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Joshua 16

BSB·10 verses ·Old Testament
✦ Tap any verse to open Scripture Explorer — original Hebrew/Greek, commentary, notes & highlights
1The allotmentהַגּוֹרָ֜לhag·gō·w·rāl — lot, portion, inheritance, destinyH1486 — Full Word Study → for the descendantsלִבְנֵ֤יliḇ·nê — Son; descendant; member of a groupH1121 — Full Word Study → of Josephיוֹסֵף֙yō·w·sêp̄ — God will increaseH3130 — Full Word Study → extendedוַיֵּצֵ֨אway·yê·ṣê — To go out, come forth, exitH3318 — Full Word Study → from the Jordanמִיַּרְדֵּ֣ןmî·yar·dên — The flowing riverH3383 — Full Word Study → at Jerichoיְרִיח֔וֹyə·rî·ḥōw — City of palmsH3405 — Full Word Study → to the watersלְמֵ֥יlə·mê — Water; liquid; fluidsH4325 — Full Word Study → of Jerichoיְרִיח֖וֹyə·rî·ḥōw — City of palmsH3405 — Full Word Study → on the eastמִזְרָ֑חָהmiz·rā·ḥāh — east; direction of the sunrise; eastern regionH4217 — Full Word Study →, through the wildernessהַמִּדְבָּ֗רham·miḏ·bār — Desert; wilderness; pasture; speechH4057 — Full Word Study → that goes upעֹלֶ֧ה‘ō·leh — to ascend, rise up, go upH5927 — Full Word Study → from Jerichoמִירִיח֛וֹmî·rî·ḥōw — City of palmsH3405 — Full Word Study → into the hill countryבָּהָ֖רbā·hār — Mountain, hill, or elevated land massH2022 — Full Word Study → of Bethelאֵֽל׃’êl — House of GodH1008 — Full Word Study →. 2It went onוְיָצָ֥אwə·yā·ṣā — To go out, come forth, exitH3318 — Full Word Study → fromמִבֵּֽית־mib·bêṯ- — House of GodH1008 — Full Word Study → Bethelאֵ֖ל’êl — House of GodH1008 — Full Word Study → (that is, Luz) and proceededוְעָבַ֛רwə·‘ā·ḇar — to cross over; to pass through or beyondH5674 — Full Word Study → toאֶל־’el- — to, toward, against; directional and relational prepositionH413 — Full Word Study → the borderגְּב֥וּלgə·ḇūl — boundary, border, or limit of a regionH1366 — Full Word Study → of the Architesהָאַרְכִּ֖יhā·’ar·kî — Of Arch; an ArchiteH757 — Full Word Study → in Atarothעֲטָרֽוֹת׃‘ă·ṭā·rō·wṯ — CrownsH5852 — Full Word Study →. 3Then it descendedוְיָֽרַד־wə·yā·raḏ- — To descend, go down, come downH3381 — Full Word Study → westwardיָ֜מָּהyām·māh — Sea, body of water; also directional (west, south)H3220 — Full Word Study → toאֶל־’el- — to, toward, against; directional and relational prepositionH413 — Full Word Study → the borderגְּב֣וּלgə·ḇūl — boundary, border, or limit of a regionH1366 — Full Word Study → of the Japhletitesהַיַּפְלֵטִ֗יhay·yap̄·lê·ṭî — Japhletite descendantH3311 — Full Word Study → asעַ֣ד‘aḏ — until, till, up to (temporal or spatial limit)H5704 — Full Word Study → far as the borderגְּב֧וּלgə·ḇūl — boundary, border, or limit of a regionH1366 — Full Word Study → ofבֵּית־bêṯ- — Beth-horon, a town in the hill country of EphraimH1032 — Full Word Study → Lowerתַּחְתּ֖וֹןtaḥ·tō·wn — Lower, underneath, inferior in position or rankH8481 — Full Word Study → Beth-horonחוֹרֹ֛ןḥō·w·rōn — Beth-horon, a town in the hill country of EphraimH1032 — Full Word Study → and on toוְעַד־wə·‘aḏ- — until, till, up to (temporal or spatial limit)H5704 — Full Word Study → Gezerגָּ֑זֶרgā·zer — A fortified city in CanaanH1507 — Full Word Study →, and it endedוְהָי֥וּwə·hā·yū — to be, become, exist, happenH1961 — Full Word Study → at the Seaיָֽמָּה׃yām·māh — Sea, body of water; also directional (west, south)H3220 — Full Word Study →. 