almost. Give me a whole heart to finish what You have begun.

You’ve experienced

Joshua 16

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A verse to carry with you

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

Joshua 16:4

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