Joshua 16:1-10
Ephraim's Inheritance
Read the passage
1The allotment for the descendants of Joseph extended from the Jordan at Jericho to the waters of Jericho on the east, through the wilderness that goes up from Jericho into the hill country of Bethel.
2It went on from Bethel (that is, Luz) and proceeded to the border of the Archites in Ataroth.
3Then it descended westward to the border of the Japhletites as far as the border of Lower Beth-horon and on to Gezer, and it ended at the Sea.
4So Ephraim and Manasseh, the sons of Joseph, received their inheritance.
5This 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
6and out toward the Sea. From Michmethath on the north it turned eastward toward Taanath-shiloh and passed by it to Janoah on the east.
7From Janoah it went down to Ataroth and Naarah, and then reached Jericho and came out at the Jordan.
8From Tappuah the border went westward to the Brook of Kanah and ended at the Sea. This was the inheritance of the clans of the tribe of Ephraim,
9along with all the cities and villages set apart for the descendants of Ephraim within the inheritance of Manasseh.
10But 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.
Berean Standard Bible
Read aloud
The descendants of Joseph receive an allotment extending from the Jordan near Jericho, through the hill country around Bethel, and westward toward Gezer and the Sea. Ephraim and Manasseh each receive an inheritance.
The chapter then describes Ephraim's borders through named towns and the Brook of Kanah. Some cities and villages assigned to Ephraim lie within Manasseh's territory. The tribes' portions are distinct, but their settlements are not isolated from one another.
The final verse says that Ephraim did not drive out the Canaanites in Gezer. They remained among the Ephraimites as forced laborers. The inherited land therefore contains an obligation Israel has not fulfilled and people living under its power.
Receiving the allotment is not the same as completing the command. The narrator keeps that failure in view instead of ending with the boundary list alone.
Questions
1 Whose descendants receive the territory described?
AnswerThe descendants of Joseph receive it, with this section focusing on the inheritance assigned to Ephraim.
2 How is the territory identified?
AnswerIt is identified by a route of named towns and boundaries beginning at the Jordan near Jericho.
3 What happens to the Canaanites in Gezer?
AnswerEphraim does not drive them out; they remain in Gezer but are forced into labor.
4 Where were some additional Ephraimite settlements located?
AnswerSome of Ephraim's cities and villages were set apart within the inheritance of Manasseh.
What This Means for Us
It is possible to call something a blessing while ignoring the people carrying its hidden cost. The passage refuses to let an inheritance story erase those living under compulsion.
Examine the benefits your household enjoys. Ask whether someone's labor, silence, or lack of options is making that comfort possible, and choose a more just arrangement where you can.
Prayer
God of justice, keep us from celebrating benefits that depend on another person's powerlessness. Show us hidden costs, give us courage to change unjust arrangements, and teach us responsible stewardship. Amen.