4So Ephraimוְאֶפְרָֽיִם׃wə·’ep̄·rā·yim — Double fruitfulnessH669 — Full Word Study → and Manassehמְנַשֶּׁ֥הmə·naš·šeh — God has made me forgetH4519 — Full Word Study →, the sonsבְנֵי־ḇə·nê- — Son; descendant; member of a groupH1121 — Full Word Study → of Josephיוֹסֵ֖ףyō·w·sêp̄ — God will increaseH3130 — Full Word Study →, received their inheritanceוַיִּנְחֲל֥וּway·yin·ḥă·lū — to inherit, to take possession as an heirH5157 — Full Word Study →. 5This wasוַיְהִ֛יway·hî — to be, become, exist, happenH1961 — Full Word Study → the territoryגְּב֥וּלgə·ḇūl — boundary, border, or limit of a regionH1366 — Full Word Study → of the descendantsבְּנֵֽי־bə·nê- — Son; descendant; member of a groupH1121 — Full Word Study → of Ephraimאֶפְרַ֖יִם’ep̄·ra·yim — Double fruitfulnessH669 — Full Word Study → by their clansלְמִשְׁפְּחֹתָ֑םlə·miš·pə·ḥō·ṯām — Family, clan, household groupH4940 — Full Word Study →: The borderגְּב֤וּלgə·ḇūl — boundary, border, or limit of a regionH1366 — Full Word Study → of their inheritanceנַחֲלָתָם֙na·ḥă·lā·ṯām — Inheritance; received possession or propertyH5159 — Full Word Study → went from Ataroth-addarאַדָּ֔ר’ad·dār — Ataroth-addar, a border town between Ephraim and BenjaminH5853 — Full Word Study → in the eastמִזְרָ֔חָהmiz·rā·ḥāh — east; direction of the sunrise; eastern regionH4217 — Full Word Study → to Upperעֶלְיֽוֹן׃‘el·yō·wn — Most High, elevated, supremeH5945 — Full Word Study → Beth-horonחוֹרֹ֖ןḥō·w·rōn — Beth-horon, a town in the hill country of EphraimH1032 — Full Word Study → 6and out towardוְיָצָ֨אwə·yā·ṣā — To go out, come forth, exitH3318 — Full Word Study → the Seaהַיָּ֗מָּהhay·yām·māh — Sea, body of water; also directional (west, south)H3220 — Full Word Study →. From Michmethathהַֽמִּכְמְתָת֙ham·miḵ·mə·ṯāṯ — A border locationH4366 — Full Word Study → on the northמִצָּפ֔וֹןmiṣ·ṣā·p̄ō·wn — North; northern direction or regionH6828 — Full Word Study → itהַגְּב֛וּלhag·gə·ḇūl — boundary, border, or limit of a regionH1366 — Full Word Study → turnedוְנָסַ֧בwə·nā·saḇ — to turn, surround, go aroundH5437 — Full Word Study → eastwardמִזְרָ֖חָהmiz·rā·ḥāh — east; direction of the sunrise; eastern regionH4217 — Full Word Study → toward Taanath-shilohשִׁלֹ֑הši·lōh — Taanath-shiloh, a town in central PalestineH8387 — Full Word Study → and passed byוְעָבַ֣רwə·‘ā·ḇar — to cross over; to pass through or beyondH5674 — Full Word Study → itאוֹת֔וֹ’ō·w·ṯōw — direct object marker; signs accusative caseH853 — Full Word Study → to Janoahיָנֽוֹחָה׃yā·nō·w·ḥāh — Janoah, a place in ancient PalestineH3239 — Full Word Study → on the eastמִמִּזְרַ֖חmim·miz·raḥ — east; direction of the sunrise; eastern regionH4217 — Full Word Study →. 7From Janoahמִיָּנ֖וֹחָהmî·yā·nō·w·ḥāh — Janoah, a place in ancient PalestineH3239 — Full Word Study → it went downוְיָרַ֥דwə·yā·raḏ — To descend, go down, come downH3381 — Full Word Study → to Atarothעֲטָר֣וֹת‘ă·ṭā·rō·wṯ — CrownsH5852 — Full Word Study → and Naarahוְנַעֲרָ֑תָהwə·na·‘ă·rā·ṯāh — Young woman; maiden; girlH5292 — Full Word Study →, and then reachedוּפָגַע֙ū·p̄ā·ḡa‘ — to meet, encounter, or intercedeH6293 — Full Word Study → Jerichoבִּֽירִיח֔וֹbî·rî·ḥōw — City of palmsH3405 — Full Word Study → and came outוְיָצָ֖אwə·yā·ṣā — To go out, come forth, exitH3318 — Full Word Study → at the Jordanהַיַּרְדֵּֽן׃hay·yar·dên — The flowing riverH3383 — Full Word Study →. 