Joshua 16: Joseph's Inheritance and Ephraim's Borders

Short answer: Joshua 16 records the lot for the children of Joseph, specifying the territory for Ephraim and Manasseh. It also notes that the Canaanites in Gezer were not driven out but became forced laborers.

What Joshua 16 says

The chapter opens with the lot for the children of Joseph, which fell from the Jordan at Jericho, through the wilderness, and up into the hill country to Bethel. The boundary then moved from Bethel to Luz, along the border of the Archites to Ataroth, and down westward to the border of the Japhletites, to Beth Horon the lower, and on to Gezer, ending at the sea. This describes the southern and western limits of the Joseph tribes' inheritance. The text emphasizes that the lot came out for Joseph, meaning the allocation was by divine decision, not human preference. The description is geographical and precise, showing that the land was carefully apportioned.

Verses 4 to 8 focus on the inheritance of the tribe of Ephraim specifically. The border of Ephraim went from Ataroth Addar eastward to Beth Horon the upper, then westward at Michmethath on the north, turning eastward to Taanath Shiloh, and passing along the east of Janoah. It went down from Janoah to Ataroth, to Naarah, reached Jericho, and went out at the Jordan. From Tappuah the border went westward to the brook of Kanah and ended at the sea. This detailed boundary marked the land that Ephraim would possess. The passage also notes that cities were set apart for Ephraim within the inheritance of Manasseh, showing that the tribes of Joseph were intertwined in their settlement.

Verse 9 clarifies that within the territory of Manasseh, certain cities with their villages were set apart for the children of Ephraim. This indicates that the allotment was not strictly contiguous; there was overlap or enclaves. The text does not explain why this arrangement was made, but it simply records it as part of the inheritance. This detail highlights the complexity of the land distribution and the close relationship between the two Joseph tribes. It also shows that the inheritance was not merely a matter of drawing lines on a map but involved specific cities and their surrounding villages.

The final verse, verse 10, records a significant failure: the Ephraimites did not drive out the Canaanites who lived in Gezer. Instead, the Canaanites dwelled in the territory of Ephraim and became servants to do forced labor. This verse stands as a note of incomplete obedience to the command to possess the land fully. The text does not condemn or excuse the Ephraimites; it simply states the fact. The presence of Canaanites as forced laborers would have ongoing consequences for Israel's faithfulness to God. This ending sets the stage for later conflicts and compromises.

Verses that carry the chapter

• “The lot came out for the children of Joseph from the Jordan at Jericho, at the waters of Jericho on the east, even the wilderness, going up from Jericho through the hill country to Bethel.” (Joshua 16:1) — This verse establishes that the inheritance for Joseph was determined by lot, showing that the land was allocated according to God's direction rather than human will.
• “The children of Joseph, Manasseh and Ephraim, took their inheritance.” (Joshua 16:4) — This verse identifies the recipients of the inheritance as the children of Joseph, Manasseh and Ephraim, linking the allotment to the earlier promises to Joseph's descendants.
• “From Tappuah the border went along westward to the brook of Kanah; and ended at the sea. This is the inheritance of the tribe of the children of Ephraim according to their families;” (Joshua 16:8) — This verse concludes the description of Ephraim's border, ending at the sea, and affirms that this was the inheritance for the tribe according to their families.
• “They didn’t drive out the Canaanites who lived in Gezer; but the Canaanites dwell in the territory of Ephraim to this day, and have become servants to do forced labor.” (Joshua 16:10) — This verse records the failure to drive out the Canaanites in Gezer, a key moment that reveals incomplete obedience and its lasting consequences.

Gospel connection

The allotment of land to Joseph's tribes points forward to the greater inheritance promised to God's people. Just as Ephraim and Manasseh received a tangible inheritance in the promised land, believers in Christ are promised an inheritance that is imperishable and undefiled. However, the failure to drive out the Canaanites in Gezer serves as a warning. It shows that possessing the promise requires ongoing faith and obedience. The presence of Canaanites as forced laborers foreshadows the danger of compromising with sin rather than fully removing it. In the gospel, Jesus Christ secures a complete victory over sin and death, and through his Spirit, believers are called to put to death the deeds of the flesh. The partial obedience of Ephraim reminds us that we cannot rest in partial measures but must rely on God's grace for full obedience.

Application

This chapter asks readers to consider how they handle the inheritance God has given them. The Ephraimites received their land by lot, but they did not fully possess it. They allowed the Canaanites to remain, even if as forced laborers. In the same way, believers today may receive God's gifts and promises but fail to fully appropriate them. The application is not to wage war against people but to examine areas of life where compromise has taken root. Are there habits, attitudes, or relationships that should be removed but have been left to serve our purposes? The text invites unhurried reflection on where obedience has been partial. It calls for trust in God's power to complete what he has started, rather than settling for a comfortable arrangement with sin. The goal is not perfection by human effort but faithful reliance on the Spirit to root out what dishonors God.

Biblical fidelity check

The chapter does not claim that the Ephraimites were entirely disobedient or that they failed to receive their inheritance. It simply records that they did not drive out the Canaanites in Gezer. The text does not explain why they did not drive them out, nor does it give a command from God in this chapter about what should have been done. It also does not mention any specific leader, such as Joshua, speaking or acting in this allotment. The narrative is silent on the spiritual condition of the Ephraimites or the Canaanites. It does not state that the forced labor was approved by God or that it was a permanent arrangement. The text also does not describe the reactions of the other tribes to this situation. Readers should be careful not to read later biblical commentary into this passage, but to let the text speak for itself.

Questions for study

1. What does the fact that the land was allocated by lot teach us about how God provides for his people?
2. Why do you think the text gives such detailed boundaries for Ephraim's inheritance?
3. What might have been the reasons the Ephraimites did not drive out the Canaanites in Gezer?
4. How does the presence of Canaanites as forced laborers affect the Ephraimites' ability to live faithfully to God?
5. In what areas of your life might you be settling for partial obedience rather than fully following God's commands?

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Related studies: Joshua 10 Bible Study, Joshua 11 Bible Study, Joshua 12 Bible Study, Joshua 13 Bible Study.

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FAQ

Why did the tribe of Ephraim receive cities within Manasseh's territory?

The text does not explain the reason, but it notes that cities were set apart for Ephraim within Manasseh's inheritance, showing that the allotments were not strictly separate.

What does it mean that the Canaanites became forced laborers?

It means the Ephraimites subjected the Canaanites to compulsory service instead of driving them out, as the text states they dwelled in Ephraim's territory and served as forced laborers.

Does this chapter indicate that the Ephraimites sinned by not driving out the Canaanites?

The chapter does not explicitly label it as sin, but it records the fact as a departure from the complete possession of the land, leaving the Canaanites among them.