8From Tappuahמִתַּפּ֜וּחַmit·tap·pū·aḥ — Tappuah, a place name in ancient PalestineH8599 — Full Word Study → the borderהַגְּב֥וּלhag·gə·ḇūl — boundary, border, or limit of a regionH1366 — Full Word Study → wentיֵלֵ֨ךְyê·lêḵ — to go, walk, travel, proceedH1980 — Full Word Study → westwardיָ֙מָּה֙yām·māh — Sea, body of water; also directional (west, south)H3220 — Full Word Study → to the Brookנַ֣חַלna·ḥal — A stream or winter torrent; a narrow valleyH5158 — Full Word Study → of Kanahקָנָ֔הqā·nāh — Reed or place of reedsH7071 — Full Word Study → and endedוְהָי֥וּwə·hā·yū — to be, become, exist, happenH1961 — Full Word Study → at the Seaהַיָּ֑מָּהhay·yām·māh — Sea, body of water; also directional (west, south)H3220 — Full Word Study →. Thisזֹ֗אתzōṯ — This, that; demonstrative pronounH2063 — Full Word Study → was the inheritanceנַחֲלַ֛תna·ḥă·laṯ — Inheritance; received possession or propertyH5159 — Full Word Study → of the clansלְמִשְׁפְּחֹתָֽם׃lə·miš·pə·ḥō·ṯām — Family, clan, household groupH4940 — Full Word Study → of the tribeמַטֵּ֥הmaṭ·ṭêh — Rod, staff, or tribeH4294 — Full Word Study → of Ephraimאֶפְרַ֖יִם’ep̄·ra·yim — Double fruitfulnessH669 — Full Word Study →, 9along with all the citiesהֶעָרִ֖יםhe·‘ā·rîm — City; fortified settlement or townH5892 — Full Word Study → and villagesוְחַצְרֵיהֶֽן׃wə·ḥaṣ·rê·hen — Enclosed courtyard or village settlementH2691 — Full Word Study → set apartהַמִּבְדָּלוֹת֙ham·miḇ·dā·lō·wṯ — A separate or secluded place; segregated spaceH3995 — Full Word Study → for the descendantsלִבְנֵ֣יliḇ·nê — Son; descendant; member of a groupH1121 — Full Word Study → of Ephraimאֶפְרַ֔יִם’ep̄·ra·yim — Double fruitfulnessH669 — Full Word Study → withinבְּת֖וֹךְbə·ṯō·wḵ — midst, among, between, throughH8432 — Full Word Study → the inheritanceנַחֲלַ֣תna·ḥă·laṯ — Inheritance; received possession or propertyH5159 — Full Word Study → of Manassehמְנַשֶּׁ֑הmə·naš·šeh — God has made me forgetH4519 — Full Word Study →. 10But they did notוְלֹ֣אwə·lō — not; negation; absenceH3808 — Full Word Study → drive outהוֹרִ֔ישׁוּhō·w·rî·šū — to possess, inherit, dispossessH3423 — Full Word Study → the Canaanitesהַֽכְּנַעֲנִ֖יhak·kə·na·‘ă·nî — Canaanite; merchant or traderH3669 — Full Word Study → who livedהַיּוֹשֵׁ֣בhay·yō·wō·šêḇ — to dwell, inhabit, settle, remainH3427 — Full Word Study → in Gezerבְּגָ֑זֶרbə·ḡā·zer — A fortified city in CanaanH1507 — Full Word Study →. So the Canaanitesהַֽכְּנַעֲנִ֜יhak·kə·na·‘ă·nî — Canaanite; merchant or traderH3669 — Full Word Study → dwellוַיֵּ֨שֶׁבway·yê·šeḇ — to dwell, inhabit, settle, remainH3427 — Full Word Study → amongבְּקֶ֤רֶבbə·qe·reḇ — midst, inner part, heart, inward beingH7130 — Full Word Study → the Ephraimitesאֶפְרַ֙יִם֙’ep̄·ra·yim — Double fruitfulnessH669 — Full Word Study → toעַד־‘aḏ- — until, till, up to (temporal or spatial limit)H5704 — Full Word Study → thisהַזֶּ֔הhaz·zeh — this, that; the one, the otherH2088 — Full Word Study → dayהַיּ֣וֹםhay·yō·wm — day; time; period; ageH3117 — Full Word Study →, but they areוַיְהִ֖יway·hî — to be, become, exist, happenH1961 — Full Word Study → forcedלְמַס־lə·mas- — Forced labor, taskmaster, or tribute-bearerH4522 — Full Word Study → laborersעֹבֵֽד׃פ‘ō·ḇêḏ — to serve, labor, workH5647 — Full Word Study →.
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Chapter Commentary — Joshua 16
Chapter Overview

Overview of Joshua 16

Joshua 16 records the division of the Promised Land to the tribe of Ephraim, one of the two sons of Joseph who received a full tribal inheritance. This chapter provides precise geographical boundaries and describes Ephraim's territorial allotment in central Canaan. A crucial historical note appears at the end: despite God's clear command to completely dispossess the Canaanites, Ephraim failed to drive out the inhabitants of Gezer, allowing them to live under tribute instead. This chapter illustrates both God's faithfulness in fulfilling His promises to Israel and the tragic consequences of partial obedience.

Verses 1–4: The Territory Allotted to Joseph's Sons

The opening verses establish the broad boundaries of the land given to the children of Joseph—both Manasseh and Ephraim. The territory extends from the Jordan River near Jericho westward to the Mediterranean Sea, encompassing the central hill country of Canaan. This was prime land, strategically important and agriculturally valuable. The phrase "the lot of the children of Joseph fell" reminds us that the distribution was determined by casting lots (verse 1), a practice the Israelites used to discern God's will (see Proverbs 16:33). Verse 4 emphasizes that both Manasseh and Ephraim, as the two adopted sons of Joseph, each received their full inheritance—a remarkable honor that elevated Joseph's line above the other tribes.

Application: God's provision for His people is both specific and generous. He doesn't give vaguely; He gives us exactly what we need, exactly where we need it. Trust that His allocation of your gifts, circumstances, and opportunities is deliberate.

Verses 5–8: Ephraim's Precise Borders

These verses detail Ephraim's specific boundaries with careful geographical precision. The border ran from Atarothaddar on the east, through Bethhoron, westward to the Mediterranean coast at the River Kanah (verses 5–8). The specificity of these descriptions—naming particular towns, mountains, and geographical features—served a practical purpose: it prevented disputes over land boundaries and ensured each family knew exactly what belonged to them. This level of detail demonstrates God's orderly nature and His concern for justice and clarity in property matters.

Application: God is a God of order and justice. He cares about fairness, clear boundaries, and honest dealings. In our own lives, we honor God by being clear and honest in our commitments and agreements with others.

Verses 9–10: Failure to Complete the Conquest

These final verses contain a sobering historical note. Verse 9 mentions that some cities within Ephraim's territory actually belonged to Manasseh, suggesting complex territorial overlap. More significantly, verse 10 records a spiritual failure: "And they drave not out the Canaanites that dwelt in Gezer" (Joshua 16:10). Instead of obeying God's command to completely dispossess the land, Ephraim allowed the Canaanites to remain and serve under tribute (forced labor). This represents a compromise with God's explicit instructions (Deuteronomy 7:1–2). The phrase "unto this day" indicates this failure persisted long after the conquest, showing how one generation's disobedience can have lasting consequences.

Application: Partial obedience is disobedience. When God calls us to complete surrender or full obedience, compromise may seem practical, but it ultimately weakens our spiritual position and allows spiritual enemies to establish themselves in areas of our lives. What "Canaanites" are you tolerating instead of fully removing?

Application for Today

Joshua 16 teaches us that God's promises are reliable and His boundaries are just, but our inheritance requires complete obedience. We cannot selectively follow God's Word and expect full blessing. Like Ephraim, when we compromise with sin or make room for worldly influences, we diminish our spiritual inheritance and create long-term problems. Ask the Lord to search your heart: where are you settling for tribute instead of demanding complete victory in Christ's name?

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